The Laughing House

The Beautiful Equation

2010-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

When you stand in front of the mirror, is your automatic response, "BEAUTIFUL!" Who defines your beauty? Today I talked with forty middle school girls about beauty. Here is what they said.

Guys try to define our beauty. They think beauty is about our boobs, our butts, and our size.

Magazines and media try to characterize our beauty. They say skinny and pretty is where it's at & beauty is only skin deep.

The retail industry dictates beauty by mascara, lipgloss, Abercrombie, and Coach.

Friends define beauty by the way you look, dress, and popularity.

What do we do when we can't become this beauty? Give up? Hate ourselves? Stop eating or throw-up? Settle for mediocrity? Try to be someone else?

There is one final option. Choose not to conform to the beauty of the world & be transformed by changing your definition of beauty. (Romans 12:2)

1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty shouldn't come from outward adornment, like braided hair, wearing gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self."

God's view of beauty is in complete and total opposition of the world's! True beauty comes from inside. Real beauty is loving God with all your heart, being kind to the weak, speaking gently to your family, having patience in the car, being self-controlled when you want to pound someone or yell and scream, showing compassion for the hurting, listening when someone is in need, sharing wholesome fun times with friends and family, reaching out to a neighbor.

Real beauty is actually a reflection of God! It's like a math equation.

a + b = c

God is beautiful. I am created in the image of God. I am beautiful.

Psalm 27:4 Genesis 1:27

Next time you stand in front of the mirror, your automatic response should be, "BEAUTIFUL!" Why? Not because of anything we have done but because we are simply a reflection of the one who made and loves us.

What Does Your Swagger Say?

2010-05-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

Does the way you carry yourself say something about the person you are? What about the way you dress or the swagger in your stride?

Several weekends ago I attended a fabulous Pop Choir Show hosted by an area High School with my daughter and one of her guy friends. The students performed catchy show tunes with entertaining dances. One of the routines, however, stood out like a sore thumb. After listening to little orphan Annie sing about tomorrow and the choir describing Ariel’s life under the sea, five teen girls in skin tight short black dresses sauntered across the stage wearing red feather boas. The song was an extremely suggestive number that I was rather embarrassed for my daughter’s friend to watch.

As the girls finished the shady performance, the young man with us leaned over and off the top of his head made a rather profound statement. It caught me off guard, but was absolutely true. He said, “You can tell which one of those girls aren’t virgins.”

Girls and women often reveal a lot about their heart, priorities, and needs in their dress and posture. How can we help young girls and ourselves become the beautiful women we are intended to be?

In “Redefining Beautiful,” Jenna Lucado defines beautiful as “what God sees when He sees you.” Think about that statement. What does God see when He sees you, His daughter? He sees you, the apple of His eye, the gifts He has placed in you to be used for His glory, the plans He has to prosper you and not harm you, the image of Himself, His beautiful creation. When we discover and accept who we are when He sees us...our swagger will shine like the sun and our dress will reflect the princess position we hold as a child of the King. Maybe one day someone will look at us and say, “You can tell which one of those girls aren’t aware of the person she is in Christ” and it's not her!

What's The Difference?

2010-03-23T20:34:00.001-07:00

What is the difference in Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart) and your next door neighbor or Oprah Winfrey and your best friend? Some would say fame. Others might suggest fortune. I would like to offer a 12 letter word...PERSEVERANCE.

Today I heard the story of "The Luge Man," Ruben Gonzalez. He was raised in Houston, Tx, did not excel in any sport throughout middle or highschool nor in college, began training for the Olympics at 21 years old. Yet, he competed in four winter Olympics in three decades in the sport of luge. How can anyone from muggy, humid Houston become an Olympian in the LUGE? Doesn't that require snow and freezing temperatures?

As Ruben shared his story, several statements settled in my mind.
1. The only difference in people who have books written about them and me is PERSEVERANCE. Every person who has achieved a dream has the same story - dream, challenge, perseverance.
2. Very few people remain standing when the challenge fades - only those who persevere - the bulldogs. When Ruben arrived at training camp, the coach said only a handful of you will survive this training. Ruben immediately thought, "Good for me. I can win by attrition."
3. People who face the challenge with joy, faith, and resolve reach their dreams.
4. Challenges and trials are simply learning experiences from which to grow, change, and become better.

What is the difference between Bill Gates and me or Billy Graham and you? It's a long word that carries much weight.

"Consider it all joy my brother when you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perserverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4

Discover & Develop

2010-03-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Do you dread it when people talk about talents? Have you ever thought, "I don't have a talent!"
Because society has labeled "talents" for us, we don't see the gifts we've been given as talents. A talent is simply a natural ability.

Last night at church we had Champion Forest Student Ministry's Got Talent. We had gymnasts, violin and violists, singers, tuba players, and more. Melissa, an 8th grade girl, and I did a headstand routine. Yes, we stood on our heads for a rather long period of time and did amazing moves with our feet and legs. That may sound strange and it did bring much laughter from the audience, but how many people do you know can stand on their heads and for a long period of time? That is a gift, strange, but a gift!

What are your natural abilities? What are the things you like and do well that other people can't do? In what areas do people compliment you?

For example...
Can you keep a plant alive?
Are you a quick and easy problem solver?
Do you enjoy cooking and the results are always yummy?
Can you decorate a home and make it beautiful without much effort?
Are you good with animals?
Can you read and follow instructions to put something together?
Do you naturally encourage people?
Can you design a website?
Are you musically inclined?
Do you enjoy teaching or coaching?
Can you climb, swim, run, or bike without effort?
Do you make decisions easily?
Are you a good conversationalist or are you better at listening?
Do you enjoy drawing, writing, or designing?

Because Americans watch approximately 8 hours of television in a 24 hour period and spend valuable time on the computer, we are loosing our talents. We don't think we have talents because we haven't spent time discovering and developing them.

This week think about something you enjoy and do well. Ask friends and family what your talents are and try something new that you have always wanted to do. Who knows, you might discover a new gift and you too could be on CFBC Student Ministry's Got Talent.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." Romans 12:6

Is There Ever A Perfect Sunday Morning?

2010-03-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

I got up early Sunday morning, put the roast in the oven, cleaned the kitchen, spent time in the Word, hummed quietly to myself as I applied mascara when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," I responded.

My daughter with bed hair and puffy eyes scowled, "Where is my anti-freeze?"
I gently replied, "I don't know sweetheart," recognizing that the wrong tone or choice of words could possibly send her into a teenage fit that I really did not want to endure while trying to prepare to go and "worship the Lord."

"Where did you put it?" I quietly asked.

"It was on my floor in my room and you put it somewhere when you vaccuumed," she grimaced as she glared at me with a look that could kill.

The conversation went from bad to worse in a matter of seconds. After dad got involved and I resorted to getting within millimeters of her nose and angrily saying words that really didn't help the situation, a voice in my heart said, "Hello. This isn't right."
I walked away from the heated moment which had moved from my bathroom to hers and told her, "I'll be back in a minute."

That small voice whispered deep in my soul, "Peace MAKER. Is what you are doing making peace?"

At that moment I realized, when she asked about the anti-freeze I should have replied, "What is your anti-freeze?" I would have quickly learned that it was the bottle that I thought was empty and threw away on Friday. At that point I could have apologized for accidentally throwing away the anti-freeze and maybe the whole situation could have gone from bad to better.

I walked into my daughter's bathroom and explained how I could have made peace instead of creating a disaster. As I apologized for my behavior and told her how I didn't like it when people got within millimeters of my nose and that I should not have done that tears began to roll down her cheeks, she grabbed me and gave me a big hug.

WOW! What a big difference 2 words can make. "I'm sorry."

I learned a very valuable lesson Sunday morning. Apologizing breaks down barriers and opens doors to relationships. Those 2 words are powerful and mandatory tools in the art of Peace MAKING!

"Those who are peacemakers will plants seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18

There Is Pain In Waiting

2010-02-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

I once heard someone say,

"Sometimes you have to break a child's will without breaking her heart."

Some people would think that is harsh or cruel. Other's would blow it off and find it insignificant. I, on the other hand, write with eyes full of tears because today I am watching the will of a child be broken. It is necessary and must be done, but as I've heard many parents say and never understood as a child, "This does hurt me more than it hurts her."

What I would give to hold her in my arms right now, rock her like I used to when she was a baby, and tell her everything will be alright. But I know that now is not that time. Right now, she must experience the consequences of a choice wrongly made. She must learn from her mistakes and become the lady God created her to be and I must in silence and prayer watch as her little strong will is gently cracked and her world feels as though it is falling apart.

The strength of a mother may seem so small and fragile compared to some, but every mother knows the strength required to watch one of her little ones fall and the discipline required to let the child find her way back into the hand of her Maker on her own.

While I patiently wait, I cling to the promise,
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Perspective from Kenya

2010-02-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

Are you thankful for what you have? I was challenged by this question last week when a guy in one of my classes shared this story. A pastor from Kenya came to speak at his church. The ministry staff took the guest to dinner. The group went to a top-notch restaurant and ordered the foreigner a nice steak. The gentleman's meal arrived at the table first. To be polite my friend said, "Go ahead and eat. You don't have to wait for us." The guest paused, looked quizically and replied, "Is this just for me? I thought this was for everyone. This food could feed my family."

Later as the group traveled through the city during the icestorm, the visitor looked out across the yards. Sheets and blankets covered plants and shrubs as homeowners tried to protect their plants from the freeze. The gentleman gazing out the car window politely said, "You have blankets for your plants and trees. My country does not even have enough blankets for it's people."

As I listened to the stories about this Kenyan pastor, the question rattled in my mind, "Are you thankful for what you have?" Sometimes it takes a stranger to help us see how blessed we really are.

The Fun Theory

2009-12-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

When you have the option to take the stairs or the escalator, which do you choose? The majority of people resort to taking the escalator. Is there a way someone could convince you to take the stairs instead?

I received an e-mail from a friend with a video clip by Volkswagen. The company recorded a set of stairs next to an escalator. Most people chose the stairs. Overnight, the company covered the stairs with a black and white material to make the staircase look like a keyboard and rigged each step to play a note. People were automatically drawn to the stairs. Some jumped while others tried to play songs. 66% of the people chose the stairs over the escalator. What was the difference? The Fun Theory! When you make something fun, you can alter people's behavior and choices!

How does this apply to us? Think about asking your children to do chores or the trivial tasks at work. Pump up your workload by making it fun! Make games a chore or have a contest with a co-worker. I promise it works! You can get 20 preschoolers to walk down the hall by singing a song or acting like a choo-choo train! Look for ways to put the fun theory in practice in all that you do!

Afterall, "A merry heart is good like a medicine!" Proverbs 17:22

The Art of the Puzzle

2009-12-28T04:32:00.001-08:00

What do you do when faced with a problem? Big or little... kids, work, broken car, out of money, spouse...how do you react? One Christmas gift this season has given me a new perspective on handling problems.

When I was in elementary school, each year we had a class Christmas party. Each child brought a $1 wrapped present. Back in those days, everyone "shook" the present before opening it and tried to guess what it was. Well, it never failed, every year my mom bought a puzzle for me to take to the party. First of all, most kids didn't want a puzzle and secondly, everyone knew what it was when you shook it.

I never was too happy about taking my wrapped puzzle, but I never complained. The gift I really wanted to take was a book of lifesavers. I thought that was the coolest gift ever and my mom rarely splurged for such an item. If she did splurge, it was for the "knock off" brand of lifesavers which tasted mostly like bad Halls cough drops. So, I settled for my puzzle and happily headed to my class party.

This Christmas I was totally surprised when my son asked for a puzzle. When I mentioned it to my mother, she was extactic! His Grandma couldn't wait to purchase the item and made sure her grandson was well stocked with puzzles. (I'm sure memories of buying $1 puzzles for parties flooded her mind as she shopped.) Well, Grandma has upgraded since I was a kid. My son didn't get a dollar store puzzle, he got a 3 pack puzzle set with a 100, 300, and 500 piece puzzle. My how times have changed.

We set up the card table in our bedroom and it became the puzzle working station. My husband and son have steadily conquered the first 2 puzzles and are now ready for the 500 piece challenge. As I watched these 2 work, I learned some valuable lessons on handling problems.

First, a puzzle is one giant problem. It has a million teeny-tiny pieces that must be put together in an orderly fashion to be useful. Life is like that. We have all these minute problems, situations, details, dreams, and broken relationships that must be put together in order to be useful. Accept this as part of life!

Second, when working a puzzle, you know the object is to put all the pieces together, so you steadily look at each piece, thinking, studying, deciphering how to make it fit in the big picture. Why is it when we get a challenging situation thrown into our puzzle of life, we flip out or quit or cry? I have not once seen my husband or son yelling at a puzzle piece and neither have given up. That would be absurd. Life is about putting all the pieces together and steadily deciphering how each piece fits into the big picture!

Lastly, confidence and joy come when you resolve to finish. Once these 2 men completed the 100 piece, they were ready to go for the 300! It was so fun to watch them high-five and their chests filled with the air of success when the first 2 puzzles were completed.

What about you? Have you resolved to finish your marriage even if the pieces seem broken? Are you determined to hang in there with your child who has gone the wrong way? Will you work daily to find the job you lost months ago? Are you determined to put the pieces of your dream in place? In what area, are you being challenged to finish? Don't stop until every piece is in place.

I once heard someone say, "Life is like a box of chocolates," but I would like to contest that "Life is like a puzzle just waiting to be worked." So...get busy and work it out. You'll be amazed at the view when the last piece is put in place.

"Consider it all joy when you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete." James 1:2-4

Treasure Up

2009-12-27T04:30:00.001-08:00

I absolutely love Christmas! What about you? Did you take time to read the Christmas story this year? My favorite verse in the story of Jesus' birth is Luke 2:19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Can you imagine what Mary was thinking as she held the son of God in her arms, remembering her engagement to Joseph, the visit from the angel, her trip to see Elizabeth, and now lying in a barn with a beautiful baby boy while shepherds came to see the newborn king? What if Mary kept a journal? What would she have written that first Christmas?

In 1999, my mother gave me a book to record each year's Christmas memories. Over the years I have written about our holidays. It is so fun to read the events of the previous seasons. One year during the Christmas Eve service I was so proud of the way my son, who was very young at the time, was sitting so still and listening intently to the pastor. As I watched him soaking in the Christmas story, so amazed at the intense interest of my little boy, he leaned over and whispered, "Does our church have a chimney?" I realized at that moment his thoughts were not in the manager. My realization was confirmed when he asked a few minutes later, "Do you think Santa can find us here if he comes now?"

When I finish writing this quick blog, I am going to treasure up all of the memories and moments of this Christmas and take some time to ponder God's amazing blessings. Won't you join me? Begin this year, treasuring your Christmas by simply jotting down your favorite Christmas memories. Store your journal with your Christmas decorations so it will be ready next year to repeat the same process. Trust me... you will be so thankful you followed Mary's example

Taming the 'Tude

2009-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

When you hear the word "attitude" what comes to mind? Your teenage child's rolling eyes and sour scowl when you mention a menial chore? Your three year old lying on the floor in the grocery store screaming for a piece of gum? Your spouse demanding immediate response to the need of the moment? Is it your boss's general disposition, your neighbor's demeanor, your mother-in-laws actions? What causes humans to respond with "attitude?"

My family and I sat on the back patio Sunday morning, when my 8 year old niece opened the back door and asked my brother, "Dad, are we really leaving?"
"Yes, go pack up your stuff," he said very politely.
There was no response, just a firm shutting of the door, not close enough to be considered a "slam," but just enough to define her emotions.
"You gotta love the attitude," my brother said.
"Wait until she's 16," I replied.

This small scenario sparked a conversation in which my brother said something very profound that I will remember for life.

"Attitude is ego in action."

Isn't that so true? Every time I cop an attitude it is simply my ego demanding my way or resisting someone else's control over me. Start paying attention to the times your attitude jumps out of your body and displays itself. Ask, "Why did my attitude do that?" You'll find the amazing answer is rooted in pride and ego.

Think about Spiderman...when there is a problem in the city what does he do immediately? Respond! That is exactly what my pride does when other people or the world does not line up with it's wants or desires. Ego responds and takes action! I picture my pride like Spiderman fighting for what it believes is truth and right. The problem is that my pride does not want what is good, my pride only wants MY WAY!

What do I do? Something that requires a lifetime of practice...self-discipline.

Discipline is regulating our self by

...principle rather than impulse

...reason rather than emotion

...long-range results rather than immediate satisfaction

Discipline is doing what is best not what is easiest.

Discipline is choosing to do difficult things and making them a habit.

How's your attitude this Christmas season? Patient? Sarcastic? Negative? Whatever it is, take action, Spiderman, and respond with principle, reason, and long-range results. Fight for what is best not what feeds your pride and choose to remain silent when your ego demands to speak. I think you will find your own personal city full of peace and joy when you do your best to tame the 'tude!"

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you will win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave." 1 Cor. 9:24-27

The Pilot With A Plan

2009-12-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

Have you heard this saying, "The person who fails to plan, plans to fail?" Without a plan people get nowhere! People who set a goal and create a plan usually succeed. As I think about 2010, I wondered, "What is my plan for 2010?"

Think about your life for a minute. Break your life down into 4 or 5 areas. Where do you devote most of your time? My life can be categorized in these areas: spiritual, marriage, parenting, health, finance, dreams/skills.

What if I resolved to create a SIMPLE plan for each area of my life for the year 2010? For example, in the financial area. My plan might be to...
1. Get a job! :)
2. Tithe 10% (Set up automatic draft.)
3. Save 10% (Set up automatic draft.)
4. Keep a written record of all the money I spend. (Writing it down highlights the wasteful spending and helps you spend less.)
5. Go out to eat only 1 night/week.
6. Allow children to participate in only 1 sport/extracurricular activity at a time.

How different would the financial area of my life be in the year 2010 if I followed this simple plan?

Spiritually I might...
1. Read the Bible through this year. (Purchase a One Year Bible for yourself for Christmas.)
2. Attend church once each week.
3. Find an accountability partner.

In the health area...
1. Give up sodas.
2. Exercise 3 times each week.
3. Only eat out 1 time/week.
4. Drink 3 glasses of water each day.

Make your plans and print them on paper. Hang your goals in an area where you can read them weekly. When you see the plan often, you are more likely to move in that direction. Once you've made your plans, TELL SOMEONE! Ask them to hold you accountable or just check on the progress of your plans!

People with goals and plans succeed because they know where they are going. Suppose you wanted to fly to Hawaii. You boarded the airplane. Little did you know, the pilot had not mapped out the trip. He simply climbed aboard, started the engine, and took off. Where would this trip take you?

Many people today go through life without having mapped out or planned their journey. They simply soar through life with no direction or goal. Is that you? If so, today, make a plan for your life. Be the pilot with the plan and have great trip in 2010!

