House Fire

I heard the most amazing story on K-Love radio station and wanted to share it with you today. 
It's a tragic story but includes an incredible life lessons about God's indestructible and eternal Word.  
 Click on my video below to hear the details.

When you've finished watching the video, I'd love for you to leave a comment sharing how this story impacted you and what you've gleaned from it.
 Only in God's eternal Word will we ever find lasting solutions to our struggles and needs.  Lets start claiming His truth over our circumstances today.

Merry Christmas Y'all

Can you believe that we only have two more weeks until Christmas!!

Where on earth has the time gone ~ or should I say, Where on earth has 2011 gone?

I hope that you're enjoying this time of year and not getting all stressed out with your Christmas to-do list. 

I have to admit that I'm quite stress-less. But, the reason why is because I haven't started Christmas shopping yet. YIKES!!  Nope, not even a single present has been bought and you think I'd been wigging out by now. Christmas shopping stresses me out so, I'm just avoiding it all together. That is until this weekend rolls around...

Actually, I've surveyed our boys and neither one of then have a clue as to what they'd like this year.  Translation: They have everything they could possible need or want. We are very blessed!

If you're looking for some last minute gifts, I'd love to tell you about a way to win some great gifts for FREE. The best part is YOU get to pick them out!!

My friend, Karen Ehman, is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas on her blog this month and today's special guest is my other P31 Pal, Whitney Capps.

Whitney is offering $30 worth of merchandise from our Proverbs 31 online store.

Click here to find out more and if you have a few minutes, check out Whitney's video. She talks about celebrating Christmas Adam.  Have you ever celebrated Christmas Adam> I haven't but I think it's a great idea. What do you think?

Merry Christmas Y'all,

Need A Good Laugh Today?

Are you in desperate need for some comic relief?  If so, take ten minutes and hang out with your kids. They're bound to say or do something that will give you a good belly laugh.

This morning I was at my hairdressers getting a well needed highlight and cut.  Our youngest son had woke up hours earlier complaining of a sore throat and headache but I wasn't about to cancel my appointment. 

Okay, before you send me any awful mommy fan mail, let me explain...

My husband was off of work today and the doctor's first available appointment was not until after three o'clock. So, I knew Carson would be in good hands with his dad while I hopped over to my favorite salon for an hour or two.

As I sat in the salon chair, quietly enjoying a warm cup of hazel vanilla coffee while flipping through the pages of a Pottery Barn magazine, my cell phone rang.  I could see from the caller i.d. that it was Carson.  My heart did a double beat as a thought flashed through my mind, "I wonder if everything's okay?".

"Mom, my hand is cramping up!"

"What? What do you mean your hand is cramping up?"

(Internal thought) "I knew I should have stayed home."

"Mom, my hand is cramping up from playing too much X-box and I just found a new controller on the internet that has this special attachment which will keep my hands from cramping. And, Mom, I really think I need to order it now! It's only $39.99 and if I order it within the next 20 minutes, they'll give me FREE shipping! Mom, I think having this new controller will really keep my hands from cramping!!"

(Calmly) "Carson, we'll talk about it when I get home. Get off of the X-box, get off of the internet and by the way...where is Dad?"

"He's taking a nap...."

Geesh!

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Got any funny kid stories to share? Do tell so we can all get a good belly laugh today.  
 

Very Expensive Perfume

Have you ever given away something that was very special to you? Maybe it was a family heirloom or a pricey item that you originally bought for yourself? If so, was it hard to give away?  Were you the slightest bit hesitant or felt pressured in the process? Or, did it bring you a lot of joy?

Check out this verse...

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 

In John 12:3, we see a woman named Mary, take a jar of very expensive perfume and pour it over Jesus’ feet during a dinner party. Not only that, but Mary wiped His feet with her hair. Seems strange? I’m sure Mary thought that her act of kindness would be well received. But instead, the dinner guests became very upset with her. Everyone that is, accept Jesus.

You see, Jesus knew Mary’s heart and that she was giving up her expensive perfume as an act of worship. Yes, it had cost Mary a lot – about a year’s worth of wages. But, she wasn’t focused on the perfume or anyone else in the room. Mary was focused on Jesus.

