"Storms" of Life Can Set Us Apart

Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

Have you ever planned something in your life and it did not go at all like you had PLANNED?

This is a theme in my life. As I consider what my "plans" were 5 years ago, 10 years ago, etc.. my life looks nothing like I expected or planned.

My poor husband has been planning a Disciple Now Weekend. The weekend's theme is "Set Apart".

D-NOW Set Apart Weekend

Several things have put a kink in his plans like the "STORM" of the century. Our speaker, Curtis Jones lives in TX. His flight was cancelled (and they didn't even get a drop of snow). He is booked on a new flight and we are PRAYING he makes it.

I love that I can rest in the truth that God is IN CONTROL. 

I love how ironic (not really ironic... because God is at work) the theme of "Set Apart" and "Storms" go together.

After all, it is the STORMS of life that SET US APART.

I have been so impressed with my husband and how he has handled this stress. It says a lot about who he is and in whom he places his trust.

We have two sets of friends who just had newborns. Both of those precious babies are having complications. The strength and peace these parents are displaying in midst of their uncertainty is amazing. (Please pray for babies Jackson and Micah). 

I think of the parents of Kate McRae. Kate is a beautiful 6 year old little girl who is BATTLING brain cancer. This storm has set them apart. (Please pray for the healing of this precious child.)

In the midst of all this on my mind are two verses and I think they go together beautifully. 


Set yourself apart:  "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5


As you set yourself apart:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7




How do you handle the "storms" of life?


What do you do to set yourself apart?


Do you have a Bible verse you cling to?


Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.




**UPDATE: Curtis' flight was delayed and he would not make his connection. The D-Now weekend was canceled due to inclement weather. 


TRUTH we are clinging to: We know that God is in control!

This Song Randomly Brought Tears to My Eyes

Have you listened to a song over and over?

Has a song you know randomly pierce your heart, make you cry, etc?

That happened to me this morning and it was like a little reminder of what really matters:

God LOVES Me, no matter what.

This is nothing new to most of us "church" people.

Sadly, we rarely stop and think about it.. HE LOVES US!

"How He (God) Loves" by David Crowder Band pierced my heart this morning. The song is amazing, but the words alone are one of the best love poems of all time.

I wanted to share (I've made the emphasis on the lines that touch my heart).

"How He Loves"

He is jealous for me

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me

And O how He loves us

Oh, O how He loves us

How He loves us all

We are His portion and He is our prize

Drawn to redemption by the GRACE in His eyes

If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking

So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

When I think about the way

How He LOVES us!

If you have never heard the song, here is the video:

Is there a song that makes you cry?

Is there is a certain line in a lyric that pierces your heart?

Please comment below, I'd love to hear.

I Have Plan. How Do I Stick To It?

“If you’re going to risk and maybe fail, fail at something that matters. 
Fail gloriously so that even in failure, lives change.” - Jon Acuff

Making a plan or goal is easy.

Sticking to the plan is HARD!

My schedule post seemed to resonate with women. I received several emails and comments regarding schedules. The overall theme of the messages confirm what is stated above (and below).

Following through on my schedule is HARD!

The problem: We want to be PERFECT and we FAIL.

When we don't stick to the schedule and our house looks like this for three days (Yes, this is what my couch looks like right now; hence, the motivation to make a schedule):

Perfection is lost and we give up. 

We all have patterns of this in our lives. This pattern can apply to diets, housework, relationships, etc.

Here is the key (something I am learning): You will fail. Pick yourself up and start again. If you get off your schedule, diet, ________. DON'T GIVE UP. Put the failure behind you and start over. 

Life is beyond INSANE. Everyday is different. Give yourself a realistic and flexible schedule. When you find yourself getting off your plan, there is probably a purpose in it. Find what God is teaching you, LEARN FROM IT and start again.

We need to be reminded of God's Plan:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

I think the apostle Paul so clearly encourages us by explaining he has not gained perfection, but is straining to live a God honoring life.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it." Phil. 3:12-13

Our ultimate goal:

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13-14

I am the queen of inconsistency. I have been struggling with it my whole life. I am learning not to focus on the poor character trait (inconsistency) I possess, but changing that trait in my life. 

Change is not easy. Change takes discipline. Change is a daily, hourly, minute by minute putting aside our natural tendencies in order to live a life that honors the Lord. We want to give him the glory for our change.

Do you have any tips for sticking to a schedule?

What "change" in your life are you working on?

Leave a comment, I'd love to hear. 

My Husband was Impressed When...

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

Lately, I have been in a state of examination. I am currently examining every aspect of my life with the goal of making myself a better person. I realize, that it sounds deep but trust me, I am NOT DEEP. I just want to be the best Christ follower, wife, mother, friend, etc. that I can be.