CROKM for Life

2009-12-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

Don't you love those moments when it seems God is speaking directly to you? Maybe through a song, a verse in the Bible, or another person? Tonight I attended a youth Christmas service at the Lanier Chapel. The Chapel was recently built on the property of an extremely wealthy lawyer in our town. The owner explained the intricate details painted, etched, and designed in the architecture of the little church.

In closing he shared his personal testimony. People often ask and wonder how a man can acquire so many possessions and so much wealth. He tells of a time when he was a kid he decided to join God's team. He didn't understand everything about God or the Bible. His faith wasn't completely strong nor his knowledge of religion, but he determined to obey God. He committed to reading something from his Bible every day, even if it was only one verse.

He explained how life is full of choices and all choices have consequences - good or bad. When we choose to follow God's commands, it is not because God wants to suck all the fun out of our lives, but because God's commands reap good consequences. As a young kid, this man determined not only to read something out of God's word daily, but to obey God as best he could in everything he did.

Lastly, he explained when you choose to be on God's team and obey, you prove you are trustworthy to God. He admitted that nothing he owned belonged to him. Every possession of his was Gods. He is simply the manager of it all. When we obey, surrender, and follow God, he can trust us with little things. Then when we prove ourselves trustworthy, he will trust us with bigger.

Tonight I learned to CROKM for life!
1. C - Choose God.
2. R- Read something out of the Bible everyday!
3. O -Obey God's commands because they reap good consequences.
4. K - Know that everything you have belongs to God.
5. M - Manage wisely.

What if these were your life goals? What would be different in your life today if you chose to make this list your priority? Why not? Start today CROKMing for the rest of your life!

Nothing Wrong With Ping Pong

2009-12-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

Are you dreading the kids being home for the holidays? What will you do to keep them busy especially if the rain continues? Our family has started something pretty fun that you might try. (You could even slip this inexpensive gift in a stocking or 2!) We purchased 2 ping pong paddles and a ball. Most days you will find the chairs pushed back from the kitchen table and two people going head to head in a heated ping pong match.

"What about a net?" people ask. We don't use one. We just eyeball it.
"The table is too small," someone else mentioned. True, but it works.
"It'll ruin your table," a friend whined. Hasn't yet.
"Why don't you buy the kids a ping pong table for Christmas?" a family member suggested.

Here's what I've learned about purchases. Once you buy something, the new wears off, and nobody plays with it. Society programs us to think we need the newest and latest. That is why there are new hairstyles each year, seasonal fashion trends, phone upgrades, and the latest models in cars. We are trained to believe we need the "new stuff" so designers, dealerships, and wealthy companies continue to bring in revenue and we appear wealthy and "cool."
So what do we do? Here is a hard concept and extremely counterculture:

"Be content with what you have." Hebrews 13:5

Try saying that five or six times slowly. What comes to your mind?

This Christmas season make contentment a priority. Be content with the size of your home, the

number of gifts you are able to give, your spouse and children, your job, your Christmas decorations. Turn your eyes off what everyone else has and be content with all the blessings in your life.

Remember, you don't have to purchase a ping-pong table, or a brand new car, a phone upgrade, or the largest TV on the planet. Next year at this time there will be a bigger and better one to take it's place. So be content with the ping pong tables in your life and enjoy all you have been given.

Up or Down - Always One or The Other

2009-12-14T18:24:00.001-08:00

Have you ever had a random meeting with an acquaintance that totally transformed your thinking? My daughter was babysitting Saturday night and got sick. My husband and I rushed to her aid. As I waited for the grandmother to arrive to resume the babysitting schedule, I had no idea what was about to transpire.

The grandmother and I were exchanging friendly conversation, when this sweet woman mentioned a marriage class she and her husband teach. (My mentor once told me, “When in the presence of wisdom and knowledge, ask as many questions as you can.”) This thought crossed my mind, so I asked, “Do you have a happy marriage?” She hesitantly said, “Yes, I do.” I asked her to share 3 keys to a successful marriage. We talked about communication and dedication, but here is the priceless nugget I gleaned.

Have you ever been to the top of a mountain? When you get to the top the view is absolutely gorgeous. You can relax and enjoy the peaceful beauty. However, if you look around, there is no growth on top of a mountain. Once you reach a certain altitude, plants, trees, and life cease to grow. Now picture a valley. In the valley there are lush green trees, blossoming flowers, fertile soil and thriving grass.

Isn’t this like life- full of mountains and valleys? When we are on the mountaintops, we rest and enjoy the beauty. We soak in the blessings that God has provided. However, on those successful peaks and in smooth sailing months there is usually no growth. We become stagnant and self-reliant.

In the valleys of life, though, we stretch and strain through the trials and challenges of marriages, finances, loss, health, or family. It’s in those valleys, that we grow. During those seasons we move to new levels of maturity, discipline, strength, and trust in Christ.
Life is full of peaks and valleys. You will usually find yourself in one or the other. The goal is to recognize where you are and be thankful. Appreciate the times of rest and then be grateful when God wants to grow you into so much more. Search for the way he wants to change, mold, or teach you when you are helpless in the valley.

No matter where you find yourself, on good old Rocky top or in the valley of the shadow of death, keep your focus turned up. Praising God in the good and seeking his transformation in the troubling depths. Let it never be said of us, "They turn, but not upward to the Most High." Hosea 7:14 Instead let our goal always be, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

I Think I Can

2009-12-12T05:50:00.001-08:00

What’s the latest “how to” article you’ve read? How to remodel your bathroom? How to manage your children? How to decorate for the holidays? How to have a long and satisfying marriage? How to trim off a few inches? The “How Tos” are everywhere.

I’ll never forget the first “How To” conference I attended. Mammie McCullough, “the famous I CAN lady” was the guest speaker. I was in my late twenties, married, had three preschoolers, and working full time. Basically, her entire talk was on how to have a positive attitude. I figured at this stage in life, I could use a little positive motivation.

She had a whole list of “I Can” statements to read each day. I came home from that conference, emptied a green bean can, cleaned it real good, peeled the label, printed 25 “I can” statements on strips of paper, cut each one and placed them in my “I Can CAN!” Each morning I would choose one statement, read it, and kind of meditate on it.

I’m sure those thoughts set me on the right track to a positive day, but I have noticed one thing. When I am afraid, not one of those “I can” thoughts comes to mind. Yet on nights when my husband is out of town, I will often hear these words, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” When I don’t know what to do, no “I can” thoughts give me instructions, but this one thought gives me hope, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In everything you do, acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.” When I am angry and want to string someone up by their toes, I can’t remember Mammie’s “I can” thought s, but I do think, “Forgive others as I have forgiven you.”

I’m not saying “I can” thoughts are wrong. The Bible does say, “Fill your mind with what is pure, right, excellent, and praiseworthy.” However, there is only 1 “How To” book that will answers life’s questions, dilemmas, and joys, and that is the only “How To” book that can authentically transform your life. If you believe in the author of this book, he will send your very own helper to guide you to understand and remember all the “How Tos” he has printed. You don’t have to empty a veggie can or print strips of paper to digest this book’s valuable treasures, simply open your Bible each morning and discover how to live life as God intended. And… if you kind of meditate on it a little, you’ll be amazed when God’s “how tos” come to mind, just when you need them most.

Hurry, Hurry and WHAT?

2009-12-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

What about Christmas do you love? The gifts, the shopping, decorating, baking, being with family? I love the twinkling lights and the Christmas songs! Christmas carols are interesting, though. Have you ever focused on some of the words? Today I heard "What Child is This?" As I listened, something caught my attention.
Read the words carefully & notice what we are to bring the baby.

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Did you catch it? Haste, that means hurry. So...hurry, hurry, and bring him LAUD! What in the world is laud? I remember singing "lard" as a child, but that couldn't be right.

We looked up the word tonight at the dinner table, and discovered, laud means praise. I was relieved to know there was not an overabundance of lard in the manger, but I was wondering, is there an overabundance of praise in my heart.

As I thought about that line of the song, I wondered, "How quick am I to offer praise to God? Am I hasty to praise?

Maybe this could be a goal for Christmas 09. Be hasty with praise to Christ the King. Each morning when we awake this Christmas season and each time we hear this song, let's praise God for who he is and all he has done for us.

When God Calls You to Pray... Do it!

2009-11-30T20:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever randomly, out of the clear blue, thought of a person you haven't seen in years? This happened to me about 3 months ago. One of the cutest young girls in my youth group came to mind. She was 4 or 5 years younger than me. I couldn't stop thinking about her so I started praying for her. I began to ask around and discovered she left home and was struggling with a drug addiction. Noone knew where she was. When I heard this, I prayed even more. I cried tears for her and begged God for his mercy on her life. It was a prayer obsession. Why could I not stop thinking about her?

In God's great plan, 4 months after I began praying, he allowed me to have contact with this sweet girl. I realized at the time I was on my knees begging God to free her from her addictions, she was trying to get clean.

I learned a very valuable lesson from this experience. When God calls you to pray for someone, do it! You don't know their struggles, fears, pain, or addictions! But...when a random old acquaintence pops into your mind, pop down on your knees, and pray! Wouldn't it be great to know someone was doing the same thing for you?

Remember the four friends who brought the lame man to Jesus on the mat? They couldn't get the man inside where Jesus was teaching so they climbed on the roof and lowered him to Jesus. Because of their faith, Jesus healed and saved the lame man.

When we pray for our friends, we are like those four guys. We may not physically be able to take our friends to Jesus on a mat, but we can escort them into his loving presence through prayer. So... the next time a name crosses your mind, stop right then and escort a friend into the amazing love, forgiveness, and power of Jesus through prayer.

Is Anyone Else Losing Their Mind?

2009-11-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

I think I am losing my mind. Tonight while driving home, I turned my right blinker on at a stop sign (which I called a stop light) that only has a left turn and I was going straight. I asked my daughter to turn off the TV which really was the computer. I called a burgular, a policeman and stood in the kitchen for 5 minutes wondering why I was there.

Am I alone in this? Are there other people out there who struggle with these same issues? I pause for at least 10 seconds trying to remember words and am so grateful for my children who fill in the missing blanks. My husband continually waits patiently for me to determine what I'm trying to say. At random times I accidentally say what I am thinking outloud. The only problem is I only say two or three words of the whole thought so that it makes absolutely no sense. For example, I am sitting her typing while my hubby lays next to me in bed watching TV and all of a sudden I say, "I'm not sleeping." And he says, "What?" like...duh, you aren't sleeping, you are typing on your laptop. He's thinking "Where in the world did that come from?" but because he's used to it, he just smiles, realizing I'm talking about who knows what, and says, "Okay."

What's a woman to do? So I google, "What to do when you are loosing your mind," and find an article called "Am I Loosing My Mind, What to do about fuzzy thinking." I was a little relieved to know this is simply a case of fuzzy thinking, nothing too serious and is probably just a temporary state of mental deterioration. I figure if everyone else who lives and deals with me on a regular basis can survive, then possibly this slight case of fuzzy thinking might pass. Until then, if you see me, don't bet on anything I say, be patient in case it takes awhile, and if you know what I'm trying to say, please just appease me and act like I said it correctly.
And until the mind returns to proper functioning order and the thinking clears up, hears to lots of laughter, because it's like living with the one who flew over the coo-coos nest around here!

I guess this gives a whole new meaning to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind!" I"m hoping He is satisfied with all I have functioning at the present moment.

Are You Bursting at the Post Office?

2009-10-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Do you like going to the post office? I haven't been in over a year. I needed to get something in the mail quickly last week, so I took a deep breath and decided to give it a chance.

Sometimes the greatest things happen where and when we least expect it!

While waiting in line for over an hour, I began visiting with the lady in front of me. She was mailing packages to her daughter in Korea who is teaching English to elementary students. Her story was amazing and my mind shifted to the many opportunities in life that pass us by. I never thought of working over seas when I was in college. I wonder how we get so trapped in our own little pond and miss the vast sea of life and experience that is just a little ways downstream. We can't see the ocean because we are just a little trickle in the forest trying to make it's way to the sea.

When my new friend headed for the counter to mail her packages, the lady behind me began to chit-chat. After a few minutes of great conversation, I discovered that she was an AUTHOR who has published 5 books, some of which have received awards!

Here I was in the post-office at 8am in the morning in my running shorts, had not brushed my hair or teeth for that matter, and was probably a little stanky, but, God placed me in this moment in time to show me how he uses ordinary women to do amazing things all over his world. He uses moms to love and support their daughters overseas with packages of goodies and needs. He uses daughters to travel to faraway countries to teach little girls who are desperately needy. He uses ordinary wives to write books that influence all the other thousands of women in the world.

What about you? What has God created you to do? You'll know you are doing exactly what he wants you to do because you will burst at the seams to tell the person in line behind you at the post office what he is doing in your life. It might be staying home and caring for your family of 4 or traveling the world impacting 4 million. Whatever God has called you to do and where ever he has placed you, do it with all your heart. Embrace it! Enjoy it! Love it so much that you can't wait to tell someone else!

"Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as if you are working for the Lord."

The Coolest Thing About Cells

2009-10-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

Last week at the LifeWay Kids Conference, I heard a scientist speak on "cells." Honestly, I thought this was going to be the MOST boring lecture I had ever heard. Who could talk about your body's cells for an hour? I have found the man ! Here are 3 things every person in the world needs to know about the trillions of cells in your body!

Cells need the right nourishment. That means...eat all the veggies, nuts, and fruit you can eat. No fat, no red meat... in other words...eat healthy.
Cells need oxygen. Cells get oxygen from exercise. Walk 3 miles/day 5 days/week or bike, swim, or do aerobics the equivalent of the 3 miles.
Cells must get rid of waste.
In order to receive nourishment and oxygen and get rid of wastes, cells open and close! This is a necessary function to keep cells healthy. How do you keep your cells opening and closing?

Research has proven 4 ways.
1. Laughter
2. Positive self-talk. (Listen to what you are saying to yourself!)
3. Being kind, encouraging, doing things for others
4. PRAYER

Hasn't science proven what God has said all along?
A merry heart is good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:22...Laugh

Fill your mind with what is pure, right, excellent, praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, noble, and true. Phil 4:8... Positive self-talk

Be kind to one another. Ephesians 4:32...Doing for others

Pray without stopping. 1 Thess. 5:17...PRAY!
The scientist who lectured that morning concluded his talk with these words. You know what science has proven. You know what God says to do. I'm telling you to do it, if you choose not to, you are just LAZY, and he walked off the stage.

How about you? Lazy or not? If you find yourself leaning to the lazy side - grab a carrot, head out the door for a quick walk, laugh on the way, pray while you are walking, pick up someone else's trash, and tell yourself, "My cells are the healthiest they have ever been!"

Why Do You Believe in Prayer?

2009-10-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in prayer? My mother found a small tattered piece of paper in my grandfather's Bible after he died. It simply read, "Reasons I believe in prayer." Then he listed the names of 3 people. My grandfather had prayed for each of those 3 people and seen God answer his prayer in each of their lives.

What about you? If you were to write in the inside of your Bible, "Reasons I Believe In Prayer," would you have reasons to print?

Three 3 reasons I believe in prayer are simple Ron Skinner, my husband, and garage sale shoes.
When I was a teenager, my Sunday School teacher lead us to pray for her husband. He was not a Christian at the time. Throughout my Middle School years I prayed regularly for Mr. Skinner. By the time I graduated high school, Mr. Skinner had given his life to Christ and actively served as a leader in our youth ministry. Up until his retirement not too long ago, he was responsible for managing the lake property of Green Acres Baptist Church! God heard the sometimes silly, giggly, but oh, so serious prayers of a bunch of brace faced girls.

When I married my husband he knew Christ but hadn't fully surrendered his life to God's leadership. I begged God to "get hold of my man." One day while sitting in a worship center with 5,000 people not knowing a single one of them, tears rolled down my face as I watched my husband publicly surrender his life to Christ in baptism. What an amazing journey it has been to watch God do miraculous things in his life!

When we first moved back to Texas, I quit working and stayed home to raise the kids. Cutting back to one income was a huge transition, so funds were REALLY tight. I had no dress shoes to wear so I prayed and asked God if there was any possible way he could find some black slip ons for me.

That week the kids and I went on a walk and came upon a garage sale. I ventured through "one man's trash" to see if it might become my treasure, when I spotted the EXACT shoes I had dreamed of. They were a fancy name brand and looked like they had never been worn. There was only one problem, I couldn't imagine wearing someone else's shoes. That was just gross! So, I began praying and told the Lord if these were my shoes he had planned for me that I was sure he would protect me from feet fungus and whatever else you can get from someone else's shoes.

I decided to venture up and get a look at the owner of the shoes. Maybe she was wearing flip-flops and I could catch a quick peek at her feet. As I neared the back of the driveway, I nearly dropped to the ground. The lady having the garage sale, the owner of the shoes, was one of the pastor's wives at our church! I knew she had no idea who I was, but for some reason I reckoned that a pastor's wives feet must be pretty clean and probably fungus free. I nearly jumped up and hugged the woman. These were my shoes, sent from heaven through a clean footed pastor's wife!

The shoes didn't have a price tag so I placed them on the little card board table to see if I could afford my gift from God. The sweet Christian lady looked up, smiled, and said, "That'll be a quarter." I know she must of thought what a strange woman when tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew at that moment God didn't lie when he said he takes care of the birds and the flowers and he loves to care for us so much more than that.

The reason I believe in prayer is simple - Ron Skinner, Rick Chase, and garage sale shoes!
What about you? Why do you believe in prayer?

LifeWay Kids Conference

2009-10-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Here are the songs you requested! Hope you enjoy many hours of fun-filled singing in the classroom!

Remember:
1. When you want a child to do ANYTHING, just sing it!
2. If you can't, then chant!
3. Make a joyful NOISE!
4. Use tunes you already know. (London Bridges, Mary Had a Little Lamb)
5. You can sing any Bible thought to "Happy Birthday."

Night Time Chant
I was lying in my sleeping bag
I couldn't get to sleep.
The wind began to howl (Ooooo) and the bugs began to creak (Squeak, squeak).
(Add other night sounds...owls, snoring, potty flushing)
So I rolled to the left and I rolled to the right
And I heard every sound that you hear at night.

Jesus You Sure Know How to Color
Red is the color of my favorite rose.
Green is the color of the plant that grows.
Yellow is the color of the sun that shines.
Way up high in the blue, blue sky.
Jesus, you sure know how to color.
Jesus, you sure know how to color.
Jesus, you sure know how to color.
Color my life with love.

Here's A Little Song
Here's a little song that's fun to do.
You say, "I'm a special person and so are you."
You say it with your ______.
(eyes, nose, mouth, shoulders, hips, knees, feet, all over)
Here's what you do.
You say, "I'm a special person and so are you!"

Leave Your Luggage at the Airport

2009-10-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

Has someone in your past hurt you? Maybe someone in your life hurts you daily. What happens to the hurt and pain when you lug it around for days, weeks, years? It's like carrying a suitcase through life. It gets heavier and heavier the farther we go.