Sometimes our worship can be costly. Like Mary, are we willing to give up our time to help others? Maybe put aside our own desires for what we know will please God? Will we give something valuable away to a friend or stranger that is in need?

Let's challenge each other today with this question... How can we worship Jesus today by giving sacrificially? What can we do to keep our focus on Him and not worry about what others think?

Mary’s story reminds us what’s most important. When we give our time, talents and even our resources to other it’s a beautiful expression of worshiping Jesus. By serving and loving on those around us we are also serving Christ.

If you've done some special lately for a friend, family member, or someone you didn't even know, I'd love for you to share your story by leaving a comment. Be sure to include how this special act of kindness made you feel

Wanting more? Check out these additional Scripture verses:

Ephesians 6:6-8 1 Peter 4:9-11 Acts 20:35

Heart Surgery

Just imagine if you were told that you needed heart surgery today...

What would you say?

How would you react?

What would you do?

This morning I found out that I needed to have surgery. Not on my physical heart but on my emotional heart. Not with a metal scalpel but with a two-edged sword. Not by a surgeon's hand but by the healing Word of God.

Printed on the pages of my devotional book this morning...

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

As I examine my heart today, I become painfully aware of deceitful emotions that need to be removed. Secret motives that need to be repaired. Private thoughts that need to be replaced.

Yep, surgery is required. A decision needs to be made. There is no time to put off.

Will I say yes to the Surgeon? Will I trust His delicate hands? Will I surrender myself into His protective care?

What about you? Do you need surgery too? When you examine your heart what do you see?

Joy or Jealousy

Gratitude or Grumbling

Love or Hatred

Faith or Fear

What are the secret motives that have settled inside your heart? Are their unhealthy rewards you long for? What about the hidden actions that you think no one sees?

He sees.

Yet He still loves.

He wants to repair your heart today.

Will you let Him?

Jesus, Help me to have a heart that is pure. Remove all the broken pieces of pain and loneliness. Replace all my grumbling and discontentment with thankfulness. Carve out any fear and doubt that has woven it's way into the delicate places of my heart. Repair those parts that have been damaged by hatred. And, insert Your joy and peace in all of the hollow spaces of my heart.

Please change my negative emotions and motives. And, let me actions and words not only be honoring to others but most importantly to You. Thank you for my surgery today. Thank you for a new and improve heart. Let it always belong to You...forever and ever!

Don't Make Me Count to Three

Do your children always obey when you ask them to do something?

If so, call me right away because I want to know your secret!

Thankfully, my boys don't exhibit an in-your-face disobedient attitude or an openly defiant behavior. However, they have developed the crafty art of delayed obedience which basically is...disobedience. We've been trying to nip that in the bud for a while now.

Just last weekend, I had asked my son to bring his dirty clothes downstairs so that I could wash a batch of laundry. Now, I already know what you're thinking. "Girlfriend, you should have your son wash his own clothes!"

Yes, yes, I know but sometimes it's easier to do things myself and on this particular occasion I wanted to just get'r done. I wasn't in a "let's teach him responsibility for the future" mood. My washer was empty and I was looking to fill it. Just being honest here. (sigh)

Anyways, I asked him twice but he kept replying with a question, "Can I just finish this game on xbox first?" Have you heard that one before? Well, finally I posed a question back to my son.

"Do you know that delayed obedience is disobedience?"

With that, he stopped his game, silently gathered up his dirty clothes, and brought them downstairs. I didn't have to say another word accept.

This morning during my quiet time I came across a question in my devotional book:

"What does the expression "delayed obedience is disobedience" mean to you?"

I immediately thought of my son and his dirty laundry. A big smile spread across my face but then another thought popped into my head...

"That's exactly what you did yesterday with your prayer journal."

My smile quickly faded and was replaced with a puzzling frown as I remembered about my plans to write in my prayer journal over the weekend. It had been weeks since I last updated it and there was a lot to write about.

Lately, our family has been experiencing some amazing miracles in the area of our finances. I wanted to capture my thoughts on paper so I wouldn't forget them. I also wanted to write words of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness during such a tough time in our lives.

But, although I had good intentions, I chose to do other things. A phone call to my sister, a trip to the grocery store, and those plants that desperately needed watering.