Our pastor is currently preaching through the book of James and naturally James 1:22 hit home. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)" Hence, the reason I am examining my life. It is easy to "listen" to the Bible.  It is HARD to live out the Bible. I want to be one who lives out what the Bible says.

I am currently reading Love and Respect. (I am not finished, but I plan on posting a review soon.) I highly recommend it though. I seriously think the author has been in our home during some of our disagreements. (Makes me laugh).  

In light of reading Love and Respect and examining my life, I asked my husband what I could do to be a better wife. I know a million things I could do better, but I wanted to know from his perspective.  

His response, "I was really impressed when you had that daily list and schedule." What he was referring to was a routine I had myself on in the past. It was a daily cleaning, organizing and cooking guide for me to follow so I could keep up with my housework. I was very surprised at his response because my husband is the most laid back person (and generally not clean). 

His answer has been on the forefront of my mind. 

From his response, I realize how important schedules and routines are at every age. I don't think it is the cleanliness that he cares about as much as knowing that everything is okay and taken care of at home.  

"Let the wife make her husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave". ~ Martin Luther

Having a routine is easily something I can do to help my husband. I am working on my schedule and I'll post it in hopes that it might help those other overwhelmed mamas out there.  

I recommend you "kindly" ask your husband what you can do to be a better wife. (Don't get defensive about his response.. do what he says). 

Did you ask him?  What what his response? 

Confession: I'm an ADDICT

What is one word to describe yourself? I have been contemplating this question and unfortunately my answer is, addict.

I am addicted to:

-Having Stuff
-Name Brands
-Being Liked
-Trying to be perfect (always fail at this)
-Scents (currently Tyler "celebrity")
-Hugging and kissing my kids
-Food
-Twitter / Facebook
-IPhone (to make matters worse, I want an IPad)
-Beating my husband at Words With Friends (I've even resorted to cheating)

I want to be addicted to:

-God's Word/Bible (reading)
-Memorizing God's Word
-Reading
-Changing (to become like Christ)

Several bloggers (here and here) wrote about "One Word 2011". Instead of making a list of resolutions, you choose one word to guide how you live in 2011. I am the most indecisive person and over think everything.

It has taken me almost a month to figure out my "one word", but here it is:

LOVE

I want love to direct everything I do.  My verse for the year:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

I want the word that describes me to change.  I want my life to be a synonym for LOVE.

What is one word to describe yourself?  Do you have "One Word" for 2011?  Do you have a verse for the year?

Beauty - Is it something worth attaining?

Every woman wants to be beautiful.  Let me be more specific, every woman wants to be thought of as beautiful or in today's terms, hot.  This topic of beauty has been on mind ever since my Bible Study teacher told us about a documentary she watched on beauty.  They polled 10 of the most beautiful women and 10 of the most powerful women in the world.  They found that almost all of the powerful women would have chosen to have beauty over their position and almost all of the beautiful women would keep their beauty rather than attaining a powerful position.  My reaction was, seriously?

This has captivated my thoughts, so I decided to do some studying.  I help teach a group of high school senior girls.  I seriously think they are some of the most beautiful girls I have ever been around, so this topic of beauty has been somewhat of a theme in my life.  I have been preparing to teach about beauty (this Sunday) and would love some input from you.

Inner beauty is imperative and well worth attaining as Scripture points out.  A verse commonly used to accentuate this point is 1 Samuel 16:7 -"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  We see over and over the importance of having inner beauty and a pure heart before the Lord. 

Is outer beauty a bad thing?  Most would say, no. 

So, I will pose another few questions..

Is outer beauty something worth attaining? 

Should we strive for exterior beauty?

A spiritual lesson we can learn from Keeping Up with the Kardashians?

I was flipping through the channels the other night and landed on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.  I'll admit that I watched the show when it first came out, but I have not kept up with it lately.  That evening I decided to watch it for a few minutes.  I'm not sure what episode it was and honestly it went bad fast, so I changed the channel... but for the few short minutes I watched it,  here is what I heard.  Rob (the youngest Kardashian and only boy in the family) was giving Bruce Jenner (their step-father and olympic champion) a hard time because Bruce is too boring and straight laced. Rob asked Bruce, "Didn't you go out and party when you were my age?".  Bruce's response.. "No, at your age I had already won my first gold medal as was training to win my second".  Bruce didn't have time to party, he was focused on the winning the PRIZE. 

Fast forward to today where I read (again) Philippians 3:12-14.  "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

As I study Philippians I have Wiersbe's commentary close by.  He so easily describes these verses.  A couple things he points out:
1) "The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself".  That is where I have been lately - in an evaluation process.  This can be tough and liberating all at the same time.  Wiersbe goes on to warn, "Self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing, because we err in two directions: (1) making ourselves better than we are or (2) making ourselves worse than we really are."