Not only does the load get heavier but it changes. The hurt becomes anger, resentment, and sometimes hate. Those emotions start to build walls between you and other people until finally you isolate yourself as best you can from the person and from the pain you can't get over.

I read a scripture this week that I have read a hundred times, but God used it to free me from my baggage and tear down some walls.

"Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly reward for which God, through Jesus, is calling us." Phil 3:13-14.

When I read the verse, I decided at that moment to list on a piece of paper all the things in my past done that I was lugging around . I set the list on a table, and said, "God I can't forget these things. They constantly come to my mind. I know you want me to forget them, so I am giving them all to you right now. Please pluck each one from my mind and never let it return."

I learned this week, when you remove something from your life, something else will always replace it. Think about a smoker who quits and replaces cigarettes with food. It dawned on me that something would have to replace these thoughts or they would return.

I asked God to fill all the empty hurt places in my mind with trust in Him and love for the person who hurt me. It has been amazing, the transformation in my mind! Nobody else probably knows it, but I do! It feels so much better!

If you are carrying baggage, set it down. Leave your suitcase at the airport of God and don't let Satan try to return it. Remember, you can't do it on your own! But through Christ, you can do all things. Let Him take it away the pain and fill your mind peace, so you can run the race of life.

Growing and Overflowing

2009-10-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Are you growing and overflowing? (And I don't mean your waistline!) Paul prayed that the love of the people in Thessalonica would be growing and overflowing for each other and all people! (1 Thess 3:12)

What does a person look like whose love is growing?
Do they forgive others even when the other person has done wrong?
Maybe they view other races and nationalities as equal or even better.
Are they nice to someone who is really annoying?
Do they keep their mouth closed when their words are sarcastic or cutting?
These seem like descriptions of people whose love is simply growing.

What about OVERflowing? What does that look like?
Do they stop and give a stranded by-stander a ride?
Maybe they go and see someone in the hospital.
Are their motives out of LOVE and not requirement?

Growing appears to cover the basics. Overflowing seems to flow over the basics and move into a challenge. Overflowing demands time, energy, commitment. But doesn't overflowing sound so much more rewarding? I would much rather have a banana split that is overflowing than one that is growing! I need my love to grow and overflow! How about you? Listen to yourself this week and see how your love is moving?
Is your love vessel clogged? Is it growing? Is it OVERflowing?

Got Potential?

2009-09-29T04:03:00.000-07:00

Would someone hire you to run Disneyworld, be the quarterback of the Houston Texans, design the next spaceship, or perform brain surgery on their loved one? Why not?
A friend's son is being recruited by college football teams. ATM, Texas, Texas Tech, and O.U. have all tried to allure him to their schools. The young man is only a sophmore in high school. Why would these colleges invest time, money, and energy into a 16 year old boy, who won't even be eligible to play for 2 more years? It's all about POTENTIAL. The coaches see something in this young boy, that most ordinary people overlook. They know he possesses skills, talents, and abilities that he will grow into.
When God looks at you, he sees POTENTIAL. He recognizes your skills, personality, and strengths. He is leading and guiding your growth in these areas. Just like the recruiters have intentional plans for my friend's son, God has a very specific purpose for you. He knows that you are far more capable of anything you can imagine right now. The young male athlete has no idea that he may be the next Heisman Trophy winner, but the recruiters do.
Allow God to transform your life into His image so you can live out your potential.
Read his word. Discover your strengths. Talk to people who love you about areas in which you excel. Ask God to reveal your potential.
David was a kid who took care of sheep. God saw his potential.
Moses was a murderer who stuttered. God saw his potential.
Esther was a young girl who had no parents. God saw her potential.
(Place your name here) is a woman/man who God loves. God sees your potential.
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11

How Do You Smell?

2009-09-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

What do you smell like? What aroma are you putting off? Some mornings I go for a run while my family is still sleeping. They often times wake up to discover a stinky momma! After running several miles, I don't smell too good! Honestly, my aroma reeks!

On the other hand, what comes to your mind when you hear, "Cookies baking in the oven." Is your mouth watering? Can you smell that sweet aroma? Are you picturing chocolate chips melting in your mouth?

Paul described his life in 2 Cor. 2: 14-16 as a sweet life-giving perfume that spreads the knowledge of Jesus everywhere. As I read this I wondered, "What do people smell when they are around me? Am I a sweet perfume? Am I life-giving? Do I spread Jesus' love everywhere?"

People, like Paul, who are a sweet aroma of Christ are easy to spot. When you are around them, you experience joy, peace, forgivness, kindness, gentleness. They are encouraging and uplifting. They speak the truth, hold the door for strangers, or let someone else go first. They listen and are genuinely interested in you. When they speak, you hear them talk about what God is doing in their life. When you are around them, you experience LIFE, because they are life-giving!

What about you? How do you smell today? Are you giving life or draining others of joy and hope? After being around you do people smile, have hope, and know that God is faithful and Jesus loves them? If so, keep spreading that sweet smell. If not, try deodorant, it might help! :)

Go Hard

2009-09-24T03:36:00.001-07:00

Have you ever done something hard? I mean REALLY hard? Our friends invited us to their home on the lake. They are super water skiers. I hadn't water skied since I was in high school. I was determined that this old lady could still do it. I got up fine on 2 skis, but wanted to try to ski on one ski.

The driver of the boat was so patient. He would wait as I got ready in the water, gun the boat when I gave the thumbs up, realize I fell, circle back around, and start the process all over again. Finally, after drinking 1/2 the lake and snorting the other 1/2, I felt my body rise above the water and steady up right on that 1 ski! I did it. I was floating across the top of the lake.

In our lives today, how often do we do hard things? I mean REALLY hard things? I knew skiing on one ski was really hard because it took lots of time, tries, and tears. The following day I felt like someone had punched my entire body for at least an hour. My right cheek (and I mean my lower cheek) hurt so bad I could hardly walk. Tears literally rolled down my face as I tried to get out of bed the following morning.

Paul was the kind of man who did hard things. He never shyed away from his purpose of preaching the gospel all over the world. (Could you imagine your life mission being to spread the gospel to every single person in America?) Paul demanded of himself, "I don't run like a man running aimlessly, I don't fight like a man beating the air. NO, I BEAT MY BODY AND MAKE IT MY SLAVE, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Cor. 9:26-27. Paul chose to do hard things and then disciplined himself to GO HARD!

What hard thing have you done lately? Have you pushed yourself to do something that required your personal time, tons of tries, and salty tears? Have you ever had to beat your body and make your slave in order to accomplish the purposes of your life? Society programs us to think quick and easy. Rebel against the norm and challenge yourself to go hard!

Staying married isn't easy. Living debt free is hard. Turning off technology and investing in family time requires a little pain. Reading the Bible everyday takes time. Letting others be right might involve tears. Controlling the tongue or temper may demand discipline.

Think about your life. In what areas do you need to, GO HARD?

Why Is Your Arm Up?

2009-09-22T12:26:00.001-07:00

We were sitting in church on Sunday listening to the preacher. I noticed my husband shifting in his seat. Then suddenly I saw him lift his arm beside his head. I thought to myself, "Is he worshipping? Does he want to ask the pastor a question? Has the Holy Spirit come upon him?"

I turned my head to make eye contact. He was in his own world with his arm up. I knew he had a bad arm, so I began to wonder, "Is he being healed right here in front of my eyes?" Then I began to think, "What are all the people sitting behind us thinking? Are they thinking, "Dude, put your arm down I can't see. Hey you up there with your arm up, he's not going to call on you to ask your question. Just e-mail it in later. Hello, nut job, this isn't the music time, why are you raising your hand?"

My thoughts then raced to, "Should I be a good wife and support him? Should I lift my arm too? If I do, which arm should I raise? How should I hold my hand- facing up, down, to the side? Oh great, I'm wearing short sleeves. My "momma flap" that hangs so beautifully under my upper arm is going to wave uncontrollably when I lift my arm. I've got to start wearing long sleeves every Sunday." All these thoughts were racing through my head when finally I decided to just break his spiritual moment and ask, "What are you doing?" He replied every so non-chalantly, "My arm is just bothering me."

Isn't that how our minds work? One small thing happens that is out of sync with our normal routine, and BOOM, our minds go crazy! We start thinking about what happened, why it happened, what everyone else is doing and thinking, what we should be doing, and how we should do it. Why do we do that? It's no wonder Paul wrote "Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5

Have you ever stopped to think about what you think about? Try it! If it's not important, doesn't line up with Christ, or is your typical worry... take that thought and chunk it out of your mind! Replace the thought with PREPLANT - things that are Pure, Right, Excellent, Praiseworthy, Lovely, Admireable, Noble, and True. It might save you some wasted time in the middle of a worship service or a lot of burdensome thoughts that weigh you down!

Relish Your Everys

2009-09-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

"Do you sometimes find yourself unconsciously judging your actions by level of importance? For instance, the time you spend with friends is important, but the time you spend with family, is more important. You might rank an hour exercising as very important, thirty minutes visiting a sick friend in the hospital much more important, and a sixty second conversation with a convenience store clerk as not very important at all."
"When you know that everything matters - that every move counts as much as any other - you will begin living a life of permanent purpose."
My mind froze as I read this excerpt from The Butterfly Effect...How Your Life Matters written by Andy Andrews. Do I live a life of permanent purpose? Am I constantly rating the circumstances in my life? When will I realize that every second of my life is designed by God for his purpose and to execute his plan. Every single moment, conversation, thought, action, and activity counts!
We must live our EVERYs with full attention. You know when you haven't eaten your favorite food in a long time, and then you get the opportunity to savor every bite? You smell it, chew slowly, take your time, and relish in the flavor. That's what we have to do!
RELISH our EVERYS!!! Imagine how your life would be different if just for today, you relished your everys... every conversation, every e-mail sent and read, every meeting, every bit of homework, every dish washed, diaper changed, every song heard, every funny word, every disappointment, every heartache, every tear, every problem that you can't fix. Begin today creating a life of permenant purpose by embracing your everys!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 1Thess 5:15-16

Would You Climb a Pine Tree?

2009-09-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

Last week my son and I were sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch waiting for the bus. He noticed all the brown pine needles in the yard and commented, "Mom, I would climb to the top of that pine tree for you and get all the green pine needles."
I was surprised by his statement, and said, "That would be so nice. Tell me why you want to do that."
He responded, "Remember in 3rd grade when I brought you home all those green pine needles from the playground?"
I nodded yes, shuffling through my memory bank trying to remember.
"You said you loved green pine needles and those are your favorite."
I smiled and told him he was the most thoughtful young man and I was the luckiest mom in the world to have him!

As I thought about his words, "I would climb to the top of that pine tree for you," I was reminded of another man who climbed a tree for me. I thought about Jesus' willingness to come to earth from heaven and give up all his glory, live in this imperfect, selfish world, knowing all along that he was going to climb up on a cross beaten and in excrutiating pain just for me.

I was humbled sitting there rocking quietly. The words to an old song echoed through my mind,

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame.

But I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain."

It was Jesus mission to come to this earth and save you. He willingly laid down his life to call you his own. Have you thought lately about the price he paid for you? Do you know what he gave up to climb up on a tree to prove his love for you? What would it take for you to willingly lay down your life to prove your love for him?

Are You Ready for Some Football

2009-09-08T20:45:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for some football? My son is! He thrives on football practices, tackling, hitting, and game time. Each week after my son's football games the coaches receive a recording of the game. The coaches analyze the film to see how players can improve. Today when we were looking at the film with our son, I noticed something. We quickly recognized and responded to the poor plays and said little if anything about the hard hits and great runs. As we were discussing the game, his shoulders began to droop and he became frustrated.

It suddenly dawned on me, how would I feel if someone recorded me all day long and then analyzed and told me every wrong move I made? I probably would want to sock them in the kisser or quit.

This was a great reminder to me that it takes 10 positive comments to offset 1 negative! Are you a person of few negatives and abundant positives? The Bible says, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth BUT ONLY WORDS USED TO BUILD OTHERS UP" Eph. 4:29. Check your words. Are they builders or destroyers? Make it a goal to pour 10 positive statements into the lives of those you love this week!

Are You Contagious?

2009-09-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Are you contagious? Not with a cold or swine flu. Contagious means "carrying the causative agent of a contagious disease." Think for a minute about what causative agent you carry. Joy? Faith? Kindness? Encouragment? Positive Outlook? What disease do people get after being around you for 10 minutes?

We are all contagious in one way or another. What about you? What disease are you spreading?Notice how people respond to your conversations. How do people affect their world after being around you for awhile?

Determine today what you want to spread and BE CONTAGIOUS!

Needed: Life Investors

2009-09-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

What are you leaving behind? My mother recently showed me several quilts my great-grandmother made. One of them is bright yellow with pink, blue, and green flowers. I love it! It is the cutest quilt ever! If my husband wasn't against bright yellow and and colorful flowers, I would decorate our entire room around this quilt!

Sometimes I wonder if my great-grandmother prayed for the people who curl up under the quilt. Did she know her great grand-daughter would love it and use it daily? Could she have known that 5 generations would enjoy her beautiful creation?

What are we doing daily that will make a lasting impact on those we love? When we are gone, what will our great-grandchildren hold in their hands and hearts that we leave behind?

3 things I want to leave for my great-grandchildren:
1. A deep love of Christ.
2. An attitude of joy and love for others.
3. A sincere and honest passion for icecream, I mean wisdom!!!!

We have a short time on this earth! Many of us aren't quilt makers, but we can be life investors!
Start today investing wisdom, values and morals, and a love for God in others. How? Share tips of wisdom in conversation. When God does something great in your life, tell those you love. Work together with your children or grandchildren to do something kind for someone else. Tell your family and friends, "I love you," and show them by giving them your time!

Decide today what you want to leave behind & make HUGE investments daily!

"With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." Ps 89:1

Rejected Recently?

2009-09-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been rejected? A girlfriend/boyfriend broke up with you as a teen. A boss let you go. A group/clique denied your acceptance. Rejection hurts! It cuts deep into the heart and leaves you feeling worthless.

Tonight I heard a man say, "In this business you have to EMBRACE REJECTION." When I was selling Arbonne, I learned 5 "nos" from potential customers = 1 "yes." Anytime a customer said no, I marked a talley and thought, "I only need 4 more."

As Christians we are guaranteed that God causes all things to work together for good. Our rejections are part of God's plan. My husband worked for Shred-It, a document destruction company for many years. The day he went to bid on the Enron account, I begged for a "yes." If he landed the account, it could mean a GINORMOUS bonus, and that meant cha-ching! My husband got rejected. Enron turned him down and went with someone else. I must confess, I was a little upset with God. Didn't he know how much we could have used that "yes?"

God knew how great that yes would have been, but he knew how much better the no was. When Enron was under investigation and destroyed, I was so thankful for the no! God used the Enron rejection to protect my husband.

When rejection comes, embrace it. Know God is working all things together for good. You may not have to endure 4 rejections before you get the big yes, but EMBRACE the rejections that come.

Play the Glad Game

2009-09-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the Glad Game? When you are down and out, ticked off, or life throws you a curve ball, play the Glad Game. See how many times you can complete the following sentence.
I am glad _____________________________________________!

This week I am glad my husband has a job. I am glad my children have good teachers. I am glad I live in my neighborhood. I am glad I got to go to lunch with a friend today. I am glad it is bedtime!

When you list all the things that make you glad, the worries, anger, and frustrations disappear!
Remember this, too, when you are upset with your spouse or children. List all the things you are glad about them. It really changes your disposition towards life!

"A righteous one can sing and be glad." Proverbs 29:6

Why Do You Pray?

2009-08-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

Why do we pray? Listen to your prayers tonight before you go to bed or tomorrow before meals. What do you say to God? Why do you say what you pray?
Do your prayers sound like this? “Thank you God for this day. Thank you for my family. You are awesome. Be with my friend who is sick. Be with my cousin because she is having a bad day. Help us to all have a good day. In Jesus name, Amen.”
If prayer is to strengthen our relationship with God, did that prayer create intimacy with Him?
If prayer is to ask God for things for our friends and family, would that prayer help?
If prayer is to hear from God, could we hear Him in that prayer?
If prayer is to discover our purpose & mission in life, could we discern direction from that prayer?

Jesus said if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to a mountain move and it would.
I would like to see a mountain move. I want to experience the power of God. I want to witness a miracle. Don’t you? What would it take for that to happen?

Could our prayers be so radically changed that mountains moved? Could our prayers become so intimate that we experienced God like Saul did when he became Paul? Could our prayers be so intense that we shed drops of blood as we fell face down on the ground seeking God’s guidance and help?

Let’s get real with God. Stop the cherades and artificial face talk. Pour our souls out to him and watch and see what happens. And somebody call Colorado because those Rocky Mountains might start movin'!

Crystal Clear or Muddy Water?

2009-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today someone asked me if I would help in a specific area. The person wasn’t sure what the job would entail, how many hours were required, when my help was needed, or if the area of help would actually transpire. When the friend finished speaking, I responded, “What I hear you saying is… you MIGHT need my help to do something that we aren’t sure what it is, when it MIGHT be, how often you MIGHT need me, or whether you will really need me or not.” She replied, “Exactly.” We both laughed as I thought, “That was as clear as muddy water.”

Do you ever feel like life is as clear as muddy water? Life is good. You love your family, have a great home, super friends, everyone is healthy. Life seems crystal clear. At the same time it’s as grim as muddy water. How are you going to pay the bills? Why is your child struggling? Why do you dread going to work? When will that relationship work out? What is your purpose on this earth? How do we sift through the mud to swim in the cloudless water?

Maybe the clarity comes in perspective. When we view life from a heavenly outlook, it’s clear. When our eyes and mind shift to a worldly perspective, the cloudy water of doubt, worry, fear, disappointment and anger, distort our vision. What do we do?

Look up. Look in. Look around. Turn your eyes up and focus on God. Trust Him. He is in control. He loves you and wants what is best for you. Look in His word. Pounce on His promises. Walk in His wisdom. Execute His commands. Spend valuable time chewing on His truth. Lastly, look around. Is there someone you can help? Is there another person in worse shape than you? Notice everything you have to be thankful for! When we keep our eyes pointed in the right direction, the murky water fades and the truth is crystal clear. Which way are your eyes pointing today?

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Col. 3:2

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2009-08-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

Agree or disagree with this statement? Life can throw us the biggest challenges...ie, illness, unemployment, children taking the wrong path...and we have a sense that God will carry us through and work it out, but the little things in life send us over the edge.

When faced with the giant struggles, we have hope and a sense of peace. Don't get me wrong, it hurts. We cry. Yell sometimes. Might even punch a pillow or two. But in our hearts we know God is in control. He provides. He loves us. He wants the best for us. We know he is stretching us to grow our faith or transforming us into his image. We trust him.

