New Challenge

I am going to try something new this Fall. I will be joining several ladies in being Accountability Captains during the Fall session of the Inspired to Action-Hello Mornings Challenge. I have been participating for about a year and must admit it has been a blessing for me. I have been studying my Bible, exercising and joining my new friends on Twitter for accountability with those goals.  God has blessed me with some wonderful new friends. Won't you click over to see more about this Challenge...
href="http://inspiredtoaction.com/hellomornings/">

Joy in Sharing...and a NEW product!

The youngest in the family is usually known for getting their fair share of hand-me downs. Not that I know this fact for myself as I am the lucky oldest, but I  have heard the rumors. When we found ourselves in graduate school with baby daughters just 13 months apart, we survived by using and re-using the girls clothes.

As the girls got older, our second daughter took full advantage of "sharing" while begging for new outfits. I said often that she always had the most clothes because she truly hated hand-me-downs. (Today she is my "fashion-ista" that we all ask for advice as we shop and dress).

Our third child arrived and he wouldn't have looked great in pink, floral and bowed outfits so I packed those goodies up and gave them to friends who had just adopted a daughter. Our caboose had arrived so it was safe to pass along our wealth of frilly frocks.

Two years pass and our precious tribe of three would be greeted by a new baby sister-SURPRISE! Those sweet friends whom we loaned all of our girl clothes to had passed them on to another friend. Before we knew it, bags of clothes found their way back to our doorstep.

One would think that the baby would be spoiled and never accept such re worn attire, but our baby girl loves to find bags on her door step. It would become like Christmas morning when "her" bags arrived. She would try on every item as if it were her own personal shopping spree at Macy's.

As I reflect on her eagerness to open bags of worn, used and sometimes stained clothes then put them on to wear with pride, I think of Jesus. Isn't that what He does for us?

He takes the worn - used- sometimes stained- puts it on Himself and is so proud to display us for all to see. We are made new. We are REDEEMED by His precious blood.

DaySpring has created this great new line of products to remind us of our Redeemer-Jesus. The Redeemed products offer many items that communicate Christ redemptive love for us. Check them out here.

I received products by DaySpring to review for this post. Thanks DaySpring for helping me spread the word of God's redemptive love.

My Brave Little Girl

I have four beautiful children, and they each make me proud. We have been blessed beyond belief with kind-hearted, Jesus loving, and beautiful children. (I am bragging-a Mother's right!)

It is so hard to believe that our oldest is  17 TODAY. This shy little girl has grown into a beautiful and strong young woman. She serves in church, in our community, she is an athlete and a good student. She is driven to be the best at whatever she is involved.

This girl in her early days was shy and fear-filled. It is amazing to see what God has done through her. I know that her life is still just getting started, and He has more things to do through her.

When she was little, she loved to dress-up. She and her sister would put on plays on our hearth where they sang at the top of their lungs. Both girls, when in public would hide behind me and stay as close as possible. 

Some days though, this shy little girl would leap off of the chair and proclaim "Marykathaleena!" We always have joked when she called herself  that name she was her "brave self".

Now that MK is older there are few days I see a shy, fear-ful girl. Lately, we see her shining her light for the Lord so brightly. Just the other night I witnessed by 16 year old daughter leap forward screaming-"Marykathaleena".

Her good friend encouraged her to participate in a school Parade of Beauties. Now my girl is beautiful, but she isn't normally one to put on a formal dress and waltz across a stage waving. Take a look at these pictures and you too will hear her use her brave voice.....










By the way, she was MOST BEAUTIFUL in the eyes of family and friends!

Happy 17th Birthday Mary Katherine!

Disciple Now 2012

The sound of music thumping my bones. Singing voices rising from below.

                Worship of 1000 teenagers over a weekend.

Words spoken, lives directed and changed for Him.

Hungry stomachs...food galore. Pizza, Mexican and sweets for more...

A time of serving for the youngest ones and us. Disciple NOW weekend for the oldest ones a must!

Collide the theme...
                Kids smiles they beam.
                         College students touching the lives of my teens
                                       Jesus words by no other means.

Getting to serve a blessing to me
            Glad I got to share this with my family!
                                                
                                  

Old Testament - New Lessons

Yesterday I was reading in Genesis (Day 12 of the Chronological Bible). I got to Jacob, Rebekah, Esau, Issac and my eyes were opened to several new truths.

First of all, I was hit smack between the eyes as a Mom when I read that Rebekah is the one who started the whole blessing reversal scam. It said that she grabbed Jacob and told him to bring two prized goats in. She overheard the conversation between Esau and Issac about the blessing and she wanted it for her "favorite"son.

Oh, my heart ached. Lord, help me not to be a Mom that schemes to change the blessing for my children. I pray that I'm not the stumbling block in their lives. I do not want to any day suggest that we do something to change their course. I pray that my life would be an example to them that leads them straight to God's plan and will for their future.

Secondly, I was taken by the Jacob's ladder story. I have sung.."We are climbing Jacob's ladder" since early preschool days. (hand motions and all) I never stopped to think about God speaking to me that way. I do dream vividly at night. I have had dreams about people I know and situations I am aware of. I realized this morning that God is might just be using my dreams to unfold something for me or people in my life. I need to seek Him more to see if this is the case. What is God saying to me at my Bethel? Am I hearing Him? Could He use me this way?

Where are you reading in God's word? What are you learning from Him?

The Blessing of Service

Twice a month, I volunteer at a local crisis pregnancy center. I meet women with all types of stories from all walks of life. Some stories are heart breaking, then other times we meet women whose stories become miracle stories. I leave there emotionally and physically drained most weeks.