Where do you fit in?  Me, I am one who probably makes myself worse than I really am.  One of my best friends used to say that we have an over-active Holy Spirit.  The two of us love the LORD and we feel so guilty over every little thing we do.  (I am kind of thankful for that though.. makes me realize HOW MUCH I NEED A SAVIOR.. JESUS). 

Wiersbe goes on to point out:
2) The "One thing" found in the second half of verse 13 is a phrase that is very important to Christians.  And yet another lesson we can learn from Keeping Up with the Kardashions.  Bruce was focused on "One Thing" winning a gold medal at the olympics.  Everyday and all day for how ever many years he trained was focued on that "One Thing".  This is where we need to be except.. not training for a Gold Medal, but focused on God and what He has for us to do with our life.

Wiersbe points out (and something I'm guilty of) "Too many Christians are too involved in "many things" when the secret to progress is to concentrate on "one thing".  The believer must devote himself to running the Christian race.  No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing."  Bruce Jenner did not try to win several different medals in various sports.  No, he trained specifically to win a gold medal in the decathalon.

The question I ask myself (and you) is... Are you too involved in "many things" or are you specializing in "one thing"?  If you are like me and are guilty of the "many things" ask the Lord to show you what skills and gifts he has given you.  So you may use that "one thing" to bring Glory to God and to point others to Jesus.

Just Say No - November - Want In? (my version of No Shave November)

Have you ever had a time in your life when there was an overall theme that kept coming up?  It may be in a conversation, it may be at church, it may be in what you are reading or listening to.. but it all is telling you the same thing and you really don't want to hear it.

Well, this is my theme lately (and honestly, I've been trying to ignore it) - JUST SAY NO.  You know the old campaign to stay away from drugs.. well, same wording.. different application.  It first came up in our small group several weeks ago and from my husband (which makes matters worse).  He wasn't talking to me specifically, but to our group. Our pastor asked us how we can be more like Jesus and live our lives to be more like him.  My husband's response.. JUST SAY NO... to ourselves, selfishness, what we want, etc. and focus everything on the LORD and what HE says and what HE wants.

Then I read this blog post.. Just Say No.. which is a great read and something I can't get out of my head. This verse.. Proverbs 26:11  --" As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" and her saying... "A NO helps you grow" keeps resonating within me.

So here I am today.. I am setting aside this week as my JUST SAY NO week (Monday - Friday)  in November.  It is a take off on No Shave November.  I think I will find this to be just as freeing as not shaving (although I think that is gross).

Here are somethings I am just saying NO to:

1) Spending any money.. not a dime.  I realize that I spend my free time shopping.  Things are so tight with our money right now.. it is definitely something I need to say NO to.  So, no stopping at Sonic, no trips to Target, Hobby Lobby etc.  No eating out. (all my weaknesses when it comes to money).

2) Speaking unkind words.  I don't really yell, but I can snap harsh words with the best of them.  So, I will control my tongue.  You know the old saying.. if you don't have anything nice to say-- don't say anything at all.

3) Eating extra calories.  I realize that I love food.  I love how it tastes. I love to cook. I love how other people enjoy it, but I need to say no!  I have to eat to live.. I don't need to live to eat!

Let us follow Paul and his example: Philippians 3:17-21
¹⁷ Join together in following my (Paul's) example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

So here I start.. want to join in?  What do you need to say NO to this week?

You are what you THINK

You are what you EAT THINK is a statement I can't get out of my mind.  I was preparing my Sunday School lesson (on beauty) and had this statement in my mind.  The old saying is- you are what you eat.  In reality- you are what you think.  I was afraid I was going down the path of some weird new age thinking so I asked my husband if I was off base with that statement.  His response.. it's Biblical.  Proverbs 23:7 (a) For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

I was reading this blog yesterday, and while it is very short, simple and not at all profound. I haven't gotten it out of my mind.  It may be because I remember sitting where she was about 6-7 years ago.  I remember what was going through my MIND at the time.  The struggle within in that was telling me there was something wrong with me.  No one would ever really love me or want to marry me.  I wasn't good enough.  I remember the tears I cried as I prayed that God would bring someone amazing into my life and that I wouldn't settle for anything less than what God had for me.  It was such a struggle (in my mind).  Now that I look back, I am blown away by the man God has brought into my life.. I really don't deserve him.. but I'm glad I have him!

