Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to take this moment to wish everyone the Merriest Christmas ever!! I've got family coming in today so I've been busy cleaning house. And now, its finally cookie time! The girls just love when we bake cookies together each Christmas. So, I'm off to the kitchen. Enjoy your time with family and friends and celebrating our gift of a lifetime, JESUS!!!
May God be with you all and bless your time together. Merry Christmas!

I've Got A Friend

So, I'm still new to this whole world of blogging but so far its been a lot of fun. Its a good way to express your feelings about God and to God. Sort of like a written prayer. Sometimes its just a good way to help myself work through a revelation. But if I wanted it to be private, I'd keep a journal. After reading so many other blogs, you can't help but hope that somebody will come around once in a while and read your own. Not for the fame, certainly not for the fortune, but maybe somebody will be touched by what I've said or have another point of view or just want to say "hey". So far, that hasn't happened much.

And then the greatest thing happened today! There's this beautiful woman whose blog I read daily. I asked her for advice on "publicizing" my blog. Hers is read by many so I figured she would know. Not only did she send me an emailed response to my question, she wrote an entire post about me. If you could have seen the look on my face! My jaw hit the floor! I'm not surrounded by many who can help me grow my faith and then God sent me Valerie Lynn. You can find her at Simply 4 God. I'm amazed at how someone I've never met, never spoken to in person and never even knew existed 3 months ago could become such a great friend.

Have you ever been that kind of friend? I don't think that I have, but I've been inspired to become one. God created people for people. We're not here on earth just to meander our way through life. God created Eve because he wanted Adam to have someone to share it all with. So who are you gonna share it with? What can you do for someone else today? I'm challenging you to practice random acts of kindness. Let me know what you did or will do, perhaps you'll inspire someone else to do the same.

And to Valerie Lynn, thank you for being my friend!

Spiritual Warfare

There are times in every life when it seems we are all alone, fighting to survive day to day. The battles aren't always the same - financial hardships, catastrophic illnesses, marital discourse. It is during these struggles we are most vulnerable. It is at our weakest moments that it happens - Spiritual Warfare.

Just like any battle, the best time to attack is when your opponent is least able to defend themselves. And when we are at our lowest valleys, Satan fixes you in his scope, and begins his attack. He fires his missles directly at your weakest links. So what do you do then?

We can choose to be defeated, but does that eliminate our troubles? Does that keep other trials from coming our way? The alternative - believe in Him, trust in Him, lean on Him. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." (Psalm 46:1) Trials will still invade our lives but we have a comfort that can only be found in Jesus. Its a promise that with each trial comes strength and with strength comes endurance. God: the Ultimate Personal Trainer!

When faced with struggles in life, don't just accept it as fate, see it for the war that it is. What do soldiers do when going to war? They arm themselves with the appropriate weapons. Your weapon is God's Word. But just like a machine gun, it can't be used effectively unless you take the time to learn how it works and how to use it. This means you have to study often and earnestly. The more you read the more you learn. With continued practice, the enemy will see how powerful your weapon has become. And just like an enemy at war, he will turn in defeat.

God has promised that the enemy WILL be defeated, even when our situation seems hopeless. GOD WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!! Here are just a couple of bullets for your arsenal:

"The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

"Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you." Psalm 50:15

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." Romans 5:3

And finally:

"For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:3-4

When you find yourself feeling weak and vulnerable, instead of asking "why me?", give thanks to God because you are being polished and perfected. Keep your eyes focused on Him until the day comes when you will "need nothing".

Prayer Request

There's a little girl named Sydney who goes to school with my daughter. She is 7 years old. Yesterday, she passed out and suffered a seizure at church. She is now at a hospital in Atlanta undergoing an MRI. The doctors say she has a brain tumor, but until the MRI results, we won't know more. They are expecting her to have surgery tonight or tomorrow.

I'm sure this family thought it was going to be a great day yesterday as they enjoyed breakfast and headed off to church. Remember to pray always and give thanks to God, for we never know what lies just around the corner.

Please send up prayers for Sydney and her family. And pray that they will continue to lean on Him during this most difficult time.

Update: It turns out the CT scan showed some strange shadow, but the MRI shows nothing... NO BRAIN TUMOR!! They still need to figure out what caused her 4 seizures. But obviously, everyone is relieved and grateful. (Her pediatrician, the doctors at the 1st hospital and her parents all said they saw the same "shadow" on the scans. Medical mistake or miracle?) Thank you for your prayers, God is great!!!

Update#2: Sydney came back to school today!! Only 4 days after this whole ordeal began. Her diagnosis is epilepsy, and they're hopeful that she will eventually outgrow it. But constant medication is way better than brain surgery! Please continue to pray for her family as they learn how to cope with a chronic illness. And of course, thanks to our Great God for watching over Sydney!

Re-gifting

"God has given gifts to each of you from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you." 1 Peter 4:10

We are each given spiritual gifts by God. Some we use, some we don't. Sometimes its hard trying to figure out what they are. But thanks to the wonder of the internet, there are many "tests" that can assess your skills and personality to narrow down the list. What are yours?

Prophecy
Ministry
Teaching
Exhortation
Service
Leading
Mercy
Apostleship
Wisdom
Knowledge
Discernment
Faith
Miracles
Healing

Did you see yours? Mine are Mercy and Service. But look at the list again and think about what these gifts really mean. When we hear of gifts, most of us think about Christmases and birthdays. Things we receive for ourselves, to keep. That's what these are as well.

But if you look at what these gifts are used for, do any of them benefit you? Aren't they all used to help others? Then actually, we are just the middle men. Spiritual gifts are bestowed upon us to give to others. Rather than being the recipient, we are the giver. Think of it as "holy re-gifting"!

We already received The Spirit as our gift. We are now responsible for handing out what He has given us. Its not ours to keep after all. It must be shared or it is wasted. Like buying a present for someone and then stashing it in the closet, never to be seen by the one it was intended for. It is a gift, but one from which to learn, and then pass on to another.

So next time you thank God for the gifts in your life, think about how you are using those gifts. And just like your mama said, "you better share!"

Proverbs 31

The Wife of Noble Character (Prov. 31:16-31 NLT)

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Well, I don't know about you. But I don't even come close to measuring up to that ideal! I regard myself as lazy. I am self employed and am raising 2 daughters but I am a perfect procrastinator. I put everything off until the last minute. After the kids are off to school, I often find myself still on the sofa until nearly lunchtime. Not sleeping, usually reading through my favorite blogs, sometimes watching TV. Its not unusual for my toilets to go 3 weeks between cleanings. My office work is done either in a marathon, 12 hour-long sessions, or late at night after everyone else has gone to bed.

Anyhow, who of us couldn't go on and on discrediting ourselves? My point is I fritter away much of my time and some of my money. The money part I've already been convicted over and have begun to change. The time; well, I know now what God is telling me so its up to me. The challenge has been issued. Will I succeed or will I fail? I have God on my side, them's good odds!!

How about you? How do you measure up? I'd love for you to share the ways you strive to be a better wife and/or mother.

Writer's Block

So is it that I have such a dull life that I have nothing interesting to talk about, or is it that I have brain freeze? Who knows? But I hate to just leave this blog idle, so I'll refer to The Word. With the economy going down the drain, I looked up some words of inspiration.

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15
(Just ask the guy who put all his eggs in the stock market basket.)

You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:13

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17

Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:2
(I must be really joyful!)

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Heb. 13:6
(Na na, na na, boo boo!)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb. 10:23

Through all these troubles, I am becoming a better Christ-follower, slowly but surely.