Things that I've learned from my time there have changed my life perspective. I started volunteering the same week that the client services director began her job. Her story and heart can be read in this novel,

http://www.bethelroadpublications.com/cordofthreestrands.htm. I have learned to grow in my prayer life. She enters this facility, and we stop to pray for our clients, our staff, and volunteers.  I had an active prayer life, but her utter dependence was something I desired for myself.

I have been drawn to understanding a culture of women who find themselves in crisis pregnancy. This is not just teens. We see women of all ages, women who are married, single, rich and poor. I want to know their hearts when I meet them-where have they come from and how have they gotten in their place. I pray for these strangers whom I've only met for maybe 30 minutes and may never see again. I pray for these new lives that I view on a television screen.

I have discovered that I must abide with Him before I am truly prepared for my time of service in this place. I can not love these women like Jesus if I don't know His love for myself and my own sin. I hide His word in my heart so that I might share it with these women.

I met a lady just yesterday whose story shook me. I looked her in the eyes and told her that I do not have any way of understanding what she lives through, but I know in my life that I can not walk without Him. She had been raised by adoptive Pastor and his wife. How one earth did she find herself the center of the story that she shared with me? She knows about Jesus, she has walked with Him before...I gave her a Bible, a shared tear and a hug. We saw her baby on the screen. We talked of life in a new community of faith. Today I pray for her. I pray for hope, direction and healing.

Also yesterday, a fellow volunteer, whose heart had ached to be a parent walked in the door with her adoptive baby. One that came by surprise right after the celebration of the birth of our Savior. The joy that overcame this lady. The grace that flowed. I was awed at how perfect this new life brought out of horrible circumstances looked. God's grace was written all over that baby, her story, her new life.

I am so blessed that God shows me life that He wants me to see-broken life, healing life, hopeful life. I am digging in to see more of Him. I hunger to love like He does. To be laid open before Him as I serve the needy women of our area. I am a small part of a big picture that He works through this place, but I am blessed 1 million times over for every second I am there.

Where does God show Himself to you? Are you growing through service this year? Share your story...

Epiphany

It is Epiphany!
The day that we celebrate the Wise Men's visit to see baby Jesus. The Wise Men followed a star to a lowly manger where normally one would find animals, feed, hay, manure, muck...
Today they found Jesus. The Savior of the World. A tiny baby, soft and humble. What a rich find.

Out of the darkness, this bright light shone to the Wise Men leading them to this barn. Answers from the darkness. Light that shines on THE ANSWER.

I feel like I am in the beginning of a season of Epiphany. I have lived in some dark places over the past few years. I don't mean total depression, but some.
I mean a place with no answers. I have looked for healing from a disease that has caused some DIS-EASEMENT in my life. I am beginning upon answers.
I have felt a calling from God about something that he wants to lead me to. But what? I am still searching for that barn, but the light is leading me. (I feel it, I see it...I continue to search.)

I want to be Wise. I want God's wisdom for my life. I want to be lead to and by the Savior. I want to bow before his feet and celebrate His life! I want to see for myself His glory. I want to offer Him the best gifts that I have. I want to ABIDE-to dwell in His presence-to remain before Him.

Would you join me in Abiding this year? Do you have an Epiphany story...let's celebrate it!

Journey 2012

It is a New Year, 2012! I have been praying about and dwelling in several things to grow me this upcoming year. First, I have noticed several "bloggy" friends focus on one word for their year. I have decided to jump onto that bandwagon. My word for the year (cue the drum roll, please!) is ABIDE. I have spent the last few months hearing God speak this word to me. I plan to study, embrace and better understand the word and its impact on my life.

Second, challenge that I'm taking up is one offered to us in church yesterday. I had finished reading the Bible through in a year back in October. I had purchased a new One Year Chronological Bible thinking that I would jump right back into reading. Recommendation, is to not begin a chronological study in the middle-Common Sense runs deep in my family! Our challenge in church was to read more of God's word this year-whatever that might look like for you. (read a chapter, a book, a chunk, or the whole Bible I had been asking Philip about reading through the Bible in 90 days and then I remembered my Chronological Bible. Yesterday, I jumped back into my chronological study. I must admit that beginning with Adam and Eve was so much easier. (again this is Day 2 and all so I know that I sound like I've climbed Mt Everest).

Third, is a challenge that I began several weeks ago, but never stopped to blog about it. I am Hiding God's Word by memorizing Romans 8. This has been a bit of a challenge over the holidays. I have had a few wordy verses that are bogging me down. I have taken some of the hints and found them to be helpful. I am excited to be on this journey. I had spent several years with Beth Moore and her Scripture Memory plan. (2 verses per month/24 in a year). I can't wait to see a whole chapter complete in my heart!

I can't say this is really a challenge for the year, but it is something God is showing me so I want to document it. I have been feeling for awhile now that God was preparing me for something big. I mentioned before that I felt maybe our Spring Youth Mission Trip to Nicaragua was it. My first out of the country mission so I thought God was certain to let that be my BIG thing. Well, March came and went. Although it was impactful, I still have the sense of God's BIG preparation still happening. Well, I opened the book, Interrupted, by Jen Hatmaker and I sensed that God has been scheming for a while now. (again my common sense at work).  I see a pattern, a thread, a little clearing in the sky where He is writing. I can't see fully, but I know with abiding, reading and hiding I will understand more and more.

I am ready to dive in to 2012. I hope to capture the journey here.