To go along with everything I have been contemplating about the mind, I have been reading through and studying the book of Philippians.  This book is about JOY and having a single mindset.  Wiersbe describes a single mindset as the attitude that says, "It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the gospel is shared with others."  The apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians and this was his mindset, but it is SO NOT MY MINDSET.  I wish it was.  I would like to say it was- but when I read Proverbs 23:7 (a) to be completely honest with you.. it is not.  No-- I am more worried about what my house looks like, what people think about me (it is so bad that my husband, in jest, sings "Popular" to me from Wicked), what brand of clothes I wear, being the perfect wife, mom and just being "perfect" in general.  I get discontended ALOT.

So, I come to this quote.. "The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates.  That is where I have been lately- examining my life.  Who am I really, what do I want?  Am I living for my own selfish gain, to make me known or in a way to make God and Jesus Christ known?  When people look at me, what do they think? Better yet, when I look within my own heart- where are my thoughts and who am I living for?

Then this morning, I woke up in tears... thinking about my own struggles.  Burdened for a family member who struggles with addictions and even after all the help his parents are trying to provide for him has relapsed again.  I think about some other people close to me who at one point in their life had a love for God and really don't care anymore.  I think about all my family members who believe in God, but don't really have a love for him. I think about a friend who lost her father a few weeks ago and doesn't know how to live without him.  I think about friends of ours who seem to have everything- stuff, a beautiful house, wonderful kids and anything money can buy.. but are so unhappy.

Then I realize... you are what you THINK. 

If myself and all these people I am burdend for changed their mindset...

This is what I read this morning (over and over... crying, broken):
Philippians 3:8-9 ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Paul goes on saying ...
¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I have read these verses MANY times and never have they come alive to me like they have today.  Paul was the "Hebrews of Hebrews" in regards to the law.  Oh I can relate.. I am a seminary graduate, a pastor's wife.  I know how to ACT.  Oh, how I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  May I grow to KNOW him more.  May my MIND be that of Christ Jesus.  May my desire be to make HIM known. 

Thanks for letting me share this today!  May you come to really KNOW Jesus.. He is the only one who can carry us through our struggles and who gives us hope.

Why does life get so hectic?

For the past few weeks, our life has been crazy. My husband and I have had something going on every night for the past two weeks. Last Monday we took our first trip to the emergency room with Kate. She fell at church and we didn't see her fall. She started throwing up a couple hours later and the doctor was concerned that she hit her head. He wanted us to take her in to get a catscan. We spent four hours in the ER and they didn't want to give her a catscan and sent us home. Thank goodness it just ended up being a stomach virus that was going around. She is fine, but that was only the beginning to our crazy couple of weeks.

Our church hosted a Beth Moore simulcast and I was on the team. We had a "dream team" of women working together. I have never been apart of a group who worked together so well. We did run into a few bumps in the road, but the Lord was so faithful and everything turned out wonderfully! Here is that awesome team of women.

Beth talked from Psalm 37 - "Coming Home to Heart of Your Desires". (I feel a little weird calling her Beth.. I am talking as if I know her personally, which I don't.. but I didn't want to say Beth Moore or Mrs. Moore, so I settled for "Beth".) Anyway, I had heard that passage preached several times, but she did bring a freshness to it for me. For those of you who missed it... the message will be available on her website in the next few weeks at Living Proof.

After a hectic week last week and knowing that life wasn't slowing down with Justin's schedule, I decided to re-focus and read through Romans and read the book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. I wanted to share an excerpt that he wrote.. I love how God works. This totally goes along with what Beth was talking about this weekend (the desires of our hearts) He wrote a poem to his wife on their 25th wedding anniversary on what it is to be a Christian Hedonist. The poem is really long, so I won't post it all (click here to read it in its entirety), but I loved this excerpt...

Call this whatever name you may, It is the truth.
Shall God display His great all-satisfying grace
In joyless souls? And shall he trace
The outlines of his majesty
In hearts that neither taste nor see
Enough in him to comprehend
That here their quest is at an end?
No, God has made another way
To put his glory on display.

His goodness shines with brightest rays
When we delight in all his ways.
His glory overflows its rim
When we are satisfied in him.
His radiance will fill the earth
When people revel in his worth.
The beauty of God's holy fire
Burns brightest in the heart's desire.

Don't you just love that? Oh, how I want to "Delight my ways in the Lord".. and "He will give me the desires of my heart." (Psalm 37:4) I have a long way to go.. I want my desires to match up with God's desires.

I have no idea why life gets so hectic at times, but remember to stop and think about your purpose on this earth and why God put you here.. one more time...

His goodness shines with brightest rays
When we delight in all his ways.
His glory overflows its rim
When we are satisfied in him.
His radiance will fill the earth
When people revel in his worth.
The beauty of God's holy fire
Burns brightest in the heart's desire.