But when our kids get the wrong teacher, a lightbulb blows out in our car, someone spills milk on the carpet, or for heaven's sake, a selfish driver pulls out in front us on the freeway, we literally BLOW A GASKET!!! We flip. We start biting heads off. We think the world is going to turn around and revolve backwards. Why is this?

I learned a very valuable lesson this week. On Monday I wrote about Stephanie Chase and her terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. (that's a children's book :)) I blew a gasket that day. I cried. I yelled. I wanted to quit. Tonight, however, I received one of the sweetest e-mails ever. A dear friend wrote how God used Monday's blog to encourage her in the midst of a friend's battle with cancer.

Was God orchestrating my unimportant little challenge on Monday to bring glory to Himself and encourage someone else? What if that was the reason I had to endure the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? The answer: if the reason was to help 1 person, I would do it all over again!

In a tiny, remote way isn't that how Jesus must have felt on the cross? Did he think, "I would do this all over again just to save that 1 person from hell, to give life, hope, and peace to that 1 who needs it." Jesus must have said, "I will suffer the most terrible, most horrible, awful, painful day, so that you may have life!" WOW! I get all excited thinking about it!!! Thank you Jesus!!!!

So...the next time you are throwing a fit about something, crying on the phone to tech support, getting cut off in traffic, or your child's teacher is a major dud...imagine God using this 1 small thing in your life to bring glory to Him by using it to help someone else!!! These thoughts will turn our no good, terrible, horrible, bad days into encouraging, helpful, Christ-centered, selfless moments!

Your Child's Success/Failure Is In Your Body

2009-08-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Do you want your child to succeed or fail? You play a powerful role in the determination of that question.

In a recent study, a group of students were told exactly what would happen in an experiment prior to starting. A teacher degraded and belittled each student with snide remarks and negative comments. She cut the students to the core. Many children were sobbing by the time the teacher finished, even though they knew the insults were part of the project. After the cruel verbal abuse, each student took a test. Every student in the class failed.

The same study was repeated. This time the teacher lavished compliments and encouragement on the class. She praised each student individually and cheered them to be their best. After the positive reinforcement, each student took a test. Every student in the class made an A.

Is your child succeeding? Plant seeds of success with simple phrases like...
I am proud of you because you make good choices.
I noticed you helped your sister today. I’m impressed!
Out of all the kids in the world, I am so glad God gave you to me.
You are organized.
You are a good listener.
You are very conversational.
You use your head wisely.
You have great ideas.
I love your energy level!
I can see you making a huge mark in this world.
I can see you doing something no one else has ever done before.

Catch your child doing something good today and tell him/her!

“The tongue has the power of life and death.” Prov. 18:21

Remember to Save Your Work...Jesus Does!

2009-08-25T09:42:00.001-07:00

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.Finally fed up, God said, 'THAT'S IT! I have had enough I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job.'

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.
They moused.
They faxed.
They e-mailed.
They e-mailed with attachments.
They downloaded.
They did spreadsheets!
They wrote reports.
They created labels and cards.
They created charts and graphs.
They did some genealogy reports
They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off..Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming:'It's gone! It's all GONE! 'I lost everything when the power went out!

'Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work..Satan observed this and became irate.'Wait!' he screamed. 'That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?'God just shrugged and said, JESUS SAVES!

Do You Wanna Quit?

2009-08-24T19:38:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you just want to QUIT!!! Throw in the towel. Hang it up. Crawl back under the covers & bury life. Today was one of those days for me. I have been trying for 3 weeks to register for school and today the straw broke this camel’s back.

Because I preregistered and didn’t pay by a certain date, all of my classes were dropped. In order for me to re-enroll, I had to pay the designated amount. There was 1 small problem…the reason I hadn’t paid in the first place was because I was being overcharged. After talking with 4 different people on the main campus, waiting for return phone calls, being on hold for extended periods of time, transferring to various departments, no one could explain the charges. I was told the only way to get an itemized statement was to pay the amount and then the bill would be sent to my web advisor account on line. Now, does that sound right? That’s like saying give me $1000 and then I’ll show you the TV you just bought!

I proceeded with an idea that I thought might work, to have another door slammed in my face. Through tears, anger, and frustration, I persisted. Although I wanted to sit down on the floor and shout at the top of my lungs, “I QUIT,” my sweet husband kept saying, “Keep trying. Don’t give up. You are supposed to be doing this. I am not letting you quit now.”

With the help of some very patient friends and a great advisor, the problem was solved. I was reminded, though, that even when things look impossible, bleak, or hopeless, don’t quit! If you know you are doing what God has planned for you, move. Keep pressing on. Go. Persevere.

Imagine Jesus quitting. What if he handed his cross back to the father and shouted, “I QUIT!” Jesus didn’t. He remained steady in the face of adversity. He stuck with it until the bitter end became a beautiful blessing. We, too, must persist in the plans God has for us. When trouble, hard times, or opposition block your path, stand up and shout, “I WILL” and keep moving.

“Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14

Would You Throw Someone Down a Chimney?

2009-08-23T19:46:00.001-07:00

I had the privelege of serving in a 1st grade LifeGroup today at our church. As the 14 little, bright-eyed cuties gathered around, we discussed the story of the four friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus. The 4 friends climbed the roof and attempted to lower the man down to Jesus because there was no room.
As I told the story, I stopped and asked what we would do if we were the 4 men. How would we lower the man through the ceiling? You could see their wheels turning. One little boy decided it would be easy. Since the house was full, people could reach up and catch him. Another little girl, chimed in, "We could use rope." Suddenly a bright boy sprang from his knees and shouted, "We could throw him down the chimney. He's paralyzed so he wouldn't feel it anyway!"
That might be one way to bring our friends to Jesus, but there must be a simpler alternative. There are people around us every day who are desperate for hope, help, answers, and love. Jesus is what they need. Are we a friend who cares so much that we will do whatever it takes to bring our friends to Jesus? Do we notice hurting people? Are we willing to stop our predetermined plans to spend time with them? Will we physically give the energy and resources necessary? I''m not suggesting we pick them up and throw them down chimneys, but let's be aware of those who need Jesus & offer the kind word, an invitation to church, or a listening ear!

"Being unable to get to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" Mark 2:4-5

Who is the Most Trustworthy Person You Know?

2009-08-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Do you trust people? Who is the one person you trust the most? I heard John Maxwell tell about a friend he completely trusted. Maxwell started a new business and gave the entire company to the friend with the agreement when John was ready to have the business back, the trustworthy mentor would return it. After quiet sometime, John returned to claim his business. With kindness and love, the companion gave back the business in better shape than John says he could have managed it. Is there someone you could trust enough to give your business, finances, or family?
The answer is Jesus Christ. He is the one person you can trust with your entire life. He loves you more than anyone else ever could. He adores you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is working everything in your life for good. He has plans for you, to prosper you and not to harm you. Will you trust him with your life, your job, your children, marriage, finances, health? Choose today to trust the one person who is most trustworthy.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Reading The Bible Is Boring

2009-08-17T19:38:00.001-07:00

Reading the Bible is boring. I get nothing out of it. It's too difficult to understand. Have you ever had these thoughts? Recently someone asked me, "How do you understand the Bible?"

It's like loosing your car keys. What do you do when you have to be somewhere in 10 minutes and the keys to your car are nowhere to be found? Do you search whole-heartedly, ask others to help, or give up? What happens if you quit? You miss an appointment, school, or job which leads to seriously negative consequences.

When you read your Bible, search for the 1 thought God has for you like searching for lost keys. Read until you find that 1 unique truth written specifically for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help. A mentor told me to pray, "God you are the shepherd. I am the sheep. Your word is a meadow of food for life. Lead me where you want me to graze." Dive into the word. When a verse, word, or story jumps out at you, STOP. Re-read it. Think about it. Chew on it. Savor it. Digest it. Pray about it. Do it!

I am reading the Bible through this year. You might not think Ezekiel is a hot bed of entertaining literature, but it is. Yesterday, I read the most disgustingly funny verse in Ezekiel 23, I have ever read in the Bible. God is describing Samaria and Jerusalem's unfaithfulness to him. Let me tell you, God gives an explicit picture of the rupture in their relationship! Enjoy the variation in the Bible. It is drama, romance, tragedy, and self-help all inspired by God.

Imagine life without the Bible! We wouldn't know how to live, act, raise our children, or handle our finances. How would we know truth and wisdom? Don't spend your life without these things. Experience the blessings and hope of grazing through the word daily!

"Meditate on the Bible day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and succesful." Joshua 1:8

Have You Heard of Neal Jeffrey?

2009-08-16T21:19:00.001-07:00

Do you have major lids on your life - something that keeps you from being all God intended you to be? Tonight I heard a former major league football player and current pastor speak, Neal Jeffrey. He has one major lid in his life - stuttering. Even as he spoke tonight for 1 hour, there were times when he stuttered, paused and waited patiently for the words to come. He was dynamic. He made a powerful impact in my life. How did he overcome this lid?
3 Ways to Overcome Your Lid
Hear it - People throughout Jeffrey's life said, "You can do it. Your speech impairment can't stop you, only your desire can stop you. Try it. Go for it."

Got it - When people spoke positive words into his life, he understood what they were saying. He believed it.

Saw it - He watched Joe Namoth as a young boy and knew that is exactly what he wanted to be. He also saw his father live a godly life, and decided that was the road for him.

What are your lids? If Jeffrey can speak around the country to thousands of people with a stuttering problem, what is holding you back from being all God wants? We have no excuse.

What are you hearing? There are way too many negative people in this world. Surround yourself with honest, encouraging people.

What is God's plan for your life? Can you see it? Have you got it? Remove the lids and go for it!

Also, be the one who pours positive, encouraging words in the lives of others. Live a life that reflects Christ, so they can get a vision of the very best person to be!

What is The Quickest Way to Annihilate Your Body?

2009-08-15T19:58:00.001-07:00

Would you volunteer to rip your arms out of socket, jar your head repeatedly like beating it against a brick wall for 15 minutes, endure an atomic wedgie, suck 1/2 a gallon of water up your nose, loose 1/2 your clothing, and get stuck upside down in water unable to turn yourself over all in the name of fun? If your answer is yes, knee-boarding is for you! Today I enjoyed and endured my first experience with knee-boarding. As painful as it was and is going to be in the morning, it was EXHILARATING! Bouncing along behind the boat. Waves pounding against the bottom of the board. Water spraying in my face. Holding on for dear life. It was GREAT! I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

As I rocked along over the surface of the water, pain and all, I thought, "This is so like life!" When I was safely nestled in the path of the boat, the ride was peaceful, calm, and enjoyable. When my pride and self-sufficiency swelled, I ventured over the wake and out into "no man's land." I was on my own, holding on for dear life. The ride was difficult, demanding, and less safe. When I left the safety of my security, I crashed and landed upside down with the board on top of me.

God has an amazing plan for our lives. When we follow his path, we are nestled safe in his hands. He gently leads and guides us. Venturing out into "my own land" gets me in trouble. I crash with the weight of the world on top of me. Where are you today? Behind the captain of your life or floundering in your own world seeking the thrill?

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. " John 8:12

Five Years Comes Fast

2009-08-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Why waste your time reading books when we have bullet points and internet? One out of four adults did not read a book in 2007. Is this healthy? Does it affect our livelihood?

Do you remember curling up in the lap of someone who loved you immensely listening to make-believe stories? Captivated by a storybook, you held on to each word whispered from the adult who cared enough to read to you. One of my favorite childhood stories was Chicken Little. I loved the silly names, Goosey Loosey, Henny Penny, and Ducky Wucky. I wondered what Chicken Little might have called me, Stephanie Wephanie, or Stuffy Stephy. I was so fearful of that nasty Foxy Loxy. How was the king to know the sky was falling with the evil creature lurking across the farm?

Reading changes, though, when you become a teenager. Most teens classify reading as totally "uncool." As a teenager, I didn’t like reading. In the mid-eighties a great writer emerged that changed my perception of books. You may remember Judy Blume. She wrote three books that captured my attention; Freckle Juice, Are You There God It’s Me Margaret? and It’s Not the End of the World. These were the only three books I read for pleasure as a teen, and I probably read each one 5 times.

As adults we are busy. Why waste our time reading books? Do we really need to read? Check out these proven facts. Reading…

· Exercises your brain.
· Reduces your Stress.
· Develops your focus and concentration.
· Creates a greater base of knowledge. (Which makes you more interesting.)
· Builds a foundation of connection between what you know and learn.
· Enhances your vocabulary.
· Sparks your memory.
· Gives you a new perspective of life.
· Improves your self-discipline
· Energizes your creativity
· Revolutionizes Your Life

If you haven't read a good book lately, September is coming. Set a goal to read 1 book. Keep it in your purse or computer bag, and read when you have spare moments. Charlie Jones said it best,
“You're the same today as you'll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Five years comes awfully fast. Who will you be?

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it out." Prov. 18:15

Only Do What Only You Can Do

2009-08-11T18:52:00.001-07:00

You have been given a single gift that no other person in the world possesses! What are you doing with it? God has given you a gift to be used for his kingdom. You are the only person with this gift. You are the only person who can use it. God gave you this gift for a specific reason & purpose. What if you miss the purpose? What if you blow the one opportunity to make the greatest impact with your life?

Eunice Shriver, sister of JFK and mother of Maria Schriver, died this week. She was known for her passionate love for people with special needs. God placed in her a desire to prove doctors wrong and overcome the negative stigma about exercise and the mentally disabled. She invested her single God-given gift and passion to begin the Special Olympics that impacted millions of families all over the world. What if Mrs. Shriver thought about her gift, talked about her gift, but never made it happen?

You have an equally if not more important gift. Do you know what it is?
Here are a few questions to help you discover your gift:

* What do you do that is almost effortless but seems a daunting task to others?
* In what arenas do you consider yourself the go-to person?
* What would you do everyday for free?
* What is the greatest natural skill you possess?

I was thinking about my church. Imagine if every person at Champion Forest Baptist Church, 5,000 people, knew their gift. What would happen to our church and community if we all put our one, single gift to work? Ask yourself this quesiton:

Where are your skills not being put to good use?

What can you do easily, naturally, and passionately that would make a huge impact in our world?

Do whatever it takes to discover your gift, then work it! Make it happen! Don't be the guy who buried his talent in the sand. Be the wise one who invested his gift and reaped a huge return! Imagine if 5,000 people at CFBC reaped only a 20% return. (I'll let you do the math, because that is not my gift! :) How would Spring, Houston, and the world be changed forever?

There are many things you CAN do, but narrow it down to the one thing you MUST do. You will have many opportunities, but very few assignments. Your gift is the single assignment you must do - a natural passion, skill, strength, talent, vision, dream! Talk to someone this week about it! Pray about ways to make it happen.

CFBC is blessed with visionary leaders who want every believer to experience God's purpose and plan. If you are a member of CFBC, let them guide you as you put your gift in play!

If you are not a member of CFBC, discover your gift and work it in your job, home, community, church, and life. Take this little seed and plant it in the areas you impact.

"We all have different gifts according to the grace given to us." Romans 12:6

These thoughts were inspired by "Next Generation Leader" by Andy Stanley.

Spotting a Preschooler

2009-08-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

I love preschoolers! They are hilarious! My 18 month old cousin sat down on the floor last week and proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs because her daddy walked out of the room. I can so relate to that somedays! Don't you just want to lay down and throw a fit sometimes? Maybe when the driver in front of you won't break 20 miles per hour. How about when noone makes their beds and everyone leaves all the dishes in the sink? Although we can't act like preschoolers, it's fun to watch them. Here is what a normal preschooler might look like.
A normal preschooler...
lies and tell stories
picks his nose
chews with his mouth full
runs instead of walks
is afraid of the dark
embarrasses you in public
constantly wiggles
splashes water all over the bathroom
tells you no
spills at most meals
constantly asks why
breaks important things
hits, kicks, or bites other children
smacks his food
throws himself on the floor when he doesn't get his way
stays dirty
leaves toys on the floor
loves to dance
loves to sit in your lap
laughs, giggles, and smiles
is fascinated by the simple things in life, like butterflies, worms, lipstick, and firetrucks
gives lots of hugs
tells you when he feels how much he loves you
says the funniest things
talks all the time
wants your attention
makes you laugh
is silly and has fun
loves to read and play games

A normal preschooler brings many headaches, frustrations, and trying moments.
A normal preschooler is here today and grown tomorrow...
Cherish your normal preschooler, after HE IS NORMAL!

Next time you are at a store or out to eat, take time to observe the preschoolers around you! Notice any similarities?

Songs for The Awesome Lamb School Teachers

2009-08-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

Special Song:
Here's a little song that's fun to do,
You say "I'm a special person and so are you."
You say it with your eyes, here's what you do
You say, "I'm a special person and so are you."
Repeat with nose, mouth, shoulders, knees, feet, all over.

I Wish Song:
Oh I wish I were a little juicy orange, juicy orange.
Oh I wish I were a little juicy orange, juicy orange.
I'd go squirty, squirty, squirty over everybody's shirty.
Oh I wish I were a little juicy orange.
Repeat with
a little speedy car - speedy, speedy, speedy over everybody's feety
a little bar of soap -slidy, slidy, slidy over everybody's hidey
a little bottle of coke - down with every slurp and come up with every burp

5 Senses:
I have 5 senses and they all belong to me.
The first one is for hearing and the 2nd is to see.
The third one is for smelling and the 4th one is to touch.
But the 5th one is my favorite 'cause I get to eat so much.

Waiting:
I've been waiting for you to come to this place.
Waiting for you to come to this place.
Where ever your from, I'm glad that you've come.
I've been waiting for you to come to this place.

Chapel Song:
Going to the chapel and we're learning 'bout Jesus.
Going to the chapel and we're learning 'bout Jesus.
Ooooo, I really, really love him.
He really loves me too.
So, we're going to the chapel today!

What Do You Do When No One Is Looking?

2009-08-10T20:51:00.001-07:00

Integrity is how you act when no one is looking. No one was looking this morning and I blew it! Today is my daughter’s 14th birthday. I planned to go for a short jog, head to the bank, cash a check, purchase her gifts, and be home before anyone awoke. The presents would be wrapped, on the table, and we would have icecream before 9am.

My first mistake was going to a bank we don’t normally use. The teller was very nice. I waited 15 minutes knowing I was on a strict time schedule. She began to ask questions. I answered and she resumed clicking on the computer for another 5 minutes. After I had waited 25 minutes, she proceeded to tell me that she could not cash the check.

INSTEAD OF walking away calmly and thanking her for her genuine attempts to cash the check, I drilled her with 50 questions, irrationally tried to reason with her, and half-heartedly apologized for my impatience. I didn’t stop there either. I got in the car and called my husband. I reamed him as if he had anything to do with it. After hanging up on him, I continued foolishly complaining to the air.

