Taking Down the Tree

The boxes are down from the attic and the kids are helping me round up all the little Christmas trees placed throughout the house.  I'm sure we will discover one missed in a couple of weeks...or months!  ;)  As Christmas is past and 2010 is ending, I am reflecting back on this year and I have to say that I am ready for 2011.

We are beginning this new year off on a journey of faith.  This time around it wasn't one that we chose for ourselves as we did 8 years ago.  This time it was given to us.  A steady, guaranteed paycheck will not be appearing in our bank account on a bimonthly basis nor will health and dental insurance keep us from the anxiety of the inevitable sickness that finds children.  However, no less faith is required to charge forward on the path that we believe God has prepared for us.

Each moment of our lives are stitched together with faith from the time we kiss our children at the school dropoff to saying goodbye to our spouses as they leave for work.  We have faith that God will protect them and provide for them through whatever they encounter.  Faith that He is our Healer and Sustainer.  Faith that He is our Provider.  He is our Banner and Shield.

I am taking down the trees as well as reminding Satan that I have taken down the pain of 2010 through the blood of Jesus...Faith is my Victory!

Thy Word Have I Hid

This has been one of the best Christmases that my family has experienced in a long time!  Cameron said that even though they didn't open very many packages he loved this Christmas the best.  That truly makes this momma's heart happy...I'm sure you understand! 

He received a couple of lazer tag guns.  I didn't know anything about these guns when I first heard him mention that he would like some several months ago.  I googled them and read countless customer reviews until I found some in my price range that an adult consumer even loved.  WOW!  They are so much fun to play with!  The only downside is having to stop and reload!  hahaha

I am a tad on the assertive...okay, fine...aggressive side :) and I charge after my opponent firing the whole time, so inevitably when I have to stop and reload, I get hit.  There have been several battles when the boys have figured me out and they simply wait to shoot while I am reloading.  Good strategy on their part, but I am truly shouting, "Not fair!"  :)  All in good fun...well, as long as I'm winning!

As this day is drawing to a close, and I am ready to commit to a Scripture memory challenge, it dawns on me that I face life this way many times.  I can charge ahead and then when I am out of gas, Satan attacks.  As this year has been drawing to a close I have been neglecting the very thing I need to reload.  Instead of saturating my mind with the Word, I have been dwelling on the "truth" Satan has been feeding me.  He knows my weakness and I have been letting him push my buttons.

Why, oh why, would I allow this when the very power that conquered the grave lives inside of me?!!  Jesus defeated the attacks of Satan with Scripture He had committed to memory...I can do the same!

"Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."  There are many reasons for Christians to memorize the Word of God, and a powerful one is found in the book of Psalms.  The very Word of God will keep us from falling into sin.  I Corinthians tells us that with every temptation comes a way of escape.  Hearing the Word spoken to my soul from deep in my heart has led me back to my Father's side many times and I will never reach the place where I won't need to reload.

So, I am publicly declaring that I will be joining Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team for 2011.  I am committing to memorizing 24 verses in the next 12 months...24 new verses for me.  I will not be simply refreshing my memory of verses I have already memorized, but will commit a new arsenal as I reload for victory! And, I do love to win!

Please consider joining me.  Check out her blog post that describes the team. http://blog.lproof.org/2010/12/siesta-scripture-memory-instructions.html.  And, then let me know you will be joining me.  A cord of three strands is not easily broken.  Eccl 4.

Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids

Jesus Calling has been the perfect answer to my prayer for Cameron.  Each night as I would tuck him into bed, we would discuss the day and pray.  Now, the heart and words of Jesus pour into him as well.

Jesus Calling:  365 Devotions for Kids was written by Sarah Young during her own personal quiet times with the Lord.  The devotions are written in the first person, as if Jesus is speaking directly to the reader.  Many times, I have found myself changing the pronouns in the Bible to the first person because I want to hear Jesus addressing me specifically.

The devotions cover many aspects of a Christian's walk from fear to joy to giving and faith.  Each day begins with a verse from the Word followed by a devotional thought and ending with further verses to look up and read.  Cameron has chosen these verses and thoughts to share with his class at school when it is his turn to lead the daily devotional. 

Not only has Jesus Calling helped ground him in the Word, it has developed his confidence in sharing the Word.  I whole-heartedly recommend this devotional for parents and kids.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.

November Puddles vs June Puddles

November 29th...Thanksgiving is over and our bellies are full.  Christmas is in high gear from the Black Friday crazies (of which I have taken part) to the millions of twinkle lights creating magic in the hearts of children (or the childlike).  Cooler temperatures have arrived in my little corner of Texas and I am ready for winter...ready for the extra blankets that have been freshly laundered and brought down to a lower shelf in the closet...ready for the snuggly sweaters and scarfs with matching mittens...ready for boots that keep my toes toasty and outfits trendy...ready for...rain?!  No...that doesn't fit the puzzle I am putting together.  However, that is what we woke up to this morning.  Pouring down, cold, no-fun-to-be-had rain!