Why Change?

Last week I started the first day of the "shred" and book club. I received many private responses to my post on forgiveness. I obviously hit a hot spot and boy was I tested last week. Since I have been baring my soul and struggles to you.. today I thought I would take a break and answer the question.. WHY CHANGE?

I did not have many responses to participate in the book club (we are reading, How People Change). I don't know if is because you really don't want to change (am I getting hotter) or if you are just too busy to participate.. anyway... I decided to keep myself accountable and work on the things that NEED TO CHANGE in my life (which consist of ALOT).

Next week, I will again bare my soul with another HUGE struggle of mine, but this week I want to give an excerpt from How People Change, answering the question.. Why do I need to change? I would love your thoughts..

Why Change?
Tripp and Lane, the authors, give "Five Gospel Perspectives" in directing their book How People Change. I thought I would give an excerpt from each perspective.. to answer the question.. Why Change?

Perspective #1: The Extent and Gravity of our Sin
It has been said that the doctrine of sin is one doctrine you can prove empirically, yet we all tend to minimize it. The struggle to accept our exceeding sinfulness is everywhere in the church of Christ. We accept the doctrine of total depravity, but when we are approached about our own sin, we wrap our robes of self-righteousness around us and rise to our own defense.

Scripture challenges this self-righteousness with clarity and power: "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (Gen.6:5) and " 'There is no one righteous, not even one' " (Rom. 3:10). The effects of sin twist every thought, motive, desire, word and action. This disease has infected us all, and the consequences are severe.

Perspective #2: The Centrality of the Heart
That is why the Bible is very clear that God wants our hearts. Only when God has your heart does he have you. As much as we are affected by our broken world and the sins of others against us, our greatest problem is the sin that resides in our hearts. That is the message of the gospel is that God transforms our lives by transforming our hearts.

Perspective #3: The Presents Benefits of Christ
Our hope is not in our theological knowledge or our experience within the body of Christ. We are thankful for these things, yet we hold onto one hope: Christ. In him we find everything we need to live a godly life in the here and now. Paul captures it so well: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)

Perspective #4: God's Call to Growth and Change
What is the goal of change? It is more than a better marriage, well-adjusted children, professional success, or freedom from a few nagging sins. God's goal is that we would actually become more like him. He doesn't just want you to escape from the fires of hell- though we praise God that through Christ you can! His goal is to free us from our slavery to sin, our bondage to self, our functional idolatry, so that we actually take on his character!
(2 Peter 1:4)

Perspective #5: A Lifestyle of Repentance and Faith
God has blessed you with his grace, gifted you with his presence, strengthened you with his power, and made you the object of his eternal love. Because we belong to him, we live for his agenda. And if change is his agenda, then repentance and faith is the lifestyle to which we have been called.
There are always new sins for the Christian to address and new enemies to defeat. The Christian life makes God's work of change our paradigm for living, while we celebrate the grace that makes it possible. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ: (Titus 2:11-13)

I love how they lay out why we need to change, but I wonder.. with all the power we have through the gospel of Christ and his "life-changing" power.. why do so many Christians live in defeat? Why have we not allowed Christ to truly CHANGE us? I think the answer is seen in "perspective #1". We have become "self-righteous" and don't see the depravity of our own sin. We are constantly comparing ourselves to other "Christians" and not to CHRIST.

Another reason is... we hold a low view of Scripture.. and high view of ourselves. It amazes me how I can justify sin.. especially the "little" sins. (as if there is such a thing). There are scriptures that talk about gluttony, coveting, wanting "things of the world", discontentment, selfishness. (My struggles.. well, a few of my struggles.. I have plenty more!). For some reason, we as "Christians" only focus on the "big" sins. If we aren't doing those..then we are OK.

NO!! The effects of sin twist every thought, motive, desire, word and action. This disease has infected us all, and the consequences are severe.

WE NEED TO CHANGE!!

Know Someone Struggling in their Life or Marriage? 30-day Shred-First Things First...

I have talked with so many friends lately who have asked me to pray for them because their marriage is in trouble. Some of these friends didn't surprise me at all when they told me... others have completely shocked me. I have noticed two things in common in each of them. First, they feel like their marriage is the only one that has struggles. Second is the core problem of their marriage... UNFORGIVENESS. {Single people, stay with me.. this applies to EVERYONE!}

I can notice unforgiveness a mile away because it is one of the biggest struggles I have in my own life. For a brief time in my life, I was able to be discipled by an amazing woman I barely knew, Mindy. Several of my friends had met with her so I got enough nerve up to call her one day to see if she would meet with me. That was the most difficult and most amazing time in my life. I was newly married and working for a boss I did not care for (to say the least). We had been meeting together for about two or three weeks... and Mindy revealed to me in a loving and very direct way... "Nicole, you have a problem with unforgiveness, and this is something we will have to deal with right away."

