Attitudes

God doesn't judge the labor. He judges the attitude {of the heart} of the one laboring.

Do you realize that?

Our worth is NOT in what we do, but in which attitude we do it with.

So today when you are...

wiping little noses
mopping dirty floors
opening a door for the elderly
filing papers
cleaning out closets
filling out patient charts
correcting papers
getting coffee for your boss
picking up toys
baking a bazillion cookies
serving your husband
scooping snow
running errands
paying bills...

Whatever it may be,
Do it ALL for the Glory of the Lord!

.True.Lovely.Right.

“Whatever is true… whatever is lovely… whatever is right… think about such things…” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Christmas is almost here. Families will soon be gathering to celebrate. Some will gather in joyous reunions and others will 'just get through it'. Personal values, past issues, marriages, divorces, religious beliefs, political beliefs, financial stress... can cause strain on family relationships. I challenge you this Christmas to leave those things at the door. Set your eyes on
“Whatever is true… whatever is lovely… whatever is right… ”

Search for the good in those you love.
Praise their God given gifts.
Overlook their short falls.
Allow their loose tongue to glide right by you.
Be who God wants You to be & let Him worry about them.

It just might be the Best Christmas Ever.

Tenth Avenue North - "Healing Begins" Video Journal

Powerful message from Tenth Ave North.

Have you been there? Asked God for forgiveness and called it good.
Was everything good?
Be honest with yourself.
It wasn't good for me, I continued to have a cloud hanging over me. I kept going back to the same struggle. It wasn't until I confessed my sins to a friend, the healing began.
Don't minimize the power of verbally confessing your sins to a brother or sister in Christ.

'Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.' James 5:16

Healing Begins

Courageous

"Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God ... and to their children?

Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the moviemaking ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Riveted moviegoers will once again find themselves laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.

Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That's courageous." taken from here

Find & Purchase Your Tickets For Courageous Now

Looking outside 'Me'

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get caught up in busyness and forget there is more to life than my schedule, my plans and my to do list.
Pathetic.
Is it just me, or do you struggle too?

I am going to challenge you to write down 5 things, yes, just 5!, that you know God is nudging you to do. Then act on 2 of them this week and 3 next week. Set aside your selfish plans for a brief moment and do whatever it is you've been putting off.
I'll join you!
And, I'll share my list.

1. Go visit the Great Grandparents.
   
2. Go to an event of a teen to support her.
3. Call a friend I've been meaning to.
4. Spend time in God's Word to specifically help me prepare the talk I'll be giving this fall. Start writing an outline.
5. Invite a family over for dinner who we don't know very well.

Will you join me?

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Love

Kids Radio

Do you get tired of your kids wanting to watch TV or use an electronic devise?
We don't have a Wii or anything of that sort, but my kids do ask to watch TV more than I think they need to. His Kids Radio has been a great alternative for us!
We were given our WiFi His Kids Radio as a gift from my parents at Easter last year.

My kids LOVE it!
I LOVE it!

It is Christian Radio Programming live & on demand any time of the day.
Below I copied information from the HisKids website.
Check it out, it might be something to add to your Christmas list!


*************
Taken from hiskids.net

SAFE, SIMPLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT -- ON DEMAND!

The HisKids.net Wi-Fi Family Radio™ plays kids' programs from the following ministries at the simple push of a button -- without using your computer!

• HIS KIDS RADIO
• Down Gilead Lane
• Jonathan Park
• Karen & Kids
• Keys for Kids
• Kids Corner
• Paws & Tales
• PRIMEtime with Pastor Mark
• The Pond
• TOONZ! - Music for His Kids
• We Kids with Mr. Nick
• plus others

The menu also contains programming for adults, including ...

• FamilyLife Today
• Grace to You
• Insight for Living
• Midday Connection
• Mission Network News
• Moody Presents
• Open Line
• Precepts for Life
• Proclaim
• Renewing Your Mind
• Revive Our Hearts
• The Back to God Hour
• Truth for Life
• 24/7 Christian Music
• and more to come

Other Key Features ...