What in the world happened to me? It was like an evil person jumped from inside my body and took over. Does that ever happen to you? If it doesn’t, pacify me and act like it does.
As I was throwing my fit, the word INTEGRITY came to my mind! (Don’t you hate it when that happens? You are really mad and some logical thought flies through your head that makes you feel like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe.) How did I act today when no one was watching? How did I treat someone who was trying to help me?

I realized this morning I have a lot of room to grow in the integrity department. Thank goodness God is in the business of growth and transformation. What do I do the next time Mrs. Evil leaps from my body and takes over? Slap her and put her back in her place! Recognize the behavior, regain integrity, and act with intelligence!

"A wise woman keeps herself under control." Proverbs 29:11

Tractor Panic

2009-08-09T21:01:00.000-07:00

A sign in my kitchen reads, “A day in the country is worth a month in town.” Most of my girlfriends prefer the mall, but put me knee deep in a luscious green pasture or hiking through the woods. This weekend I ventured out to my parent’s farm and got to drive my daddy’s new tractor. I realize most normal women prefer driving a nice BMW or Mercedes, but throw me on a tractor and I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.

I listened carefully to the driving instructions and saddled up. I bumped across the front field thinking Kenny Chesney may think his tractor is, well, I’ll let you fill in the words, but he ain’t got nothin’ on me. As I bounced along singing and soaking in the country air, I saw an animal dart across the field. I was so excited. I lost focus of my new ride as I searched through the tall grass.

Suddenly, I realized I better stop this tractor or I'm going to hit the cabin. I tried to remember the stopping directions. As I slid the gear shift into neutral I felt the tractor pick up speed. I was going downhill. Why wasn’t it stopping? My dad was following me in the truck. I hollered back at him.
“How do I stop?” He said something. I couldn’t hear him. The tractor picked up more speed.
“How do I stop?” I yelled more frantically. He responded but I still couldn’t hear.
“I’m trying to stop. What do I do?” I screamed.
He smiled and calmly replied, “Put on the break.”

Isn’t life like that? We roll along, enjoying life and then boom, something throws us for a loop, we get distracted, and forget how to put on the break. It’s like eating chips at a Mexican food restaurant. You start eating and can't stop.

Have you ever been shopping, knowing you are spending way too much money, but get so distracted by the purchase, you forget to stop? What about yelling at your kids? You know you should talk calmly, but you loose control and let ‘er fly. What about spending time on facebook or the computer? You know it’s an addiction that takes you away from your family and responsibilities, but what is another hour going to hurt? What about pornography? You know it’s killing your mind and relationships, but you can’t stop.

Do you ever feel like yelling at someone, “How do I stop?” One of the hardest things to conquer in life is “self-control.” Self-control is simply stopping when you know you’ve crossed the line. You know when you’ve gone too far, because you feel it in your heart and hear it in your head. When you feel it and hear it, get tough. Put on the breaks & come to a complete stop.

If it’s debt, cut up your credit card. Pay cash only.
If it’s eating, throw away the sodas and sweets. Eat veggies and drink water.
If it’s porn, get rid of the laptop, magazines, or channels. Only use the TV/computer when someone is in the room with you.
If it’s anger, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Speak calmly.

Self-control is a choice. What is God commanding you to stop? Are you willing to put on the breaks? If so, slam on the breaks and put that tractor in park.

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Are You Soaring?

2009-08-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Which would you rather be an ant, a dog, or an eagle? Ants work their way through life caught up in the petty things of this world and never see there is more. They are easily squished by others and sting when they don’t get their way.
Dogs are followers who try to please important people and waste time chasing their tails. They perform quickly for a treat, but sleep their life away.
Look at interesting facts about eagles.

The strike of the eagle talon is so powerful that its force is twice that of a rifle bullet.
Bald Eagles can fly with 8 pounds of food.
There are approximately 7,000 feathers on an eagle.
Pound for pound, an eagle's wing is stronger than the wing of an airplane.

The most remarkable fact is an eagle can see up to one and a half miles away, thus the term “eagle eye.” Imagine sitting on your front porch and having the ability to see for a mile. What could you see?
We can be eagles. We can rise above the petty things of this world, stop following others, chasing our tails, and view life from a different perspective. Like an eagle floating across a baby blue sky, we can be free from the pressure of the world, and experience a heavenly view.
How do we soar? Grasp God’s view – love, kindness, peace. Read Proverbs. It will transform your view of life. Recognize the world’s requirement for success. If it demands selfishness, debt, dishonesty, or immorality, it’s not an eagle-eye view. Shake off the need to impress others and the addictions holding you down.
Imagine yourself floating through the sky far above this earth. Why be an ant or a dog? Soar through life with an eagle-eye view.

GABC EDUCATORS
Here’s a little song that’s fun to do.
You say, “I’m a special person and so are you.”
You say it with your eyes. Here’s what you do.
You say, “I’m a special person and so are you.”
Repeat using nose, mouth, shoulders, hips, knees, feet all over!

Socially Professional What?

2009-08-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

How would you define "socially professional?" I spent 6 hours today teaching 80 incredible Early Childhood Educators. They are passionate women who are committed to leading the next generation. One of our topics was "How to be Socially Professional." It's a strange sounding concept, but it has a huge impact in your life.

Socially professional people smile, make eye contact, and no how to "cut the drama." When working in an environment with 80 women, gossip is a tempting distraction. It sneaks in like a slithering snake and bites when you least expect it. What do you do when a friend or co-worker approaches you with friendly gossip about the latest office, neighborhood, or church drama? You "cut the drama" immediately.

How? It's easy. Look the person in the eye, listen, and maintain a 1/2 smile. If you give them a full smile, it will encourage the conversation, and you don't want that. When the person finishes the story, gently fold your hands in front of you and reply, "Okay." Say nothing else.

The silence is like a knife cutting out the fun and emotion of stirring up gossip. It may feel awkward the first time you try it and beware, you will no longer be the center of hot conversation, but you will become an amazing socially professional person.

"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only words for building up others."

Ephesians 4:29

FOR GABC EDUCATORS:
(I will post 1 song/poem each day! Thanks for a great conference!)
It's a happy day and I thank God for the weather.
It's a happy day and I'm living it for my Lord.
It's a happy day and things are gonna get better.
Living each day on the promises of God's word.
BUT
It's a grumpy day and I don't like the weather.
It's a grumpy day and I'm living it for myself.
It's a grumpy day and things ain't gonna get better.
Living each day on the promises of God's word.

How do I Fly When I Feel Like I'm Falling?

2009-08-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Have you survived a plane crash? My father is a pilot. He and my husband went flying early one morning while I slept late. About ten that morning I received a phone call. It was my husband. "We've been in a plane crash. Come to the hospital," he said. I laughed and told him that wasn't funny. He repeated his plea with a little more urgency, but I would not be fooled by the practical joke. "Ha. Ha. Where are you really? Stop joking," I said. This time I heard a tremble in my husband's voice as he said, "I'm not joking. Come to the hospital NOW." My heart sank. I couldn't believe it. The two men I loved most in my life had been in a plane crash.
Miraculously, they both survived. My dad got 52 stitches in his face and my husband walked away with just a few stitches. How does a pilot handle a crash? What does he do in the air when he knows the plane is about to hit the ground?

There were 3 critical statements my father learned when taking flying lessons.
1. Fly the plane.
2. Be ahead of the plane.
3. Keep scanning.

What do you do when you feel like life is crashing in on you? What do you do when you are about to hit the bottom? Follow the pilot's wise advice.

1.Live your life. Don't stop. Keep trying. Put one foot in front of the other. It's like drowning. When going under in the middle of a lake, what is your single focus? SWIM. Life may not make sense. It may seem impossible, but like the pilot, you have to keep flying the plane.
2. Be ahead of the game. If you are not in crisis mode right not, prepare for what lies ahead. Prepare mentally. Set goals. Make a plan. Dream a little. Prepare spiritually. Have a mindset of faith in the one who created you. Believe that all things work together for good for those who love him. Stay positive. Prepare financiallly. Get out of debt and save a few bucks. Prepare physically. Eat right, get rest, and exercise. Be ahead of the game.
3. Scan your options. Be aware of the possibilites that surround you. Get your head out of the sand and look for alternatives. Think outside the box. Get to know quality people who can help you.

The morning my husband and father left for a quick flight around the city, we had no idea what the day would bring. We have know idea what tomorrow holds. Don't worry about your tomorrows, but put into action the lessons of the pilot. Live. Prepare. Scan.

Leave It All On the Court

2009-08-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

Volleyball is a blood-thirsty sport. Dive. Jump. Slam. Sweat. Set. Spike. Crush. Slaughter. Dominate. Victory. Defeat. Over 200 students at Champion Forest Baptist Church are participating in an intense 4-day volleyball tournament. Teenagers of all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities pour their souls into conquering the competition.

Watching students play is fascinating. Some students are determined to win. They leave every ounce of energy, skill, and effort on the court. Other students are competing for fun. Each match is entertaining and full of laughter as they attempt to volley back and forth. They enjoy participating, but aren’t serious. While yet another group is baffled by the goal of the game. They stand in one place watching and recoil when a serve is hit their way. They want to engage but don’t know how.

These students represent us. If you took a look at your relationship with Christ, which would you be?

Do you want to engage but don’t know how?
Do you enjoy participating but don’t take it seriously?
Do you give every ounce of energy, skill, and talent for the sake of Christ?

Everyday we step on the court of life. God hands us the ball of time and says, “Play.” If someone were standing on the sidelines watching today, which player would you be?

Today, expend every ounce of energy, skill, and talent you have for the sake of Christ. Intentionally read God’s word until it radically transforms your thoughts. Pray like you have never prayed before. Love unconditionally. Smile. Show appreciation. Listen. Share Christ. Give attention. Let every person know, especially those closest to you, how much you love them.

It’s your serve. What will you do? Just for today, leave it all on the court!

Can You Hear the Music Playing?

2009-08-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

God is busy orchestrating our lives even when we are deaf to the symphony that softly whirls around us.

I have a confession to make. One day I would love to have a book on the New York bestseller list. I would love to be on Oprah and tell her and the world the simple things of life that make it miraculous. I would love to speak to and encourage millions of people all over the world to experience all God has planned for each one and to live it up. I know it sounds like a small thing to want, but there it is. My soul lay bare before the world.

As a mother of 3, wife, and ordinary person, I think, “That’s a little too much to ask, Steph.” What I have learned is, I keep doing what I am doing and God keeps making it happen. Now, don’t think you are going to see me on Oprah next week, but its baby steps.

It’s like an orchestra and God is the conductor. While we are changing diapers, balancing checkbooks, running to the grocery store, and working, God is busy orchestrating his music, better known as his purpose, in our lives. We don’t hear the music often times, because we are simply doing what he tells us. “Love me. Take care of your spouse. Teach your kiddos about me and do what is right.” Some where in the middle of life’s chaos, God gently and patiently adds the strings and percussion; the next thing you know we hear a small tune in our hearts. We were deaf to his symphony softly playing around us, but it was there all along.

A friend once said to me, “I don’t know what my purpose is.” I said, “You got a husband?” “Yes,” she replied. “That’s your purpose. You got kids?” “Well, yes,” she responded. “That’s your purpose. You gotta job?” “Yes,” she retorted. “That’s your purpose.”

Play the instruments God has given you and he will take the tune of your life and create a beautiful masterpiece. You may not hear it right now over the kids screaming, the creditors begging for money, or your tears of frustration, but keep going. God is busy orchestrating your life. One day when you reach the end, you will hear the exquisite
melody of your years resonating in the ears of all the lives you touched along the way.

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

Snicker, Chuckle, Giggle, Snort, Cackle, Fall Out

2009-08-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Don’t you love a good laugh? The kind deep in your stomach, where your jaws hurt from smiling too long, and you can’t catch your breath?

I inherited a laughing problem from my grandfather. When we hear something funny and try to retell it, we get so tickled we can’t say it. Have you ever done that? I am an easily amused person, so this happens frequently at the dinner table. I start telling a story and what should have taken 2 minutes winds up lasting 15, because I’m laughing hysterically. The sad part is no one can decipher what I am saying because I sound like a drunk who just sucked the helium from a balloon. It really is a serious problem. My family is so gracious because they usually laugh with me, even though sometimes I think they are laughing at me.

My remarkable husband initiated family night last Saturday. We ate dinner together and watched a Tim Hawkins video. If you don’t know who Tim Hawkins is, go to You Tube and check him out! He is a HILARIOUS Christian comedian!

Do you know laughter is extremely good for you? Discover a few of the benefits. Laughter…

Lowers your blood pressure
Reduces your stress
Relaxes your muscles
Boosts your immune system
Triggers your body’s natural pain killers
Protects you from heart attacks or cardiovascular disease
Attracts people to you
Eases your anxiety and fear
Strengthens your relationships

It’s no wonder the Bible says a cheerful heart is good medicine. This week energize your life! Laugh continually. Start by asking friends, family, and co-workers their funniest or most embarrassing moments. Watch Tim Hawkins on You Tube. Karaoke with your family. When you hear laughter, join it! Create laughter in your life! After all, “A merry heart is good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22

Don't Be Left Hangin' In the Air

2009-08-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

Would you climb on a motorcycle, accelerate 100 miles an hour, scale an enormous ramp, and propel yourself and the motorcycle head over tire through the air making two 180 degree turns? Suppose you launched into the air and realized, I’m not going to make it. You are suspended three stories in the air with a massive piece of gas burning metal (my description of a motorcycle, work with me here) and you are about to drop. Pretend time froze. There you are hanging in the air. What thoughts are racing through your mind?

Tonight on the X-games, a daring hero experienced this encounter. His response was, “I knew the moment I left the ramp this wasn’t going to work. While I hung in the air, I thought, ‘This is gonna stink.’”

How many times have I thought, “This is gonna stink?” When I sped down Louetta and the cop stopped me, I thought, “This is gonna stink.” When I locked my keys in the car, first thought, “This is gonna stink.” When I lost my cool with my daughter, I KNEW that was gonna stink. When my husband lost his job, it really stunk.

Life is full of stinky situations. We have to ask ourselves, “How can I prevent and handle smelly circumstances?” The key is self-control. I learned the brave hero attempting the astonishing yet somewhat foolish motorcycle jump made a minute move in the wrong direction. Had he maintained concentrated, steadfast control of the motorcycle his landing would have been impeccable. Instead a tiny loss of focus cost him the win and pain.

A tiny loss of focus can damage our relationships, add pounds to our padding, reduce our bank accounts, or increase pain in our lives. Before making a choice, stop, secure self-control, and then take action. It’s like looking at a thousand foot motorcycle jump and thinking, “Is this a good idea?” When you know the right answer, execute the right action. Be the daring hero and attempt the astonishing feats in life with concentrated, steadfast control, then you won’t be left hanging in the air thinking, “This is gonna stink.”

“Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled.” 1 Peter 1:13a

Who's Gonna Be Around in 100 Years?

2009-08-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

What about this week will you remember next week - what you wore, who you talked to, what ticked you off? What about today will you recall tomorrow- the weather, a phone conversation, a funny story? If you are like me, I’m lucky to remember my cell phone number right now.

Our family was playing cards this week. My brilliant and extremely competitive husband thought I cheated. I have on occasions been known to cheat, but this time I assure you I did not. Unfortunately, he did not believe me. I unwaveringly held to the truth. He resolutely held to his guns. After an intense stand-off, I said, “Who is going to remember 100 years from now anyway?” We were discussing the question, when our son said, “Well, no one is really going to remember 100 years from now except God and that’s all that really matters.” Have you experienced one of those moments when your ten-year old child made you feel like you were two? Bingo, that’s exactly how I felt!

It’s such a life-changing question and what a stimulating answer. In the middle of an argument, when someone cuts me off in traffic, if my child spills spaghetti noodles all over the kitchen floor (happened today), or my husband accuses me of cheating at cards, I have to ask myself, “Will it matter 100 years from now?” In other words, is this worth investing emotional energy, time, and detrimental negative words? Remember, God is the only one who will be around 100 years from now anyway. Choose to do what pleases him, because “that is all that really matters.”

Today, when stumped with a challenge that is of little value or worth, stop and ask the life-changing question, “Will it matter 100 years from now?”

“Live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way.” Colossians 1:10

Labeled by the Gator

2009-07-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up it was cool to wear an Izod. An Izod was easily identified by the little green alligator sewn neatly on the left side of a collared shirt. JCPenney created the fox and one other company tried a bird, but nothing compared to the alligator. You were beastly if you wore the “gator.”

Life is the same way. We are often identified by labels sewn in our mind and heart. Parents, teachers, or even peers may have marked you stupid, a trouble maker, the brain, lazy, or even a princess. These labels often determine who we are.

“A child who is told repeatedly that he is a bad boy, or is lazy, or no good, or stupid, or shy, or clumsy, will tend to act out this picture which the parent or some other authority figure has given him.” Cecil G. Osborne

2 questions generate from the Izod.
1. Are you labeling?
Have you labeled your children, spouse, boss, co-workers, or friends? Have your words caused someone to propel into success or to give up before they started trying?
2. Are you living a label?
Were you mentally and emotionally branded by words in the past that control your life today?

You always have a choice. With others you’ve labeled, apologize. Shower them with encouragement. With those who have labeled you, forgive and prove. Forgive them because they probably did not know the barrier they built in your life. Prove them wrong. Realize it was their insecurity not yours, and become the person God intended you to be. God intends for each one of us to be his child and that outshines an alligator any day of the week. No Izod compares to being a child of the King, so rip off the “gator” and strut the crown of life God has given you.

What to do When You Don't Get What You Ask For

2009-07-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever prayed for something specific? Maybe a mate, a car, or a million dollars (just kidding about the $). How did you respond when you didn’t get what you asked for? Did you cry, pout, or throw a fit?

Every year for Christmas my grandparents gave us the “exclusive gift” our parents refused to buy. We couldn’t wait to open the gift “From Papa and Mimi.” On Christmas Eve my junior year of high school the family gathered around the tree. I waited patiently to open “the gift.” When it was my turn, I politely read the tag and tore in. The box was large, so I knew it was going to be good. As the paper unraveled, I noticed the picture on the outside of the box. Confused, I read the label. I realized my grandmother must have wrapped the gift in a used box. There was no way “my gift” matched the picture. As I looked inside the box, it felt like someone punched me in the stomach. Yes, the article in the box matched the picture. All I could think was, “Who in their right mind would buy an electric blanket for a teenager?” I tried to smile. I thanked my pleased grandparents and sat quietly in the corner. My brother opened his “jam box.” My cousin opened her Guess jeans and Polo. Her sister opened a top of the line camera, and there I sat with my electric blanket. My response was not the best. I shed tears. I pouted, and had a close-lipped conversation with my mom in the bathroom. What was a teenage girl to do?

What are we to do when we don’t get what we ask for? When we sincerely ask God for something, and we don’t get what we want, what then? Here are 3 decisions I discovered at church tonight.