You see, my parents divorced when I was five and I was raised by my dad. I felt abandoned by my mom and never truly forgave her. Not only did I not forgive her, Mindy revealed to me that this is something that I don't do on a regular basis in my marriage or in my life.

Why am I talking about this now? Because FORGIVENESS is something that we have to practise on a regular basis. We have to do this almost minute to minute. My mom was here recently and I treated her terribly. I think that since I have had Kate my relationship with my mom had gotten worse (on my part.. NOTHING she has done). In my head, I think... how could she leave her daughter? (bringing back my unforgiveness)

I may be wrong, but I really think this is something that all people struggle with.. if we notice it or not.

Why forgive? First of all, for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, it is commanded and he has forgiven us of so much. With his forgiveness, how can I not forgive others? Second of all, unforgiveness breeds a very BITTER and very unhappy person (know any of those).

The obvious question is... how do I truly forgive someone?

Mindy gave me a copy of a chapter from CTO Ministries in their discipleship material. The chapter is titled: "The Christian: Called to Obedience." It is about 8 pages long and this post is already too long, so I am not going to post it all. {If you would like a full copy, please comment with your e-mail address and I will e-mail you a copy.} VERY PRACTICAL HELP!

Here is an excerpt that I love:

It is necessary to forgive in the following situations:

A. When someone seeks your forgiveness, make the commitment to forgive and grant forgiveness immediately. (Luke 17:3-4)

B. When forgiveness has not been sought by the offender, in prayer say, "I forgive (name of offender) for (specific offense)." (Mark 11:25)

C. If there have been multiple offenses over an extended period of time, it is highly recommended that you pray, making the commitment to forgive in the presence of a witness. (Gal. 6:2)

1. Make an individual list for each person who sinned against you (mother, father, spouse, child and other people)
2. List specific ways that person sinned against you or hurt you. (BE SPECIFIC)
3. Pray to forgive each specific offense individually, e.g. "I forgive my father for his drunkenness," I forgive my father for not encouraging me or praising my efforts." "I forgive my husband for...)"
4. Tear up your list so you do not keep a "record of wrongs". (1 Cor 13:5)
5. Implement this process whenever you are having a difficult time forgiving an offender, after having made a commitment in private.

Another question that is often asked after one chooses to forgive is... How do I forget?

This is something that is not possible. This is where you have to daily make a commitment to forgive. We have to set our mind on other things (other than our self.. the real reason for unforgiveness). A couple verses to help you are: Rom. 12:2 and Phil. 4:8.

BOOK CLUB UPDATE

A book that goes hand in hand our 30-Day Shred is: How People Change

This book is wonderful and CHALLENGING! If you want a boost and challenge in all areas of your life.. I highly recommend participating.

We will start the Book Club next Tuesday. I will post questions and my favorite experts from the book.

Here is a preview:

2 Peter 1:3-9

"Why are many Christians "ineffective and unproductive?" Peter provides the diagnosis in verse 9: they are nearsighted and blind, having forgotten that they have been cleansed from their past sins. They are blind to the power and hope of the gospel for today. What does this mean?

The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a "then-now-then" gospel. First, there is the "then" of the past. When I embrace Christ by faith, my sins are completely forgiven, and I stand before God as righteous. There is also the "then" of the future, the promise of eternity with the Lord, free of sin and struggle. The church as done fairly well explaining these two "thens" of the gospel, but it has tended to underestimate or misunderstand the "now" benefits of the work of Christ. What difference does the gospel make in the here and now? How does it help me as a father {mother}, a husband, a worker, and a member of the body of Christ? How does it help me respond to difficulty and make decisions? How does it give me meaning, purpose and identity? How does it motivate my ministry to others?

It is in the here and now that many of us experience a gospel blindness. Our sight is dimmed by the tyranny of the urgent, by the siren call of success, by the seductive beauty of physical things, by our inability to admit our own problems, and by the casual relationships we have within the body of Christ that we mistakenly call fellowship.

He address three kinds of blindness and I love what he says:

My work with teenagers has convinced me that one of the main reasons teenagers are not excited about the gospel is that they do not think they need it. Many parents have successfully raised self-righteous little Pharisees. When they look at themselves, they do not see a sinner in desperate need, so they are not grateful for a Savior. Sadly, the same is true of many of their parents.

Sorry for such a long post... I have been sick, struggling and learning so much!

Three Questions.. Free Book? How do people change? Want to start a bloggy book club?