• Automatic menu updates
• Backlit display
• Channels listed alphabetically
• Clock radio with alarm & sleep timer
• Customizable Personal Menu
• Free software upgrades
• Live and on-demand content
• No subscriptions to pay
• Plays internet radio & audio tracks stored on your PC or Mac
• Plug & play simplicity
• Supports RealAudio, MP3 and WMA
• Tune in without turning on your computer

Go to hiskids.net to learn more!

Living for Him

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Our sermon yesterday was about being all we could be {in & for Christ} where life {God} currently has us. You might be; a student in school, a stay at home mom, CEO, teacher, biologist, poor, wealthy, middle class... it doesn't matter to God.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior.
What matters to God is how we live each day of the life He has given us. Do we give our everything in every task? Or do we lust at 'the other side of the fence'?

I know I need to work on giving my everything. There are areas in my life where, daily, I fail miserably. My human nature most certainly does not want to boast about my short comings.
But God does.
It is when I allow others to see my imperfections, God shines through. His power becomes greater than anything I could ever imagine.

The big picture isn't how many kids I have, how organized my house is, how many 'toys' I've acquired, or successful I am. It's how many lives I've allowed God to touch through my life, where He has me, today.

Laura Story - Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family
Protection while we sleep

We pray for healing
For prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand
to ease our suffering

And all the while
You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

Cuz what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know you’re near
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness
We doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
Lord, that we’d have faith to believe

Cuz what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know you’re near
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not
This is not our home

Cuz what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know you’re near
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain
The storms
The hardest nights
are your mercies in disguise

You never know who

Is Hurting.Needs a Smile.Longs for a Friend.Desires Love.Prays for a Husband.Hopes for Children.Cries for Acceptance.Dreams of Safety.

Friends, there are people everywhere hurting, crying silently for someone to help them.

Just because someone is... wealthy.elderly.married.employed.beautiful.retired.outgoing. busy.talented.
Doesn't mean they are truly happy.

It doesn't matter if you are 8 or 88, step out of your comfy little world and shine the light of Jesus in someones life.

Casting Crowns - Does Anybody Hear Her

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

He is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

Pinch me, Is this for real?

I'm pregnant.
Well duh.
One look at me and you'd know!
Yes, to many this is not new news. However, each day I wake up and think, is this for real? Unless you know me personally, or have been reading my blog for over two years, you are probably scratching you head in bewilderment right now.
In a nut shell, we struggled with infertility for 10 years after our first was born with the help of Clomid in '99. July of '09 I gave birth to a healthy little girl, who was a complete miracle in our eyes. God had opened my womb, and without any western medicine, we had miraculously conceived.

Only God!!

Today I sit, 27 weeks pregnant, just a minute I need to wipe the tears from my eyes... humbled by God's blessing.
I need to rewind a minute, during those ten years of infertility, we had two beautiful children placed into our arms through adoption. Had we not experienced infertility, I would not have two of my miracle children.
Honestly, I will be forever grateful for our struggle with infertility. Adoption was not easy for us, but that is another story as well. If you would like to read about our story, you can start at the beginning here. Currently, there are 8 parts. I hope to add Ashlynn's part of the story in the near future, then this little one's after his/her birth.
I sit, humbled by the many blessings God has given me. I am soon to be the mother of five. There was a time I didn't know if I would be a mother to two.
God is good!

My heart still breaks for those who are where I once was; hurting, frustrated, angry, yearning, questioning... why am I not able to conceive? What have I done wrong? Why were others who, in my opinion, were horrible parents, allowed to have babies and not me?
I didn't get it and still don't.
Looking back, I can say God used that period in my life to teach me, mold me, and guide me. Every struggle He allowed because He knew what it would take to get me to where I am today.
He longs for a relationship with us.

I pray every morning for 5 friends who are currently struggling with infertility.
I don't know God's plan for their lives, but I do know, God HAS a plan, something wilder than they will ever imagine.




"Indescribable"

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

I Refuse

by Josh Wilson

Wake up my friends. The World needs you to shine the light of Jesus on it! Don't sit & do nothing. Refuse to be idle.