Rest in God’s sovereignty. God is in control of every detail. He loves you. He has the eagle-eye perspective. He knows what happened, is happening, and will happen. Trust Him.
Be faithful with what God has given you. While waiting, take inventory of what you do have. Use it. Be faithful with it. Share it. Work it. Enjoy it.
Embrace the gap. God is like a Boeing 747 and we are like mosquitoes. Can a mosquito fully understand a 747? No, there is a gap. Finite man is trying to figure out an infinite God and there is a huge gap – embrace the gap. You may not understand why God said no until you get to heaven. Until then, embrace his will.

What’s the point of all this? When God doesn’t give you what you ask for, He is taking you deeper, drawing you closer, and propelling you to follow! Be thankful for a God who loves you enough to say no! (To hear this sermon visit http://www.cfbc.org/, 7-30-09)

Put Your Dream to the Test

2009-07-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

John Maxwell has created another indispensable book for you! If you haven’t read a book all year, this is the one. Warning, do not read it unless you are willing to attempt a phenomenon you probably haven’t tried since elementary school.

When was the last time you used your imagination? Remember playing make-believe when you were a child? I loved to set up a nursery in my bedroom. I opened every dresser, desk, and night stand drawer and created little baby beds in each one. I filled the drawers with soft blankets, bottles, and a doll. I played soft music on my orange and black record player, turned off the overhead light, and lit my yellow flower lamp that hung over my bead by a gold chain. I rocked, cuddled, and fed each baby. I changed diapers and read board books to each one. I would play for hours. Where have those days gone?

Albert Einstein said, “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.” What? Einstein’s imagination was more beneficial to him than his knowledge!

Before reading Maxwell’s book, dive into the deep waters of your imagination. Buried beneath the ocean of life, work, family, and stress is a treasure of imagination and an exclusive dream waiting to be uncovered. Can you see the dream? Don’t let the shark infested water keep you from pursuing it. Learn how to swim through life clearly focused on the dream God has placed in you by reading

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

Jeremiah 29:11

Learning What We Live

2009-07-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

We Learn What We Live
If you live with criticism, you learn to condemn.
If you live with hostility, you learn to fight,
If you live with ridicule, you learn to be shy.
If you live with shame, you learn to feel guilty.
If you live with tolerance, you learn to be patient.
If you live with encouragement, you learn to appreciate.
If you live with fairness, you learn justice.
If you live with security, you learn to have faith.
If you live with approval, you learn to like yourself.
If you live with acceptance and friendship,
you learn to find love in the world.

What are you living with?

Battle for Togetherness

2009-07-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

I love having all of our family at home together. Eating meals, playing cards, going to the pool and taking the dog for a walk are so much better when we do it together. We've even discovered that we can get the yard mowed, edged, trimmed, bagged, and blown in an hour when we all pitch in and do it simultaneously.

I guess God knew what he was talking about when he said, "It is not good for man to be alone."

If you haven't taken time this summer to "be together" with the ones you love, do it this week!
Laugh together.
Play together.
Dream together.
For crying out loud, just talk to each other.

It seems like practices, computers, television shows and work compete for our time and togetherness. Let's battle like warriors for "together time" with the ones we love.

Create Puppies & Exterminate Snakes

2009-07-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

What if God said, “Here is the power of life and death. Do with it what you wish.” How would you respond? You could choose who lives and who dies. No more red ants or cobra snakes. Bring on the golden lab puppies and stunning red roses.

You have that power! Where is it? How do we activate it?
The power of life and death is in your tongue. Your words create hope, joy, self-confidence. Your words breed inspiration, and wisdom, generate excitement and encouragement. Your words also kill self-esteem, joy, enthusiasm. Your words devour dreams, hope, and perseverance, and crush courage and belief.

How do we manage this much power?

Attitude. Your attitude determines the atmosphere! When angry the atmosphere is tense and irritable. When happy, the atmosphere is welcoming and enjoyable. When positive, people are confident, dream, and grow. When negative, people are insecure, mean, and timid.

Words. How often do you say … Thank you. Please. Great. I’d be happy to. Can I help? Choose your words wisely. Like Bambi says, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Tone.

Tone of Voice
It’s not so much what you say
As the matter in which you say it;
It’s not so much the language you use
As the tone in which you convey it.
“Come here” I said sharply.
And the child cowered and wept.
“Come here?” I said.
He looked and smiled
And to my lap he crept.
Words may be mild and fair
But the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air
But the tone may break the heart;
Would you please cruel words avoid
And let peace and kindness rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your words
Keep it out of your voice.

Cow Pasture Investment

2009-07-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the first time you chose to participate in a “party?” Not a slumber party or a graduation party, but the party in high school that “everyone” goes to. You knew there would be drinking, people making out, and who knows what else, but you decided to go for the first time. I was recently reminded of my “first.”

My best friend and I thought it would be fun to take the party plunge our junior year. Where I grew up, these parties happened in cow pastures. Kids throwing the party provided a keg, music, a place to hang out and get drunk..

I was unbelievably nervous that night. What if the party got busted? What if someone asked me to drink? What if people were smoking pot? These “what ifs” were wreaking havoc on my emotions as I piled on gorgeous blue eye-shadow, plastered on the Aqua Net, and dressed in my finest 80s attire!

We followed the printed map and cardboard signs to a pasture out in the middle of no where. We parked on the side of a two lane road along with the longest train of high school vehicles I had ever seen. We got out and headed towards the voice of Bruce Springsteen blaring through worn out speakers. My heart was pounding. My hands were sweating. I was thinking, “What am I doing here?” We paid some ½ drunk guy sitting at an old silver gate $2 and hiked across the field. Just about the time we made it to the crowd, someone yelled, “The cops are on the way!”

My heart sank to my toenails. Kids scrambled every direction. My friend yelled, “Let’s go!” We ran to the car amongst the stampede of mullets, fluorescent shirts, mini-skirts, Polos, and topsiders. We slid into her red Camaro and took off.

I sat frozen in the car. I couldn’t breathe. My heart was going to literally pop out of my chest. We could hear sirens in the distance. We made it to a McDonalds, got a huge shake and fries, and rehashed our stupidity. I remember thinking, “I will NEVER EVER in my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE do that again.” That night before I went to bed, I tore a dollar bill in ½, hung it in my room, and made a promise to myself and God - I would never again waste the money, the time, and the life I’ve been given on something so foolish!

Today I faced my promise. How am I spending my money, my time, and my life? I’m not mixing it up at pasture parties these days, but am I making the same stupid mistake? Am I investing my money in what lasts? Spending quality time with people I love? Giving my life to benefit others and God?

I have 24 hours everyday. I can waste it or invest it. My first investment in a party was a huge mistake. I don’t want to make that mistake again. So tomorrow and every day after when I awake, I will ask myself this question: “Am I wasting or wisely investing all I’ve been given?” What about you?

What's a Tomato?

2009-07-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know why a tomato is a fruit? According to scientists, botanists, and other highly intelligent people, a tomato is a fruit. The reason has something to do with the seeds. Does knowing that a tomato is a fruit make you wise?

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

The difference in knowledge and wisdom is action. Knowledge is information. Wisdom is what you do with the information. You probably know tons of facts. Think about it. Answer the following questions in 20 seconds.
Name three healthy foods you should eat weekly.
Name three ways to keep your body healthy.
Name three foods that are detrimental to your health.
Name three habits that are unhealthy.
Health information is poured into our minds daily. You could say, “I’m very knowledgeable when it comes to healthy living.” Could you say, “I live a healthy lifestyle?” The difference is wisdom! Knowledge is knowing. Wisdom is doing.

In what areas of your life, do you need to practice the knowledge you possess?
Work habits, parenting, eating, marriage, time management, exercise
Just like the wise chef knows where to put a tomato, take the knowledge you have and put it into practice!

It's Raining Nuggets

2009-07-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to a psychologist? What about a counselor?
I remember when my girlfriend started seeing a psychologist. When she got home, we sat on the front porch and discussed the fascinating advice she received. One day she had to picture herself paddling downstream. When life got rough, she was to visually whip the boat around, and head in the right direction. Another day the doctor interpreted her dreams. She wrote her dreams the moment she awoke each morning. According to the doctor this is the best way to remember your dreams.

We had fun that season of psychologist “mumbo jumbo” choosing the boats we paddled and sorting through our outlandish dreams. Have you ever been in a similar season sorting through life trying to figure out the “mumbo jumbo” of the whirlwind surrounding you? How do you sort through the chaos? Notice the nuggets.

This summer has been a similar season for me. For part of my classwork, I was assigned to meet with a mentor for 1 hour each week. I feel like my friend sitting in the psychologist office. The greatest part about each session, though, is “the nugget.” Not chicken nuggets, nor Denver Nuggets, but nuggets of wisdom. I always walk away with at least one remarkable piece of wisdom. I immediately write it down and put it into practice.

There are nuggets everywhere. Start looking! You will see them on billboards; hear them in a song or advice from a friend or maybe at the psychologist’s office. If you’ll notice, it’s raining nuggets! God is pouring out his wisdom to guide you through the confusion. Start sorting through the chaos of your life, by noticing nuggets. Write them down and put them into practice.

(Favorite nugget of mine: Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.)

The Power of I

2009-07-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the song "Mayday" by The Icarus Account?
This morning my teenage daughter said, "Mom, I want you to hear this song."
She pulled up Mayday on You Tube. We laid on the bed & listened carefully.
When the song ended, I asked, "Who told you about this song?"
"Last night at Bible Study one of our leaders told us about it." she replied.

My daughter spent the rest of the day listening to this new group. She listened while she "laid out" on the roof. She listened while she showered. She listened while she straightened her hair.
She listened while she "hung out" in her room.

It dawned on me the power of that 1 leader. She simply mentioned a song and that 1 song has been the focus of my child ALL DAY LONG!

Do we realize the power we have?

We all posess a power called influence.

Think about how our words influence people.

What happens when we say...

"Have you tried Chipoltes? You've gotta try it." We influence where & what people eat.

"I can't stand that girl. Who would be friends with her?" We influence relationships.

"You are so fat." We influence people's self worth.

"I love Country Music." We influence what people listen to.

"Have you been to Champion Forest Baptist Church? It is the GREATEST place on earth." We influence people's walk with Christ.

"You have to see the movie Fire Proof." It is unbelievable. We influence what people watch.

"Have you asked your husband how you can help him today?" We influence marriages.

"Have you played the card game 3s with your family?" We influence families.

The question is - What do I do with the power I've been given?

Some people say, "The world is too messed up for a single person like me to have any influence. "
A man walked out to the beach early one morning. To his amazement, hundreds of star fish covered the shoreline. They were all desperately trying to make their way back to the water, fighting for life. The man noticed a little boy picking up one starfish at a time and tossing it as far into the ocean as he could. The older man said to the young boy, "This is a nice thing you are doing, but you can't save all these starfish." The little boy leaned over, picked up another starfish, flung it way out into the salty water, looked back at the man, and said, "You are right sir, but I just saved that one."

That little boy was using the power, God had given him to make a difference in the life of one little starfish at a time.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Take the power of "I" given to you and do something. There are hundreds of starfish in your home, at work, in your neighborhood, and at your church waiting for your influence to make a difference in their life.

Top 10 Reasons to SMILE

2009-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Are you a people watcher?

I am and I love it!

When I lead conferences or retreats, it is so fun to watch people in the audience. There is always 1 lady who looks like she's sucked on a lemon since birth. Her arms are folded across her chest. be. She scowls and frowns. She has no expression and she never smiles. If faces were monotone, hers would be.
I want to tell these people, "I know life stinks a little, but it could be worse! Suck it up sister and smile! You will feel much better!" My Papa used to say, "If you're happy, why don't you tell your face about it?"

If you are not a smiler, I hope today is the first day of a whole new world for you! We have to smile! Smiling is a must! "Why" you may be wondering! Check out the proven facts!

Top 10 Reasons to Smile

1. Smiling makes you attractive.
We are naturally drawn to people who smile. We want to know what is making them so happy.
Smiling is an attractor factor.

2. Smiling changes your mood.
Smiling tricks your body into feeling better. When you are down, turn it around, by turning your frown upside down.

3. Smiling is Contagious.
Try it. Next time you are stopped at a red light, walking in a store, or sitting in a restaurant, smile. See what happens.

4. Smiling boosts your immune system.
Smiling helps your immune system work better.

5. Smiling makes you look younger.
Save $ on a face lift and try this home remedy -smile!

6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure.
Your blood pressure reduces when you smile. Take a reading of your blood pressure, smile for 1 minute, and take it again. Notice the results.

7. Smiling helps you stay positive.
Try this test: smile. Try to think of something positive without loosing your smile.

8. Smiling makes you seem more successful.
Smiling people seem more confident and approachable.

9. Smiling releases natural pain killers and endorphins.
Studies have shown that smiling releases serotonin, endorphins, and natural pain killers.

10. If you have a smile and don't give it away, it will settle in your hips! :)
Who wants that?

You might not be a smiler or were not raised in a smiling family! That's okay!

Fake it til you make it!

Rhyme Off

2009-07-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

I just returned from an Early Childhood Conference with 1,000 women!

It was incredible. The enthusiasm and energy in the atmosphere was inspiring!

Here is 1 new thing I learned!

Studies have shown that people who can quote 8 Nursery Rhymes are more successful!
Last night I challenged my children to a Rhyme Off! Who could say the most Nursery Rhymes?
It was fun hearing them trying to remember if Humpty Dumpty was the one who went up the hill to fetch three blind mice or was it Mary with her little lamb who fell off the wall and some little boy who was blue that could jump over a candlestick tried to put her pieces back together again?

The evening became more entertaining when my son got out the keyboard and we put each Nursery Rhyme to a rap. Are you looking for something to do on a long car ride, at the dinner table, or on a "boring" summer afternoon? Have a Rhyme Off!
* Who can remember the most Nursery Rhymes?
* Pair up in teams and act out each rhyme!
* Play Nursery Rhyme Cherades.
* Make Rhyme Raps.

(If you have older children, who might be a little resistant to join the fun, start the Rhyme Off with something like this, "I bet I can say more Nursery Rhymes than you." A little friendly competition is a good jump start to most activities, especially with teenage boys!)

Swinging for Momentum

2009-07-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

Last year Josh Hamilton hit 27 homeruns at the Homerun Derby!

27...I'm doing good to make contact in the front yard with a tennis ball and plastic bat.

How did he do it?

I wonder...when he hit the first homerun if he thought, "This is only the beginning of 26 more to come?" Or did he think, "That felt pretty good?" The second homerun was probably a little more exciting, but imagine how he felt when he hit the 10th one. Then 11. And how about 15?

A phenomenon was happening that occurs every day in the lives of many people.

He was gaining momentum.

Momentum starts with 1 small victory. We don't realize it's the beginning of 26 more to come. We just think, "That was good." Then another victory occurs. Then another. The next thing you know, success is gaining speed and before long momentum creates excitement and accomplishment.

The question is...where do we need momentum? In what area of my life do I need a small victory?

My marriage, my weight, my money managment, my friendships, my parenting

Momentum begins with action. Hamilton had to step up to the plate and swing the bat. Yes, he made some outs, but he continued until momentum set the pace.

Step up to the plate and swing until that 1st victory gets the ball rolling and don't stop until you've conquered 26 more!

(This thought ignited from Element - 7/15/09)

Wanna Long Life?

2009-07-14T19:52:00.001-07:00

Have you heard Dr. Oz's tips for living longer?
I love hearing all of his proven suggestions. You can go on line and take his Real Age test. The results determine how old your "body" is compared to your actual age. It's very interesting and inspirational.
Here are a few of his suggestions.
1. Eat tons of blueberries and broccoli.
2. Stretch daily. Just bend over and try to touch your toes for 5 min. before you get in the shower.
3. Get 10 minutes of sunshine daily.
4. Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
5. Live with PASSION!

There are several other ways to increase your life span that Dr. Oz hasn't mentioned. I am considering writing my own book with more secrets to a longer life. See if you recognize Momma Chases tips to a long life.
1. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies, Turn from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10

2. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him. I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him. " Ps. 91:14-16

3. Wisdom from God says, "Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." Prov. 3:2

4. Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth. Ephesians 6:1

5. For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not PERISH but have everlasting life! John 3:16 (That's a pretty long life.)

If you are looking for ways to lengthen your life...try my tips

Watch your mouth.

Do good.

Stay away from trouble.

Seek peace. (Helps to turn off the electronics!)

Obey the Bible.

Learn what is wise & do it.

Honor your mom & dad.

Give your life to Jesus!

Go ahead and eat the blueberries and broccoli too!

It won't hurt!

Lookin' to Make Life Better?

2009-07-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

My mom and I were at Chipoltes having lunch one day. We were having one of those conversations that ends with, "If someone would ask us to solve all the problems of the world, we could."
We took a napkin and wrote all of our ideas on paper. We came up with 50 ways to live to make the world and your life better. I took the napkins home and put them in a safe place so I wouldn't loose them. There has been one problem. I hid them so well, I have not been able to find them. Tonight I was cleaning out a cabinet, and found them! I was so excited! Here are a few of our ingenious yet easy, simple ideas!

1. Enjoy life. Don’t sweat the small stuff. None of it matters.
2. Bloom where you are planted. If you wind up in Po-Dunkville, make the most of it. If you are one of the rich and famous, be the most you can be. Wherever you are, grow, get watered, dig deep in the soil, and be the most beautiful flower you can.
3. Be thankful. Make it a habit to say thank you to everyone. When you wake up and when you go to bed, thank God for 5 things.
4. Be a giver not a taker. Not just in materialism, but in love, laughter, memories, wisdom. Give away everything God has given you – joy, encouragement, fun.
5. When the bottom falls out, don’t give up. Life is not a fairytale. If your bottom hasn’t fallen out, it will. When it does, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Be thankful. Know God is doing something great. Cling to the thought that it will pass.
6. Nobody cares, so be yourself. Be who you want to be. Everyone else is so busy worrying about what everyone else is thinking about them that they don’t have time to worry about what you are doing, so be who you want to be. The people you are with now, except family, you probably won’t talk to in 10 years anyways. So, be who God created you to be.
7. Forgive others. In the little things and the big things. When someone cuts you off in traffic, forgive them. When someone wrongly accuses you, forgive them. When someone hurts you deeply, forgive them. Harboring unforgiveness only hurts you. It does nothing to the other person.
8. Pick up after yourself. If you drop it, pick it up. If you turn it on, turn if off. If you get it out, put it back. If you spill it, clean it. Even if it is someone else’s mess, pick it up.
9. Take care of your body. You only get one body. Take the best care of it you possibly can. Your body was created for a purpose. If it’s broken, it can’t be used. Keep your bod running.
10. Laugh as much as you can! Get a good belly laugh or the kind where you can’t breathe. It’s healthy. It makes you feel better. It makes others laugh. It is contagious. Besides that, it’s a lot of fun.