Want to join my 30-day Shred? Want to win a free book?.. keep reading! As you can probably guess, I am somewhat addicted to the blogging world. I check my bloglines at least once a day to catch up on all my favorite blogs. One theme I have seen in most of the blogs I read is CHANGE. These changes are usually focused on physical changes (i.e. doing the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred or the Spring Cleaning Party. I help lead a small group for the High Schoolers in Justin's youth group. I was preparing for the lesson and it really hit me... The Lord has so much work to do in my life... man do I need to change.

Inspired by Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, I thought it would fun to do a 30 Day Shred on my blog. Only not the physical exercise 30 Day Shred (although I need that too), a spiritual "soul-changing" shred. A type of shred that will affect every area of our lives.

A SHRED as described in Hebrews 12:1 - "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Also, I am notorious for starting a book and not finishing it. Ask my husband. He is amazing.. he reads about a book a week. So as part of this 30-day Shred, I was wondering if you would like to be a part of a little bloggy book club?

I started this book (several years ago) and it is wonderful. The name of the book is How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp. I am dying to finish it. So I thought this will be a wonderful companion to our 30-day Shred.

Want in? Just post a comment with your thoughts. Let me know if you want to be apart of the book club, the 30-day Shred, or both. The 30-day Shred will be posted every Tuesday and we will do the book club every Monday. Of course I will still do my Recipe Wednesday along my Freebie Friday and of course, post encouragement along the way.

Need a little motivation??... GIVEAWAY.. Everyone who post a comment will be entered to win Paul Tripp's book "How People Change". This giveaway will only be open until Friday, May 22 @ 10am.

Click link to order and preview How People Change.

Happy Monday!

Do you want your kids to be just like you?

I read this Bible verse today and man did it scare / motivate me! I have so much changing to do! This is major motivation.

Ezekiel 16:44 - "As is the mother, so is her daughter" (kjv) or "Like mother, like daughter" (niv)

It is even more scary in context. Lord, please help me be more like you... so Kate will be more like you.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Don't you love free stuff? - Freebie Friday..

I promise, I will get to today's giveaway at the end.. but when I was writing the title to this post, I got kind of sad. We get so excited about the possibility of getting something free and I get so excited about giving something free.... but how excited do we get about the only perfect FREE GIFT.. SALVATION through Jesus Christ?

Easter is quickly approaching, and I have been stressed out about getting our house ready for our 20 guests, the menu, the Easter Egg hunt, Kate's first Easter, etc. I should be so excited to celebrate the most exciting day on the Christian calendar... the day that JESUS rose. I get sad, because I think that those of us who have grown up in church (ME) can sometimes get desensitized to the amazing Gospel and all that Christ did to save us. Want a challenge, encouragement or excitement for Easter?... read: I Cor. 15.

Want to see Kate's Easter dress? Here are a couple Easter photos of Kate in her dress...

Kate is getting so big! She even took a couple of steps this week (which totally blows my mind!) One thing I so look forward to as she is getting bigger... is starting traditions. I don't really think my parents did too many traditions growing up (that I can remember), but I want to do things every year with Kate. I am going to post a recipe tomorrow that will definitely be a tradition we will do with her. I also found this fun activity to do with your kids on the Desiring God website. I thought you might enjoy.. Don't Worry...The giveaway is posted at the end.

Tell the Easter Story with a Playdough Mountain

Here's a messy way to draw your youngsters into the meaning of this coming weekend. Make a mountain out of playdough to tell the story of Jesus' death and then turn it around and you have the tomb he arises from.
This idea can be found in Noel Piper's book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions. (I am going to order this)
Ingredients for playdough:
4 c. of flour
1.5 c. salt
1.5 c. water
1 Tbs. oil
(Increase or decrease depending on how big you want your mountain to be.)
Other items you'll need:
several pipe cleaners
2 twigs
1 small aluminum can

Making the Pieces
Bind two twigs together with a piece of pipe cleaner to make a cross about five or six inches tall.
Make some stick figures out of pipe cleaners that will represent Jesus and a "crowd." (You get to decide how many you need for your kids to be convinced it's a crowd.)

Making the Mountain
Mix playdough ingredients and knead. Add small amounts of water as needed until the texture is right.
Separate a small lump of dough and form a disc-shaped "stone" to cover the entry to the "tomb." (The can will be the tomb, so the stone needs to be a little bigger around than the can.)
Shape the rest of the dough into a mound. Embed the can into one side, open side out, to create a cave.
Press the cross into the top of the mountain to form a hole deep enough to stand the cross in. Make the hole a bit larger than the stick because the hole will get smaller when the mountain bakes.
Press a fork randomly around into the hill to make "footholds" for the stick people.
Bake the "mountain" and the "stone" 4-5 hours at 250 degrees.
When cooled, color with paint or markers.