Sometimes I, I just want to close my eyes

And act like everyone's alright

When I know they're not

This world needs God, but it's easier to stand and watch

I could pray a prayer and just move on

Like nothing's wrong

But I Refuse

I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

I could choose not to move

But I Refuse

I can hear the least of these, crying out so desperately

And I know we are the hands and feet of You, oh God

So if You say move, it's time for me to follow through

And do what I was made to do

And show them who You are

I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

I could choose not to move

But I Refuse

I refuse to stand and watch the weary and lost cry out for help

I refuse to turn my back and try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged, to wait another day to die to myself

I refuse to make one more excuse

I don't want to live like I don't care

I don't want to say another empty prayer

Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else

To do what God has called me to do myself

I could choose not to move

But I Refuse

Matt Maher - Christ is Risen

I don' t think I will ever tire of hearing 'Christ is Risen'.
I cannot do it justice, yet the words freely flow off my tongue several times each day.
Tears well as I mutter the words.
My hands often reach to the sky as I cannot contain the emotions it bring to the surface.

As you listen, watch the video, then play it again and read the words.

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

A Mothers Heart - Faith

Faith- noun
confidence or trust in a person or thing
belief that is not based on proof
or
-transitive verb
believe, trust

Hebrews 11:1 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.'

Faith, despite Webster, must be a verb. I must act on what I believe. Therefore, faith is an action, not a person, place or thing.

Hebrews 11 is full of men & woman who lived by faith. Many times, the things they trusted God for, made no sense to their earthly minds; Noah building an Ark when rain had never fallen, Abraham and Sarah having a child far past their childbearing years, then Abraham being tested offering up his son... all these things were incomprehensible in their minds!

As I read Hebrews 11 this week, I asked myself these questions.

• is my faith .ALIVE. .ACTIVE. .LIVING. ?
• Am I acting in such a way that my faith is a verb for my children to witness?
• is my faith strong enough to trust God in the incomprehensible?
• what things are hindering my faith?
• What sin is tripping up my faith?

I turned the page in my Bible, Hebrews 12: 5- 6 stood boldly.

'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives'

I was humbled.
Would my name follow those in Hebrews 11 as one who 'acted by faith'?
Or was I/had I experienced the discipline of the Lord due to lack of my faith?
It is no coincidence Hebrews 12:5-6 followed Hebrews 11.

God was directly speaking to me.

How many times have I disobeyed because what God had for me was incomprehensible in my earthly mind?
Many- I am ashamed to admit.

I don't want my children to see Faith as a noun.
I want them to see Faith as a verb.
It will only be then, that they realize how big our God is.

Proverbs 31

I am currently studying the woman from Proverbs 31.

I was reading over 31:10 - 31 yesterday for what seems like the 100th time. As I was reading aloud, the following verses tightened my throat. (taken from NKJV) Under each verse are my thoughts.

11 'The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.'
I should be fighting every day for my husband; for his victory over struggles, work, sin. Am I living in such a way to give him victory or sabotage his efforts.

20 ' She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.'
The word 'poor' is replaced in some translations with the word 'afflicted' or 'oppressed '. It is defined as 'defenseless' in Greek. Do I willingly, freely, without a second thought, offer help to those in need? I don't think it only means 'poor' as in low income, I think it encompasses; a new mom, the elderly person at the store who needs help & a smile, a hurting friend, the neighbor child who needs love...

25 'Strength & honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in the times to come.'
Do I prepare myself each day with God's Word? Do I have it hidden (memorized) in my heart so that when the struggles of the day come, I am prepared. Do I rejoice in the unknown, knowing God knows?

26 'She opens her mouth with wisdom...'
What comes out of my mouth that shouldn't? Do I talk with out thinking? Are the words which flow from my mouth Godly & Glorifying or Gossipy & Sinful?

30 ' Charm is deceitful & beauty is passing, But a woman who hears the Lord, she shall be praised.'
Do I fully grasp that true beauty comes from the Lord?


What goes through your head when you read about the woman in Proverbs 31? Does she intimidate you, or encourage you?

My heart longs to be the woman God created me to be.
It isn't easy.
The world we are living in is brutal. Everywhere we look, someone or something is telling us to be happy we must be; wealthier, skinnier, less wrinkly, apart of xyz, drive the new Toyota Sienna, have 2 kids and a dog, vacation in Aspen... When, in all truthfulness, not one of those things will give us true happiness. True happiness comes when we embrace who God has called us, each individually, to be.