I told myself I'd get around to writing when the house got quiet and I could concentrate. But, those moments never came.

All weekend long thoughts of my prayer journal kept popping into my head but I kept pushing them aside. My strong desire to write eventually faded away and was replaced with an "I'll get around to it tomorrow" attitude.

Looking back, I honestly believe God had placed that desire in my heart this weekend. He was the one who kept reminding me about my journal but my response was similar to the "can I just finish..." answer I got from son regarding his dirty laundry.

My delayed obedience was disobedience - plain and simple.

Instead of feeling guilty, I was so glad that God gently pointed that out to me this morning. Besides, He would never want me to feel guilty to being with (Roman 8:1). I'm happy to report that my prayer journal has been updated!

So let me ask you a question.

Is there something you need to do BUT you just keep putting off? Like...

Bring a meal to a sick friend?

Send a thank you card to a co-worker?

Have a consistent devotional time each day?

Fix your husband's favorite meal although it requires a lot of extra work in the kitchen?

Volunteer in your child's class?

Run an errand for your aging parent?

If your answer is yes, maybe you'll be encouraged and motivated to do that something today. I sure hope so.

I don't know about you but there's a wonderful sense of joy, peace and freedom that comes after finishing a task or project. Especially, if I sense that it's God who's given me the assignment in the first place.

You know what? I think it's the wonderful sense of obedience...

"Mom, That's Stealing!"

Would you consider yourself an honest person?

Would you go as far to say that you live a life of integrity?

I was challenged last week by my 16 year old when he caught me in the middle of agreeing to something that was not so honest. In fact, as he put it "it was stealing".

Last Thursday Brody was on Spring Break and went with several of his friends to a local amusement park. I agreed to pay half of his ticket and he would pay the difference to purchase a seasonal pass for the Summer.

Two days later, Carson was invited to a birthday party which was being held where? You got it...the same amusement park.

The three of us were sitting at the kitchen table talking about the party when Carson suggested that he could use Brody's seasonal pass instead of buying another ticket. "Mom, just think of all the money you could say. I look so much like Brody that they wouldn't even notice."

With little hesitation, I said "You know...that's a good idea."

A good idea? What was I thinking! I wanted to gobble up those words that had spilled out of my mouth but it was too late.

With the look of shock and horror on his face, Brody blurted out, "Mom, you've got to be kidding! That's stealing!!"

He was absolutely right and his words left me feeling smaller than a bed mite and stinkier than a skunk.

I immediately apologized, agreed that it would be completely wrong, and commended Brody for speaking the truth and challenging me to make the right choice in the situation.

Choosing truth instead of a lie.

Choosing integrity instead of dishonesty.

For years, we've drilled our kids with the motto "Honesty and integrity leads to righteousness." But, here my actions were speaking way louder than our family motto.

In all honesty, it's really embarrassing to share this story with you. Yet, there's such great lessons God's teaching me through this experience that it's totally worth it. If you can learn from my mistakes - more kuddos to you.

Here's what I'm learning...

Being an honest person and living a life of integrity requires a LOT of hard work. It's not something we can master all at once. It's a process.

Day by day.

Hour by hour.

Situation by situation.

Choice by choice.

The good news for you and me is that we don't have to accomplish living a life of integrity on our own. We can rely on Christ to guide us in every circumstance. He knows what it's like to live a
life of this earth with all the challenges and struggles the world offers yet do it with complete integrity.

I may have blown it big time last week in the area of honesty. But,today is a new day and my desire is to choose wisely. I'm asking God to help me live for Him so that my husband and children can not only hear our family motto "Honesty and integrity leads to righteousness" but experience it being lived out. I my life and in theirs.

Won't you join me?

Is there an area in your life where you're being challenged to be completely honest? Maybe you're struggling to be honest with someone like your spouse, your children, a parent, a co-worker, or even yourself?

If so, take a few minutes to pray and ask Christ to help you live a life of integrity. To speak the truth and make wise choices. Then trust that He will and look to Him for help in every situation that comes your way. I promise He'll be faithful to guide you and give you the strength you need.

Day by day

Hour by hour

Moment by moment.