Hope you enjoy our ideas! Imagine how our world, our communities, and our homes would be different if each person did just these 10 things! It would be a good start to a great life!

Keep On Walking

2009-07-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Are you afraid of the dark?

In the country when night sets in, it is dark. There are no city lights to brighten up the sky and on one particular night the moon was not out. The kids and I were spending the night with friends at their farm. My friend and I were walking to the house from being at the catfish pond. It was dark and we were moving carefully. Suddenly we heard a noise that sounded like a bear. We froze.

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Yeah, was that a bear?" she replied.

"I don't know." I said. "What do we do?"

We determined to keep walking and ignore it.

As we walked I asked her what she would do if a bear came out of the woods in front of us.

She said, "I would fight it with everything I've got."

I was very surprised and rather impressed. My friend is very much a lady and puts me to shame in the "girly" department. I never expected her to say that.

She asked me, "What would you do?"

I very graciously replied, "I would stand behind you and cheer you on with everything I've got."

We both laughed as we noticed a huge plane flying low over our heads. Our bear turned into a 747 and though we felt a little foolish, we were very relieved.

Part of determining God's will for our life is to

"Walk in the light God gives you."

Sometimes the light seems dim. Other times we hear voices in our heads or from others that are discouraging or deceptive. It feels like we are ready to be brought down by a bear. We just have to keep walking in the light God gives us. Even when it "feels" like there is no light at all. We can't base our life on feelings. Feelings come and go, they are often weak and deceiving. We must focus on the light. Keep our eyes fixed on what God has put before us and keep walking.

Whatever lesson God teaches...do it.

Whatever possession God gives...care for it.

Whatever person God shares...love it.

Whatever joy God sends...enjoy it.

Whatever job God provides...work it.

Whatever song God brings...sing it.

Whatever light God gives...walk in it.

Trust him and know that He is working all things together for your good. Determining God's will is taking one step at a time, one day at a time, one moment at a time in the light he has given.

The Secret Is In the Voice

2009-07-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Rick is currently on the job hunt. We talked last night about which job he really wants. He said, "I just want to be where God wants me." "How are you going to know where that is?" I asked.

How do we know what God wants?

To people who are new Christians or not believers, this may sound a little strange, but...

the secret is in the voice.

I normally sleep soundly. When the hurricane came through Houston, I slept like a rock. Our family slept in the den. Trees were falling over, rain was pelting the windows, our back door flew open in the middle of the night, and I was sleeping like a baby. My husband says there is one thing that will jar me from sleep in a split second - the sound of my children's voices. The kids can take one slow breath or make one tiny whimper and my head is up, I'm listening to make sure everyone is okay. Why is that? Mommas are in tune to the voices and sounds of their children. We could recognize them in the middle of a football arena with thousands of fans cheering.

It's the same with discovering God's will. We have to be able to identify the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We must be in tune with the sounds, the voice, and the action of God in our life.

When we recognize it in a crowded stadium or in a quiet moment, we listen and obey.

The best way to explain it is by the little critter, Geminy Cricket. Remember the voice on Pinnochio's shoulder telling him what to do? As Christians we don't have a cricket in our pocket, we have the actual mind and spirit of Christ living in us, leading and teaching us. It's not easy to recognize at first, but the more you look and listen for it, the more you will see and hear it.

How do you know when you hear it?

It always sounds like God's word. It will never contradict what the Bible says.

If you are praying, "Should I leave my husband?" and you hear the voice, "Yes." or maybe you see a billboard that says, "Run from what is driving you crazy!" and you think, that must be the spirit telling me to leave. Wrong! That goes against what God says in his word. When you think you recognize the spirit, ask, "Is this what the Bible says?"

Where are the best places to see/hear the spirit?

* Make a habit of daily spending time with God.

Have you seen couples who have been married for years and they can answer each other's sentences? That's because they have spent so much time together. The more time you spend with Christ, the more you will think like him and recognize his prompting.

* Reading the Bible.

Before you read the Bible, ask God to speak to you. Look for 1 NUGGET! Like a miner digging for gold, read the word, sift through the verses, until you read that 1 thing that makes your heart skip a beat or your mind go, "What did that say?" That's what God is saying to you!

* At church.

Get hooked up to a church that preaches from the Bible. Everything I am sharing with you, God taught me at church. Sure a preacher is speaking to a whole congregation, but for those who are listening, he will speak clearly and individually.

So how do we know what God wants? Remember...the secret is in the voice!

Which Way Do I Go?

2009-07-08T20:35:00.001-07:00

How do you know God's will for your life?

If you want to buy a car, does God care?

If you are trying to decide what college to go to, will God tell you?

If you need to go back to work but want to stay home, how do you know where God wants you?

If you get 2 job offers, how do you know which one to go with?

My girlfriend and I were pondering these questions the other day over breakfast. Amazingly enough tonight at the CFBC service, I heard the answer. You can hear the sermon at http://www.cfbc.org/. I'm going to print the highlights over the next several nights because the information is too much too swallow in one swig!

Don't go to EXTREMES!
Extreme #1 - Whatever doors God opens, I'll walk through. Whatever door God closes will be my sign.
God allows alcoholism, drug addicition, and He allowed the prodigal son to go his own way. God allows people to make choices and mistakes. This is not the right way to discern God's voice, so avoid this extreme!

I've heard people talk about open and closed doors. I thought it was right. I realized tonight that God allowed David to sleep with Bathsheba, Jonah to get swallowed by a whale, and Daniel in a den with lions.
Each one of these men of faith walked through the door with it standing wide open! God used each of their choices for good, but if each of these men were on The Price Is Right choosing between Door #1 and Door #2 we probably would have been screaming for them to choose "the other" door! We can't rely on closed doors, we must rely on God's voice, options, questions, and walking! (We'll get to those tomorrow.)

Extreme #2 - I'm not going to do anything until God tells me what to do.
God knows what you need and he will confirm it. We can't sit around waiting. Obey what you know until He shows you what to do. Sometimes God is waiting on us to obey before he shows us what to do, so don't go to this extreme!

The pastor shared the story of a college friend who was a dynamic speaker. The friend was going to make an incredible preacher. When they graduated from college the friend asked our pastor, "Are you going to find a church in which to preach?" Our pastor politely replied, "No, I'm going to seminary." To which the young student responded, "I'm not going to seminary until I have a church."

Our pastor went on to seminary. Got his degree. Moved to Louisianna, started pastoring a church and teaching as an adjunct professor at the seminary. Low and behold, on the first day of class, who do you think was sitting in the front row? His friend from college. It was the young man's first seminary class.

The young man wasted all those years, instead of obeying what he knew - get an education and be prepared when God calls, he sat around waiting for "the door" to open.

When wrestling with God's will for our lives - whether it's a job, a house, a spouse, or an education - don't rely on doors and obey what you know!

This is our first step! Think about it today and determine what doors you have been relying on. Turn your focus from doors to the father. Do what you know he wants you to do NOW. If you aren't sure, start with these 6 steps.
1. Pray each day
2. Read 1 proverb each day. (This will give you wisdom)
3. Surround yourself with people who are doing this same thing. Talk to them about it!
Think of all the other things you know God wants you to do...be kind, help others, respect authority!

Just remember: AVOID DOORS & OBEY WHAT YOU KNOW!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Teachable

2009-07-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I was going to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our family for lunch. I asked Michael to come and help me. To my surprise he excitedly ran into the kitchen and said, “I want to help!”
“Wow,” I responded, “That was nice! Why the enthusiasm for making sandwiches?”
“I want to be teachable,” he said.That was not the answer I expected.
“Really? Why?” I asked.
He explained that Coach Ashmun, one of his baseball coaches, told his team it was good to be teachable. Coach Ashmun used one of the boys on the team as an example.
“Kobe always listens when the coaches are helping him and he puts into practice whatever he hears,” the coach explained.
“I want to be like that,” Michael said.

What a great trait to have…teachable!
I began to ask myself
How teachable am I?
Am I willing to listen?
Do I put into practice what I hear?

I once read the quote, “Experience teaches only the teachable.” Am I one of the teachable? No matter if it's making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or learning how to manage a million dollars (just dreaming), I’m listening today to what I need to learn with the goal in mind of putting it into practice! The question is...what is it that God needs me to learn?

Serve and Say

2009-07-07T06:24:00.001-07:00

Isn't it hard to put others first?

I have 2 nieces that are 4 and 1 1/2. The oldest, Kaley, is quiet, gentle, and a peacemaker. The youngest, Kenzie, is a little ball of action. If she doesn't want to eat her dinner and you tell her to, she will look you in the eye and throw her food on the floor. If her sister has a toy that she wants, she will grab, pinch, and pull hair until she gets it. She likes getting her way and isn't afraid to make it happen!

Last night Michael and I were going to lay in bed in mine and Rick's room and watch the movie Cars. We decided to each take our shower, do some sit-ups & push-ups, and then watch the movie. While doing our sit-ups, Rick came in and turned on the Astros game.

What do you do? The Kenzie in me wanted to grab the remote, pinch his fingers, and pull his hair for stealing our fun. But the Kenzie in him was determined to watch the Astros game.

The question is, "What do you do when you want your way but someone else won't let you have it?"

While contemplating more Kenzie moves in my head, our 10 year-old son determined what to do.
"Come on, mom. Dad can watch the Astros up here. We'll go downstairs."
I was thinking, "That's not a very fun Kenzie move. Wouldn't you rather demand we get our way until he leaves? Where did he get that idea?"

I followed the lead of my son and we enjoyed watching Cars downstairs.

There is part of me that wants my way. We must all have that small part in us, because most people I know want things their way, too. How do we overcome it?

The staff that worked at Carolina Creek during Middle School Camp was incredible. They were constantly serving us and making our week as comfortable, memorable, and enjoyable as possible. They never complained and always put us first. One of my prayers when I left was to focus on being a servant.

As I thought about my Kenzie moment last night, this verse came to mind, "Do nothing out of selfishness, but consider others (Rick) better than yourself (me). Look not only to my interests, but also to the interests of others (Rick)." That is what the staff at Carolina Creek did and that is what I want to become. A person who considers others more important and thinks about others needs.

So when those Kenzie moments occur, here is my new plan, "SERVE and SAY OKAY!"
Simply say, "Okay," don't complain, and do what I can to serve the other person!

Some people say you can't be that way in life. You will get walked all over. That's not what the greatest leader who ever lived says. The one man who revolutionized the world in such a way that even the date is determined by his life. Jesus said, "I did not come to be served but to serve many and give my life for them."

What Would I Rather?

2009-07-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Have you played "Would You Rather?"
My kids started playing this summer. You ask each other questions about what you would rather have or do. The object is to think of the grossest or most challenging question.
Here are some examples from the Chase kids.

Would you rather have no teeth or no tongue?
Would you rather chew on a homeless persons toenails or lick their armpit?
Would you rather drown or get shot?
Would you rather have no arms or no legs?
Would you rather have 1 uncuttable hair growing on your chin or out of your nose?
Would you rather kiss a monkey or a hippo for 2 1/2 hours ?

As we played this game, I thought about life. Life is so full of choices.
Would I rather work 80 hours per week or make less money and have time with my family?
Would I rather say something kind to my husband or be a nag?
Would I rather spend my time watching TV or with the people I love?
Would I rather live my life honoring God or for the world?
Would I rather discipline my kids even though it's hard or let them do what they want and suffer for it later?
What would I rather do?

I get one life, one today, and one chance to make an impact. What would I rather?

What to do on a hot 4th of July...

2009-07-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our kids have been at grandma's for the week! It was a nice relaxing week for me and Rick.
You don't realize,though, how much time and energy kiddos require until they are gone for awhile.
You also don't realize how much fun and laughter they bring into a home.

The kids got home yesterday afternoon so, after dinner we spent an hour playing a family game of cherades. There was no store bought box. No little pieces to manage. We simply divided into teams and made up our own categories.
1st Round
1. Movie
2. Song
3. Book
4. Place
5. Sport

2nd Round
1. Candy
2. Cereal
3. Chips
4. Soda
5. Car

3rd Round
1. Fruit
2. Vegetable
3. Famous Person
4. State
5. ???

The most enjoyable ones to watch were Nicole and I acting out synchronized swimming and Michael and Tori doing their Michael Jackson moves!

If you are looking for something fun to do OUT OF THE HEAT that is CHEAP and brings family and friends together for lots of laughs...celebrate the 4th with a game of cherades!

Carousel Anyone?

2009-07-03T05:34:00.001-07:00

Life is about focus. Where is our focus? Family? Attaining wealth? Job? Happiness? God?
Sometimes our focus shifts. Some days it's up. Sometimes its down. No matter where it is, it affects our day to day life GREATLY!

A little girl wanted to ride the carousel at the mall. Her daddy was so excited to watch her enjoy the ride he loved as a child. He paid her way. They climbed aboard and began to search for the perfect animal for her to ride. There were beautiful horses, fierce lions, and beastly elephants. There was one problem, though. A group of older kids stormed the carousel right after the little girl and her father. They pushed and shoved to lay claim to the beautifully carved animals. By the time the older children chose their animals, all that was left was a puny, little ostrich. The little girl didn't seem to mind although her daddy was ready to throw a few disrespectful boys off the ride and place his young princess on the animal of her choice.

The ride was about to start when a young man said to the daddy, "I"m sorry, sir, you can not ride with your daughter. You will have to watch from the side."
The dad was extremely disappointed, but kissed his daughter fairwell and found the perfect place to watch.
The music began to play, the carousel started to turn, the ostrich began to rise high in the air, and the father noticed something horribly wrong. His daughter gripped the ostrich for dear life and her expression went from joy to terror. She began to cry. Had she not known that the ostrich would go up and down? Did she know the carousel would go round and round?
As the little girl rounded the first lap, her father cheered, looked her in the eyes and told her how much fun she was having.
The little girl tried to smile as she kept her eyes locked on her father.
The carousel, however, took her around the circle and she lost sight of him.
Fear gripped her, she was afraid and began to cry. As the tears fell, the carousel turned. In a moment, there he was again...her daddy cheering, smiling, encouraging her. The tears stopped and her smile widened as she watched him. He knew the ride was safe. He knew she could handle it. But before she knew it, he was out of sight again.
The carousel continued turning. The little girl was up and down, crying and smiling, as she tried to keep her daddy in view. When the carousel finally came to a stop, the girl leaped from her ostrich, ran to her father, and jumped in his arms.
"You did it, sweety! I am so proud of you," he told her as they embraced.
"Thank you daddy. I couldn't have made it without you." she replied.

Life is the same way. We are on a carousel going round and round. Sometimes we get put on a nasty old ostrich that we don't like. Life throw us things we don't expect. Our days are up and down, up and down.

The one constant is our Father watching from the side. He knows we can handle it. He's been on the ride before. He's cheering, smiling, encouraging us the entire way. Our goal must be to keep our eyes on him. Not the cruel people who stole our horse. Or the carousel that doesn't make sense. He's our constant. He is our focus.

One day when this ride of life is over, we will run into his arms and hear him say, "You did it!" At that moment, we can humbly and lovingly thank him for being the focus we needed to make through the carousel of life!

Would You Jump?

2009-07-01T20:02:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been afraid? So afraid it paralyzes you?

If you were hanging thousands of feet in the air,

would you jump

would fear hold you captive?

At the camp I attended last week there was a zip-line. It was high. I'm talking really, really high. Some of the kids asked if I would go on the zip-line with them. Not to be outdone by 7th graders, I said, "Sure!" Inside I was thinking, "What in the world am I doing?"
We waited our turn patiently talking and laughing in the line, when the strangest thing happen.
This guy from the camp said, "Okay, next in line, head to the top."
My stomach dropped. My hands started to shake. I started sweating more than normal and if you know me that's A LOT!
"What was I thinking?" I asked myself.
The girls in front of me were laughing and talking as we climbed higher, and higher, and higher.
I stopped 1/2 way up to give myself a pep-talk. "You can do this, Steph. You can do, this. Think of the little engine. He thought he could." I found myself responding, "That's fiction. Who made that up anyway?"
By the time I arrived to the top, I was the last one to be strapped in which meant I would be jumping off next to the side. There was 1 problem. There were no rails around the deck. The side had nothing to hold on to. If I got too near the edge, I was toast. I would just fall off.
I froze. I was paralyzed. I sat down. There was no way I was going near the edge. I begged to switch places with one of the students but they were already strapped on.
The worker was so kind. I guess she had to be, I was holding on to her for dear life.
She loosened my rope so that I could crawl to the edge of the deck. She instructed me to dangle my feet off the deck. On the count of 3 I was suppose to jump.
"How could I jump?" I thought to myself.
Somehow I had to muster up the courage to just throw myself off a deck thousands of feet in the air and pray that a rope like the one I used to jump in elementary school would save my life.
This wasn't making sense.
The other girls were giggling as tears filled my eyes.
I couldn't let them down.
I had to be brave.
We counted to 3...1...2...3....
I paused briefly and then threw myself into mid-air!
The most amazing thing happened. The jump rope held and before I knew it I was flying threw the air with a cool breeze blowing across my face. It was amazing.
As we concluded the ride I thought, "What if I had missed this moment?"

Never let fear keep you from missing a moment. When you are afraid, face it. Walk right into it.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

What is the 1 thing you THINK you cannot do?

As Nike says, "Just do it!"

Michael Jackson Concludes Camp

2009-06-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Last week I got to spend a week at Carolina Creek Camp with 250 Middle Schoolers. It has been the highlight of my summer!

The last night at camp is usually a spiritual marker in the lives of students. After the last worship service, each team gathers to discuss all God has done in their lives throughout the week. Tears are shed. Students pray for one another and truly bear the burdens of each team member.

The final service on Thursday night was amazing. As I left the service and walked to meet our team, I prayed for this last team meeting. I was so excited to hear what was on the mind of our students. We huddled in close, and two of the young men shared their hearts. I was getting excited about what God was about to do in this group of teenagers.

