This is a must read!

http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2007/05/helen_had_a_rou.html

Happy Mother's Day!

Motherhood

Everyone has always told me that I should enjoy my children because they grow up fast. Of course, when they are little and you are barely sleeping that seems to be absurd. Your days are long and exhausting. You can’t seem to find yourself amongst the diaper bag and multiple kid gadgets. BUT, my oldest it almost nine which is half-way eighteen and my youngest just turned four which is almost school age and I have to tell you I am finally getting it.

How does this happen. I remember their births as if they were yesterday. Both were strangely identical. I was induced with both at around 7 am and both were born at around 2 in the afternoon. They sounded the same, looked similar, and I felt that exhilaration that can never be matched with both. All of that seems to have just happened and now I see the days whizzing by and I wonder if I will soon be telling other young mothers to enjoy their children because it will go fast.

So here is something that I received from my friend, Stacy. I think that it is very fitting to all mothers. So to all of you mom’s, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Homage to Mothers

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night

with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf

laced with Kraft Dinner and wieners,birthday cake,

and cherry Kool-Aid saying,It's OK honey,

Mommy's here.

"Who have walked around the house all night

with their babies when they kept crying and wouldn't stop.

This is for all the mothers who have shown up

at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains

on their blouses and diapers in their purses.

For all the mothers who have run carpools and

made dozens of cookies for school teas and sewn

Halloween costumes.

And all the mothers who HAVEN'T because they're

at work trying to keep on top of the bills.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see.

And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes

and all their love.

This is for all the mothers who have frozen their buns off

on metal bleachers at hockey, baseball or soccer games

any night of the week instead of watching from their cars,

so that when their kids asked,Did you see me?"

they could say,Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,"

and meant it.

This is for all the mothers who have yelled at their kids

in thegrocery storeand swatted them in despair when

they stomped their feet like a tired 2-year old does,

who wants ice cream before dinner, and then hated themselves

for "losing" it.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children

and explained all about making babies.And for all the mothers

who wanted to but just couldn't.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon"

twice a night for a whole year.And then read it again.

Just one more time.

"This is for all the mothers who taught their children

to tie their shoelaces before they started school.

And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who taught their sons to cook

and sew and their daughters to be brave and strong and

sink a jump shot).

This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically

when a little voice calls "Mom?"

in a crowd,even though they know their own offspring

are at home or grown up.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school

with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE

once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse

an hour later asking them to please pick them up.

Right away.And they do.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,

and who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips sometimes until they

bleed when their 14-year old dyes their hair green.

What makes a good Mother anyway?Is it patience?Compassion?Broad hips?The ability to nurse a baby,cook dinner,and sew a button on a shirt,all at the same time?Or is it the heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? Or the terror in your heart at 1 AM when your teenager with the new driver's licence is an hour late getting home. The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2A.M.to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

Or to feel the dull ache as you look in on your sleeping daughter or son the night before they leave for a college in another city.

The need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire,a car accident,a child dying?

For all the mothers of the victims of all the school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors,and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror,hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for mothers who have tearfully placed flowers and teddy bears on their children's graves.Whose children have died from illness, accidents and the worst of alland hardest to comprehend,suicides.

This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mature mothers who have learned and are still learning,to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Grandmothers whose wisdom and love remains a constant for their grown children and their children's children.

What is a boy?

I have to admit, I stole this right from another blog that I love to read. It was the most perfect poem about boys that I have ever read. Since today is my sweet boys birthday (4), I thought that it was appropriate to post this today.

WHAT IS A BOY?

by Alan Beck

Between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood we find a delightful creature called a boy. Boys come in assorted sizes, weights, and colors. They are found everywhere – on top of, underneath, and inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older brothers and sisters tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.

A boy has the appetite of a horse, the digestion of a sword swallower, the energy of a pocket size atomic bomb, the curiosity of a cat, the lungs of a dictator, the imagination of Paul Bunyan, the shyness of a violet, the audacity of a steel trap, the enthusiasm of a firecracker, and when he makes something he has five thumbs on each hand.

He likes ice cream, knives, saws, Christmas, comic books, the boy across the street, woods, water (in its natural habitat), large animals, Dad, trains, Saturday mornings, and fire engines. He is not much for Sunday school, company, schools, books without pictures, music lessons, neckties, barbers, girls, overcoats, adults, or bedtime.

Nobody else is so early to rise or so late to supper. No one else can cram into one pocket a rusty knife, a half eaten apple, three feet of string, an empty Bull Durham sack, two gumdrops, six cents, a slingshot, a chunk of unknown substance, and a genuine supersonic code ring with a secret compartment.

A boy is a magical creature – you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can’t lock him out of your heart. You can get him out of your study, but you can’t get him out of your mind. Might as well give up- he is your captor, your jailer, your boss and your master – a freckle faced, pint sized bundle of noise. But when you come home at night with only the shattered pieces of your hopes and dreams, he can mend them with two words – “Hi Mom!”

Two great emails that I received

Springtime is here!

I love this time of year – most people do! I am blessed to
drive by several open fields of grass on my way to work each morning. The spring
rains have made the grass a vivid green and sprinkled throughout are the beautiful
patches of wildflowers. Brilliant, lavish patches of yellow, red and purple
wildflowers grace the landscape – not manmade landscapes – God’s landscape. And
as you take in all the brilliance, you spirits are calmed by the beautifully delicate
buttercups and bluebonnets.