The kids and I headed to the car quickly this morning to avoid getting drenched and forged on to school.  When we arrived the parking lot was full of puddles...no way to avoid them as we headed in on our first day back from a fun-filled break.  Typically, a vivacious five year old would jump right in those puddles and watch the water fly!  You know you've done the very same thing...in June!  or to be poetically correct, April!  April showers bring May flowers (which brought the pilgrims!  One of my son's favorite jokes!).  In June, or April, the water is cool and refreshing.  In November, it is cold and miserable.  It makes you wish for a fireplace to lay in front of and warm up with a steaming mug of hot cocoa...don't forget the marshmallows, please!

Today, Chloe stood at the edge of a puddle that was clearly too wide for her to step across.  She looked up and down and realized she would have to step in it to get to the building.  Her eyes gazed up at me and before she uttered the words I knew I would have to rearrange everything in my arms to scoop her up and save her from the...save her from the rain puddle?!  I think not!  I reminded her how much fun it is to splash in puddles...how I can't keep her out of them in the summer...how she loves to walk out of her way to find the largest puddle to jump in.  She wasn't convinced and tiptoed her way across.

The fact is cold water feels good when you are hot but it is miserable when you are cold.  The same is true of our words.  Words can encourage someone in the right circumstance but could also discourage in the wrong moment.  My favorite book says, "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right circumstances." Proverbs 25:11.

May wisdom guide our words to be spoken well at the right time.  Splashes of rain in June...

where everybody knows your name

It may have been a bar that was referred to as the place where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came.  But...it should be the church.  Noone should walk through the doors of a church and feel unwanted or unwelcome.  Each individual should be touched and spoken to.  And, I mean spoken to in a conversation sort of way...not in a "Good Morning" now I'm done fashion.

I have recently returned to the church that is home in my heart.  Throughout my many years of life I have only been a member of this congregation for perhaps 3 years and not consecutive.  Yet, I feel as though I belong...I am one of them.  The people who make up this church never cease to amaze me with their warmth and friendship.

Yesterday, I was in a meeting at the church where I only knew the minister and yet I felt as if I was with friends.  It is all because people chose to open their mouths and hearts and welcome me.  I was spoken to and touched.  Oh, how my heart has needed this body of believers and I know God is going to continue showering them with blessings as they lift His name and love others.

Learning Something New

I am confident that one day I will be a published author.  I just know it.  Call me an optimist, a dreamer or crazy, but I am confident of the dream God has given me and know that He will give me an avenue to share the burden on my heart.

Because of this dream book ideas and book titles are always around me.  They pop up in the craziest of times and silliest of ways.  A few years ago I grew weary of hearing my boys say to one another, "I know."  They used this phrase to everyone about everything.  I was one of these teenagers...always thinking I was right, knowing that I knew the right thing and at the right time.  I did not want my boys to become what I once was, so we decided to change the "I know" to "You're right."  Because if someone tells us what we already know to be true, aren't they right?! 

Also the attitude behind the two phrases is different.  The attitude of "I know" is one of superiority.  It's the I'm better than you...I'm smarter than you...Who do you think you are to try and teach me.  Definitely not the mind of Christ. 

Now the attitude of the second phrase is one of encouragement, praise and support.  It says, "Good job!"  The words build up the spirit of the speaker as having been acknowledged with success.  Because really, don't you just love being right?  Isn't it a wonderful feeling knowing you have the right information and knowledge?  Trust me, I have been wrong often enough in my "25" years that being right is an AMAZING feeling.  And to have someone else acknowledge my "rightness" creates a pause in the moment as I savor the euphoria.  lol!

Recently, teenagers in our youth group acknowledged that they have stopped coming to the youth service because they already know everything being taught.  They already know that God desires His children to be in church inviting their unsaved friends to join them.  They already know that Christians should spend consistent, quality time in Bible study and prayer.  The importance of memorizing Scripture has already been taught to them.  They know the value of accountability. 

I could go on and on because we teach the basics of the Christian faith so that when teenagers graduate high school and go on to college we desire them to not graduate from their faith.  We have a passion about instilling the disciplines of the faith so deep in the souls of the students entrusted to us that we will not stop teaching them what they may already know.  This passion extends to the deep-seeded desire to watch them reproduce themselves in others.  To take the knowledge they have gained and instill it in another is something that produces a high no drug created can compete with.

Seeing former youth now involved in full-time ministry, hearing about the salvations of students on a dorm floor because of the leadership of one who graduated from our ministry but not his faith...these are the reasons we struggle for what we hold dear.

Our new pastor said in his first sermon at our church, "Doctrine that does not lead to practice is wasted knowledge."  Knowing God desires you to come to church and grow with other believers is wasted if you do not show up.  Knowing God wants you to share His love with those around you is wasted if you never open your mouth.  Knowing God hopes to see you lead others to grow in Him is wasted if you choose to take yourself out of church instead of stepping up to leadership positions.

There comes a time in every Christian's life where the phrase "Actions speak louder than words," is evident.  Knowledge is wasted if actions of that knowledge are not displayed.

Because really...can't we all learn something new when we already knew everything?

future book title..."Learning Something New When I Already Knew Everything." :)

Teacher's Pet

I realize that it is not a wise thing to have a teacher's pet.  It could cause problems in the classroom and with other student's parents. 

But what am I to do when one of my students brings in an incredibly delectable treat after hearing me describe the tantalizing effects of one? 

And in such a clever way?!!

She even remembered a bottle opener!!  Tell me...what was I to do?!  extra credit?  :)