Preparing

'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'
2 Corinthians 12:9

When do you lean on Jesus more?
When things are going well or when they are tough?
We NEED Him, every minute, of every day.

It's in the 'good times' we should be nourishing and growing our relationship with Him. We should be increasing our knowledge and understanding of who He is & what He desires for our lives. Then, when the 'bad times' come, because we all know they will, we have a foundation already built; a secure base to rest on.

Don't cruise through the easy times, putting Christ on the back burner. Instead, use those seasons of your life to dig deep into The Word, to memorize verses, and to praise Him. Then when the storms build, and life is rough, you will have a relationship with The Creator of the Universe who will; guide you, comfort you and be there in your darkest time.

Comfort

Sometimes, the Lords asks us to step out of our comfort zone for the sole purpose of blessing us.

What is He calling you to do?
Where is He calling you to lend a hand?

• Share His love with your neighbor
• Take your child's friend to church with you
• Start a Bible Study
• Open your house to the new family down the street for a meal
• stay home with your children
• go back to school
• adopt
• homeschool
• be a missionary
• share your testimony
• admit your struggle
• volunteer
• allow your husband to truly lead

Where is He calling you to go?

• across the street
• to a friends house
  
• to a Nursing Home
• to a school
• Short term missions
• Long term missions

It might be scary, it might be unusual.
But listen, don't run.
You'll be amazed at the way He works in YOUR life as you obey Him when helping those around you.

TTT Praying

Do you pray for your children?

If not, you need to.
It will make days like thisgo better.

I love the month long calendar by Mom & Loving It. If you struggle with what to pray, it will guide you. It gives a scripture based prayer for each day & the scripture reference.

It's Fabulous!!
Here are the first 10 days to give you an idea...

1 SALVATION
Lord, I pray that my children would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10

2 GOD’S GRACE
I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18

3 LOVE
Father, grant that my children would learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who lives in them.
Ephesians 5:2

4 INTEGRITY
Lord, may integrity and uprightness protect my children because their hope is in you.
Psalm 25:21

5 SELF-CONTROL
Father, help my children not be like many others, but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do.
1 Thessalonians 5:6

6 LOVE FOR GOD’S
WORD
Lord, may my children regard your Word as more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.
Psalm 19:10

7 JUSTICE
God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do.
Psalm 11:7 &
Micah 6:8

8 MERCY
Oh Father, grant that my children would be full of mercy and compassion as you are Lord.
James 5:11

9 RESPECT
Lord, help my children to show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands.
1 Peter 2:17

10 SELF-ESTEEM
God, help my children develop a strong self esteem rooted in the realization that they are Your workmanship.
Ephesians 2:10

You can print your own calendar
here , then start praying for your children today.

P.S.
Mine is hanging on my bathroom mirror.
Where will you hang yours?

Devotions for the New Year

I hope to work through these books this year.
A few I have read and I want to read again.
If you have read any of them, please leave your review for me and others.

A Heart Like His: Seeking the Heart of God by Beth Moore
(this one is going on at church, I missed the first meeting, but HOPE to make the next!)If you aren't able to attend a Beth Moore study, you can listen and participate in her studies online.I cannot find the online study for the updated 'David, Seeking a Heart Like Him'. However, many of her studies are available. She is a wonderful, wise, God fearing woman. If you haven't participated in one of her studies, I strongly encourage you to. She backs up every word she says with verses from the Old and New Testament. You will use your Bible like never before!

Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore
Online study available here.

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

Reshaping It All by Candance Cameron Bure
Praying For a Purpose by Katie Brazelton
I first read this book about two years ago. It is a 60 day journey towards finding the God given meaning in your life. If you choose to read this devotional, I suggest you be totally honest as you work through it. Write down your answers, look up the passages and mediate on them. God will change you through this book.
Be Still & Let Your Nail Polish Dry by Andrea Boeshaar
I'll admit, it was the title that got me on this one :)
Written for the buy woman, the devotionals are short, yet inspirational. I keep this book beside my bed stand and read it before I turn off my lights at night.

And two for my boys -
they have already started on them and give them a thumbs up

Devotions for Boys

Faith Factor- Walk through the Old Testament Devotions for Boys

Life Storms

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place