A third student slowly opened his mouth. I couldn’t wait to hear the spiritual insight he had gained. He quietly said, “Did ya’ll know Michael Jackson died?”
(In my head I was thinking, “WHAT?”)
Everyone piped in, “Yeah, I can’t believe it.”
“Isn’t he the one who invented the moonwalk?” (Duh! I thought.)
“It’s hard to believe he’s gone.”
I was a little surprised by the direction of the conversation, and tried to regain focus.
This was supposed to be the last night of camp. A moment we would all remember.
“Yes that is sad,” I responded. “Did anyone else get something from the message tonight? I asked.
There was a brief silence when another team member began to speak.
“Here we go,” I thought, “Some wonderful spiritual thoughts.”
“How old was Michael Jackson?” the student asked.
Everyone piped in, “I don’t know.”
“He must have been really old.”
“I think he was popular in the 80s.”
“He had to be 70 something.”
“Wait it a minute now,” I jumped in. “He’s not that old.”
Michael Jackson’s life preceded all spiritual discussions, and I resigned to the fact that there would be no turning back to the spiritual depth I had hoped for. We all laughed over his songs, interesting facial changes and hairstyles, and dance moves. While we discussed Michael Jackson, a small voice placed a thought in my head. I asked the students, “What was Michael Jackson most known for?”
They discussed his music, his dance moves, and unfortunately his poor choices.
When the final vote was cast, I asked, “When we leave this camp in the morning, what will you be known for? How will each person on this team remember you?”
By the grace of God, students began to share how they would remember each other.
As the discussion died down, I asked, “When you die, what will you be most known for?” Students began to share how they wanted to be remembered. Some wanted to go down in history leaving a huge mark on the world, others wanted to be known in sports, some didn’t know. The time spent answering that question was precious and a moment I’ll never forget. We ended with the thought, “Will we be known by our love of Christ and others?” As we all pondered the question and shared our thoughts, our time together came to a close.

I learned a very valuable lesson that night. God can use whatever He wants to bring glory to himself, even Michael Jackson. Sometimes I expect God to be in the deep, spiritual things of life, but God is in everything. He meets us where we are. Even when we are concerned about the death of a pop star, He’s there. We just have to be willing to find him.

Where Are My Feet?

2009-06-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

I heard the story recently of a father who was mowing his backyard early one Saturday morning. The dew was so thick as he pushed the mower, he left footprints in the wet, green grass. His daughter came outside to watch. She noticed the giant feetprints. She ran behind her father and began to place one of her own feet in each of the prints. She followed slowly behind the man she loved and trusted. After awhile the father noticed, his little girl. He turned off the mower and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Just following you," she replied.
"Why?" he questioned.
"Because I love you," she innocently responded.
The father was brought to tears as he was reminded of his heavenly Father. If he could love his father enough, to trust his footprints and follow where ever he leads.

Sometimes it feels like we are walking through hell on earth. Other times it seems like our feet are floating on heavenly clouds. No matter where our feet land, if they are gently placed in our father's footsteps, he will go before us protecting us and making the path smooth. We just have to love him enough, to trust him.

What To Do With a Moment

2009-06-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

When a moment is put in motion it creates a movement.

We all experience "moments" throughout our day. Some people call them "Ahh-haa" moments and others a "divine revelation."

...the words of a song speak exactly what we needed to hear.

...a logo on a billboard shouts a slogan that captures our hearts.

... a friend answers a question without knowing it was the doubt we had pondered in our thoughts that morning.

... a scripture provides comfort for our deepest pain.

No matter what these moments are called - we must capture them. We must take hold of each moment and flesh it out. Like Nike says, "Just do it." When that moment takes action in our lives a movement occurs.

Have you ever stood at the edge of a lake when it was so still it looked like glass? You could see the reflection of each leaf on the surrounding trees and the clouds floating slowly in the sky above. What happens when someone throws a pebble into the water? First one ring of water appears, then the next, until the entire pond is affected by that one small stone.

When our "Ahh-haa" moments occur or when God whispers in our ears, we can take that pebble and toss it into the pond of our lives. As the moment lands in our thoughts, actions, and words, we will see the ripples flow from us into the lives of those we touch. A movement will begin in our hearts and spread throughout our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our communities.

Have you had a moment lately? If so, get movin...and watch the amazing movement that takes place!

A Hampster Stuck on the Spinning Wheel?

2009-06-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you have been run over by a truck?

Maybe it's not that bad, but you feel completely spent? You are emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or like a hampster running on the wheel and you can't get off?

This summer has been a little crazy for me. Taking 4 classes from the middle of May through the end of July, writing curriculum for an internship, and being a wife and mom with all the activities of summer have got me feeling a little overwhelmed. Add a sweet hubby doing a little job searching in the mix and BOOM, this hampster is running mentally, physically, and emotionally on overload.

As I walked around our church tonight at an AWESOME evening of family fun, I noticed several other critters who looked like the wheel of life and activity was spinning faster than their legs can run.

Someone challenged me today with a question: Is there balance in your life?

It seems there are seasons when the scale tips to one side or the other, but the goal is to ultimately remain balanced.

Perhaps the very best question that we can memorize and repeat, over and over, is, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?”

We must master our lives and not become a slave to the constant flow of events and demands on our time.

After next week, this hampster is taking a cold, hard look at life, demands, and events and asking herself, "What is the most valuable use of my time, right now!"

Just a Dog Trying to Catch a Squirrel

2009-06-16T21:48:00.001-07:00

My dog is amazing. I have recently started taking him on walks. There is a 2 mile circle around our neighborhood. The first week I took him walking he stayed right beside me and never pulled on the leash. Yesterday I decided to take him off the leash and see if he would follow my lead. BOOM, the first time out he made it all the way around the circle and only chased 2 squirrels, 1 bird, and stopped to gnaw on an old chicken bone.

I thought that was pretty good for a first try. Each time he was distracted by something, I would make this "AAAGGG" noise, and say "Nugget, come here." He came back every time and took up right where he left off. Today we repeated the same scenario and he only went after 1 bird. I was totally amazed. "What makes this dog do what he is suppose to do?"

At the moment the thought popped into my head, a voice began to whisper.
"What makes you do what you are suppose to do? What makes you obey me?"
I began to think how much I am like Nugget. I want to please my master so I do my best to walk loyally and faithfully next to him. It never fails, though, I don't get my way, something ticks me off and I'm off chasing birds or gnawing on a chicken bone.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all walk next to Christ with no distractions or temptations? How do we learn to stay focused on the way of our master? When we hear that quiet, "AAGG," continue on his path. Don't make a mad dash for the temporary things that bring no real pleasure. When he says, "Steph, come here," get back on track. When I learn what displeases him, don't look at it. Just keep walking.

Last night one of my preciouses really upset me. I heard the "AAGG." It meant don't talk about it now. You are not in the right frame of mind. Go take your bath. Think awhile. Cool off a little bit. What did I do? I chased that squirrel until I caught it. What happened? I made a small matter worse. I lost my temper. Talked louder than I should have. Brought no reconciliation to the situation. Worst of all, I think my precious child only learned one thing from the whole situation - how not to discipline your kids. If I only had on a collar, he could have yanked me back where I needed to be.

I'm learning from Nugget. We both have lots of work in the matter of distractions and temptations. The great thing is we both have a master that loves us very much and is willing to forgive when we stray off course. We both want to please our masters and with a little help we can kiss those squirrels good-bye and snub our noses at chicken bones.

Always An Opportunity

2009-06-16T05:57:00.001-07:00

I saw the Good Samaritan last night.

I was watching kids load into their cars after VBX, when 2 boys ran towards me and hollered, "My mom's car won't start. We need jumper cables."
As I walked towards the car in the parking lot, I asked several men if they could help. It was interesting to watch each man's response. Each one had a different reason why he couldn't.
While searching for that 1 willing Samaritan, I heard, "Hey Steph, what's going on? You need some help?"
I was taken back by the willingness of 1 man to lend a helping hand. "Yeah! We need jumper cables."
"I don't have any in my car, but I'll drive home and get them if I need to. Look, there's Alex, I bet he's got a pair."
"Alex!" I yelled across the lot, "Do you have jumper cables?"
"Yes, I've got 2 pair," he responded.
"Bring your car & cables around here and help us jump this car," I told him.
"Okay!" He quickly put the car in position.
The 2 men went to work.
About that time another gentleman walked over to the car. "What's going on? You guys need help?" he asked. He instinctively began helping.
Within minutes the car was started, the lady was smiling, and everyone was on their way home.
Before we left Alex said, "There is always an opportunity to serve, you just gotta be willing."

Last night I realized there are those rare few who are willing to serve when the opportunity arises. Like the 3 good samaritans last night, I hope I will always be one of the few, the willing, the good samaritans.

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me." Jesus

Fodder for the Fire

2009-06-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Everything I own or possess will one day be gone.

Either I will die and own it no longer or at the end of time it will become "fodder for the fire."

There is nothing wrong with owning a nice home or car, wearing nice clothes, or buying the latest electronic gadgets. How do I know, though, when it becomes wrong? I have to ask myself simple questions:

1. Why am I buying this? ...to fill my wants, to impress someone, because I'm bored, my old one doesn't look good enough.

2. In 2 months, after the "new" is gone, will I still use it?

3. If no one else knew I was buying it, would I still buy it?

4. Will making this purchase put me in debt?

5. Will this be fodder for the fire or does it have eternal value?

6. Will I die without it?

With our job status in limbo, I have had to take a hard look at what is really necessary in life.

I realized what truly matters in life are the things we can't see. We can't see memories, love, laughter, time, a good conversation, a word of encouragement, a hug, appreciation, peace, or kindness.

I'm noticing all the things in life that won't be fodder for the fire.

...When we sat down as a family to play Sorry, I realized the game may become fodder for the fire, but the time and fun we had together will last forever.

...When my daughter and I had an indepth conversation about the tough parts of life.

...When I laughed hysterically at one of my daughter's babysitting episodes.

...When my brother called. (He told me he read in the Bible Stephen was stoned and he didn't mean marijuana.)

...When we go for a walk around the neighborhood.

When I heard the quote "fodder for the fire" it made me think. I don't want to accumulate a pile of rubbish for the fire. I want to spend my life investing in what makes an eternal difference!

Lessons from the Gran Torino

2009-06-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight Rick and I watched "Gran Torino." What an amazing movie! The language was horrible but the message was huge! Clint Eastwood plays a widowed, cold-hearted, elderly man who lives in the neighborhood where he raised his two sons. There is one small problem. The neighborhood is overrun by people of various races, gangs, and thugs. Eastwood, Mr. Walt, mentors a teenage neighbor boy after one of the gangs tries to seduce him into joining.

I learned so much from this movie.
1. In the blink of an eye, we could live in a neighborhood of violence.
Be thankful for our subdivisons!
Remember what it takes to live in a violence free neighborhood. - God's grace, hard work, & wisdom.

2. There are people who need a mentor.
Everyone can help someone!
Look for people God has put in our lives that we are suppose to invest in. Make huge deposits of love, encouragement, & wisdom.

3. Do we understand life & death?
Live life to the fullest.
Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, be ALL there.
Know where we are going when we die.

4. Some people have had hard lives.
When faced with a grumpy person, be patient.
Recognize there is a reason for the bitterness.

5. This was an illustration of what Jesus did for me!

Mission Possible?

2009-06-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

In business, companies have a mission statement. A mission statement is a short, concise goal that is easy to remember.

One of the first owners of Coca-Cola tasted Coke. It was so good, he said, "Every person in the world needs to taste this drink." He determined the mission of Coca-Cola was for every person in the world to taste the soda. He has succeeded in his mission.

What should my mission statement be?
Someone recently said, "I want to die a successful wife and mom."
What an amazing mission!
At this point in life, that feels like Mission Impossible. I can only imagine all the challenges Coca-Cola must have experienced to reach the world. If Coke can do it one can at a time, maybe I can slowly one day at a time become the wife and mom I am intended to be. And my prayer is one day when my time ends, it may be said, "She was a successful wife and mom."

Who's Turning this Mess?

2009-06-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Last year my brother read the entire Bible. I was so impressed. I thought, "If he can do it, maybe I can too." So, I set a goal to follow in his footsteps. I thought it would be really hard. Afterall, what am I going to get out of all those books in the Old Testament? Sometimes they seem so unrelated to life.

This morning I read 1 Kings 12. Rehoboam (What kind of name is that?) was the king of Israel. This other guy Jeroboam (...Oboam must have been popular back then. Like Bill, Phil, Will, I guess.) rebelled against the king and he took control over all of Israel except Judah.

How in the world does this apply to a mom at home with 3 kids during the summer?

8 words..."this turn of events was from the Lord."

It's amazing to think no matter what we are going through in life, our "turn of events"...

our losses, our successes, our failures, our illnesses, our pain, our joys

our vacations, our trips to the pool, our jobs, the NBA playoffs...

they are all turn of events FROM THE LORD.

Whatever "turn of events" we are in, we can rest in the fact that it is from the Lord.

He is in control. He loves us more than we love ourselves and he is good. He is in control and we can trust him.

However your events are turning this week, take a deep breath and know,

there is someone greater than you turning them around.

Where Will They Sleep?

2009-06-10T21:18:00.001-07:00

The Montrose Street Reach program hosts a worship service and provides dinner for the homeless each Wed. night in a parking lot off Montrose street. Tonight we went and served dinner. Before dinner, in a corner of the parking lot we watched the children while the adults participated in the service. As I played with the kids, all I could think was, "Where will they sleep tonight?" It's an interesting fact that children don't choose their parents. Children don't choose where they will live, and they don't choose where they sleep.

As I snuggled into my soft bed after a warm bath in the cool of the air condition and the fan gently blowing, I wondered, "Where are their small heads gently resting?" Is the wind blowing on their faces? Have they had a bath? What do they hear - sirens, other people roaming the streets?

God protect the children who sleep outside tonight.
Blow a gentle breeze across their clear smooth skin.
Place a soft cushion of earth beneath their heads.
And let them feel a gentle hug as they snuggle in.

God keep them safe from harm.
Fill their minds with dreams of you.
Let their slumber be a sweet haven.
Away from all life has them do.

God bless them with a bath
And clean clothes when they arise.
Give them breakfast from some unknown place.
And a beautiful sunset when they open up their eyes.

God pull them from the life they live.
Show them a better way.
Teach them hard work and reward.
As they grow in you each day.

Most importantly, God,

Please choose them as your own.

Draw them to the cross that saves

Make your true love to them known.

So Lord I do not know where

the children sleep tonight.

But I know you see each one,

They are never from your sight.

Hold them close tonight.

Love them wherever they are.

Meet their every need.

As they dream under the stars.

Anybody Remember Enron?

2009-06-09T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'll never forget the day my husband came home and said, "I get to bid on the Enron account."
This was two or three years before Enron crashed and my husband was in the document security and destruction business. If he landed this account, it meant huge $$$ for the Chase family. I begged and pleaded God for this account. I prayed while my husband was at the meeting selling the deal. I prayed all day long, and the days to follow until we received the final word.
The final word was like a sock in the stomach, "No thank you," they said. "We've chosen to go with someone else."
"What?" I screamed in my mind. I couldn't let my anger show in order to support my husband, but all I could think was, "Hello, God, are you up there? This was all I asked for. Was this too much?"
I never heard a response from God. I resolved to accept the fact that we lost the perfect account and lots of $$$.
As Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story" is known by the world. Two or three years later, Enron was busted. At the center of the controversy was document destruction and shredding. I could not believe the news when I first saw it. As I sat listening to the reporters, I got down on my knees and begged once again like I had done several years earlier. This time I begged for forgiveness. God knew what was going to happen to the person responsible for Enron's document destruction. God knew what was going to happen to the company. Most importantly, God knew He was protecting my husband and my family.

Sometimes we don't understand why God allows certain things to happen. Just like we don't give our children sodas for breakfast and cookies for dinner, God doesn't always give us what we want. God knows what is best for us. He knows what is going to happen 2 or 3 years down the road and He is willing to do what is best even when he knows it might not make us temporarily happy.

Trust God...

He knows what we need.

He knows what is best.

He knows the perfect time.

He knows what is ahead.

He is in control of it all and He loves us!

Churning Butter & Twisting Noses

2009-06-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

"As churning milk makes butter,

As twisting the nose produces blood,

So stirring up anger produces strife."

Proverbs 30:33

Yesterday morning 2 of my 3 kiddos were churning a little milk and twisting a few noses. They weren't trying to be mean, but they were definately stirring up anger.

One was talking trash to the other so of course there had to be retaliation. Before you knew it, they were running through the house chasing one another and all you could hear was, "MOM!"

I called them both into my room and asked if they remembered making butter in preschool and kindergarten. You put that soured milk (can't remember what it's called) in a jar and simply shake the jar. It's a slow and steady process. You shake for what seems like forever, but eventually...boom... there is a little ball of butter.

I had the kids read Proverbs 30:33. When we make one small teasing comment, it's the first shake of the butter jar. We shake up a few cruel cutdowns, mix in a couple of angry punches, and the next thing you know, we have created a house full of strife.

For the rest of the day, anytime I heard a small shake of the anger jar, I would remind them, "You're churning butter!" or "Your twisting a nose!" It sounded a little strange but it was a fun way to remind us all to stop stirring the anger pot! Afterall, who wants to live in a house full of strife?

Get 'Er Done

2009-06-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

You wanna get 'er done... you gotta write 'er down!

I'll never forget the day I first put this little tip into practice. Honestly, I thought it wouldn't work, but being the procrastinator that I am trying to juggle quiet a few things on my plate, I gave it a try. It works & it's easy! If you have never done it, you HAVE to try it!

1. Purchase a small spiral.
2. Before going to sleep, make a list of the things you want to accomplish the next day.
This helps clear your mind while sleeping.
Keep the list by your bed. If you wake up in the night, write it down quickly. You won't
stay awake mulling it over in your mind.
The simple list will get you moving in the morning.
Write down a couple of easy things that you can mark off quickly. It makes you feel good!
3. Read the list when you wake up.
4. Mark things off the list as you complete them throughout the day.

Just for fun, try an experiment. One day don't make a list and just go about your day. The following day, make the list and "check it twice." Compare the 2 and see which day is more productive. If I'm wrong, you gotta write and tell me! If I'm right, you will accomplish more in a day than you ever thought you could!

Modeling Multiplication

2009-06-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Someone recently shared this life goal with me...

Model what you want to multiply!

I kept thinking, if I could only multiply 3 things, what would they be?

Would it be self-discipline?

Imagine if every person in the world were self-disciplined! We would all be thin, speak only kind words, rich because we would be disciplined in our spending and saving, growing in our relationship with Jesus because we would discipline ourselves to spend time with him & in his word, and successful because we would discipline ourselves at work.

Would it be love?

Imagine if every person in the world showed love 24/7! Would there be wars, divorce, murder, grudges, bitterness? We would all get along, take turns on the road, let others go 1st in lines, love our spouses and the people that annoy us.

Would it be kindness?

Imagine if every person in the world was kind! How would sporting events, family relationships, classrooms, and neighborhoods be different? We would consistently give, share, help, and encourage each other.

The list could go on & on, but no matter what 3 things I choose, whether I like it or not...
I am modeling every moment & it is being mutiplied by the day!

Recently my kids were in a "heated discussion." Each comment was seething with sarcasm. I asked myself, "Where is this coming from? School? Friends? Teachers?"

Then that sweet, still voice whispered, "You are multiplying what you are modeling!" (OUCH!)

I never won prizes for Math in school, but 1 prize I want to win is for Model Multiplaction.

When I leave this earth & meet my Maker, I want to hear him say, "Well done good & faithful servant. You may have to multiply with your fingers & toes, but you multiplied all that I modeled for you with your whole life!"