Using Your Playdough Mountain
With your kids on Friday, you can reenact the story of Jesus' death—putting him on the cross, burying him in the cave, and rolling the stone in front of it.
On Easter, before your little ones are awake, take him out of the tomb and put him somewhere for them to find. First they'll notice the tomb is empty; then they'll see that he's alive and all the other pipe-cleaner people are jumping for joy.
Their excitement at seeing an aluminum can without a stick figure in it is a good reminder how much more excited we should be about the real thing.

___________________________

FREEBIE FRIDAY GIVEAWAY #2
Finally... Since I have a new minivan (yes, I am going to let it go.. and move on) and I am going to order these for the minivan... I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway of them.
Here is the giveaway... from Chic Giving... a set of Monogrammed Car Mats (2 front, 2 rear) valued at $75. You have a choice of four color mats (black, light grey, dark grey tan) and two fonts (Fancy and Curlz). Click Here to see the choices. These make wonderful Mother's Day, Birthday and Graduation gifts.

To Enter: Just post a comment of your favorite family tradition below (if you have one, if not.. it is fine to still enter) and be sure to include your e-mail address if you don't have a blogger account, so I can get a hold of you. This giveaway will be open to enter until Monday at 10am. The winner will be announced /posted on Monday. Only one entry per person, but feel free to share... if you share on twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.. please tell me and I'll give you another entry for each place you post it.

I hope you all have a wonderful EASTER!! Come back tomorrow for a great Easter recipe to do tomorrow night with your kids. The recipe will be posted first thing Saturday morning.

What do you think it looks like to be a "good" Christian?

I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and I loved this...

Here is what he said:

Most Christians have been taught in church or by their parents to set aside a daily time for prayer and Scripture reading. It's what we are supposed to do, as so for a long time it's what I valiantly attempted. When I didn't, I felt guilty.

Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him - frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." He call this the "first and greatest commandment" (Matt. 22:37-38). The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love.

This is how God longs for us to respond to His extravagant, unending love: not with a cursory "quiet time" plagued by guilt, but with true love expressed through our lives.

What is wrong with me?

There is so much in my life that needs to change. Have you ever had times in your life where everything you hear, watch, read, etc. is on the same subject? Lately everything I have been listening to, reading, etc. has a theme... unselfish LOVE. Giving all of yourself, your time, and possessions.. ultimately to show the love of Jesus to other people. I want to tell you that I may be one of the most selfish people on this earth... so this is a difficult lesson for me and how I will purposefully live it out (or try to live it out.. I know I will fail many times).

Just to share what I have been exposed to.. here is a list of few things in the past two weeks. I hope these things are encouraging/challenging to you.

• -Francis Chan - I heard him speak on what it really looks like to live like Jesus. To really imitate him and what he did here on this earth. Click Here to hear a sample of him. {The video is also attached below}
• -Crazy Love (by Francis Chan) My husband read this book and told me to read it. Since I heard Francis Chan speak at a conference a couple weeks ago, I decided to start reading it. I am only on the second chapter, but it is so good!! I highly recommend it. Go to CrazyLoveBook.com to see the resources that go along with the book.
• -Jeff Parrish - As if Francis Chan wasn't enough, Pastor Jeff at my home church is doing a series and last Sunday he spoke on "Who is Jesus?".... again with the same theme of living an unselfish life... like Jesus. If you want to hear it.. here is the LINK. {I changed my flight to stay here in FL for a few more days, and I am so excited to go to church this Sunday and hear the next message in this series.}
• -Lea - Finally to culminate all of the bombardment of living like Jesus... an unselfish life... my friend Lea wrote the most amazing blog, "LOVE ONE" CLICK HERE. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ. It is so inspiring and challenging.

I wanted to share the passage that so clearly explains just how unselfish Jesus lived his life.

Philippians 2:5-8 (The Message)
5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

What is discipline?

It is only two weeks into the new year and I greatly struggled today with my new year resolution- staying on my schedule (routine, housework, etc) and living a more disciplined life. I just felt like doing nothing. Do you have days like that?

Inspired my friend Lea (who is always using new words from the dictionary - of course hers are much more intellectual and ones I have never heard of). I looked up the actual definition of discipline (hoping it would get me motivated).... It worked.

"Discipline: activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training"; "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control".

I love this definition, I didn't realize I would glean so much..
"state of order" - something all our homes and lives need to be in.
"Obedience by training and control" - how we must live out our spiritual lives.
"Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill:training" - this is what we have to do to keep our homes and lives in a "state of order" and to live "obedient" to God and his Word.
1 Cor 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. {This is where I want to be}