And I smile to myself and think. If this is how God decorates our temporary home,
our eternal home that he is preparing must surely be beautiful beyond our
imaginations. Relax and close you eyes a moment and let your mind run free as you
contemplate what it will look like. I’m sure our patches of wildflowers will pale in
comparison. As my mind imagines the scene, the words of a hymn from my
childhood bring a smile to my face.

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be!
There feel the HeartLift!

_________________________________________________________________

Subject: An article by Jay Leno worth reading.

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see...."The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given thesource, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappywith the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s ofthe citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am,
I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer
and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy
folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any
time and see more food in it?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safemotels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family andyour belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flatscreen TVs , a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your familyagainst attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhoodfree of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phonesand computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms weenjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has agreat disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what wedon't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thankingthe good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation inthe dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring aneconomy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all thespoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out theredefending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you sounhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all thegood things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he wasfailing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have actually volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't haveto go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watcha car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids sellinglemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way oranother. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpsonto write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom ofyour bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank Godseveral times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative." "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end toanother, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge ofAllegiance?"

Jay Leno

Purpsoe Driven Life Daily Devotional

How to win by losing

by Jon Walker

“I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won't be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 LB)

Fellowship — In any argument, your goal should be to love, not win.
It’s much harder to love someone than it is to merely beat them in an argument. In fact, no one ever really wins an argument. The truth is that Love – and only Love – wins.

We see God’s strategy in the Resurrection, where it appears that all is lost, but then the Almighty snatches victory from defeat, not by winning arguments, but by loving those who wage war against him – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)

You can win any argument when –

· You let mercy lead (Proverbs 3:3-6) – You have to abandon the idea of what is fair. God's approach is never based on fair. (Romans 5:8) When other believers treat us unfairly or fail to carry their load, God calls us to meet them where they are, applying mercy in the relationship.

· You are directed by truth (2 Corinthians 13:8) – Your feelings or thoughts do not determine truth (1 John 4:1), and the opinions of others – even a majority of others – do not have the final word on what is God’s Truth. Truth is what God says it is; he is the one and only final authority for interpreting any situation. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

· You acknowledge God’s presence (Matthew 28:20) – The enemy wants us to think the battle is ours alone, and when we believe that we fight like we’re separated from God. Simon Peter provides an example: his use of blustery words, curses, lies, and a sword were all desperate attempts to care for himself. (Matthew 26:52) Peter learned, as should we, that the battle is the Lord's (1 Samuel 17:47) and that we should trust the outcome to him.

God may call you to make the first loving move toward genuine healing by asking for forgiveness, or he may ask you to extend forgiveness – forgiving others as you also have been forgiven. (Matthew 6:12)

This may not seem logical, but then we’re not supposed to lean on our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) What appears to us to be right may very well be wrong. (Proverbs 14:12) Instead, we’re to rely on the holy logic of Christ, where the interests of others are placed above our own. (1 Corinthians 2:15-16)

The Bible teaches that when we’re in conflict, the real enemy is not the person we’re arguing with – rather we’re in a battle against Satan’s “unseen spiritual forces of wickedness.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Until you fully and totally believe this, you’ll never get to the root of any conflict, and so you’re prone to keep trying to win every argument, as opposed to loving those you argue with.
So what?

· You never lose when you love – In any argument, your goal should be to love, not win.

· Stop using human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) – Any method apart from God that you use to get your own needs met is a weapon of the flesh. Flesh weapons include: manipulation, gossip, slander, ridicule, threats, blame, nagging, deception, and silence. They push us into an “evil for evil” cycle, and that’s like trying to fight a skunk with stink – everybody loses!

· Fight with prayer – Many Christians never think to pray together when an argument breaks out. Yet prayer refocuses us, reminding us who God is and who we are as his children. Prayer draws us into the eternal perspective, giving us God's interpretation of events.

God Bless the Parents that Drugged Us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.

Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

• I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
• I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
• I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
• I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.
• I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort ineverything that was asked of me.
• I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity
• I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.
• I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline,or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack,or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem,America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Have a Nice Day .... and a Better tomorrow...

Oldie but goodie

And A Meadow Lark Sang

~ Ravindra Kumar Karnani

(This poem was originally written in the Hindi language.)


The child whispered, 'God, speak to me'

And a meadow lark sang.

The child did not hear.


So the child yelled, 'God, speak to me!'

And the thunder rolled across the sky

But the child did not listen.


The child looked around and said,

'God let me see you' and a star shone brightly

But the child did not notice.


And the child shouted, 'God show me a miracle!'

And a life was born but

the child did not know.


So the child cried out in despair,

'Touch me God, and let me know you are here!'



Whereupon God reached down

And touched the child.
But the child brushed the butterfly away

And walked away unknowingly.

Where will you encounter God today?

A lesson from the refiner

Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable statement in the third verse: "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).

One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the silversmith the reason for her visit, asked him to tell her about the process of refining silver.

After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you watch while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes ma'am," replied the silversmith. "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the statement, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

God sees it as necessary to put His children into the furnace but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is finished?"

"Oh, that's quite simple," replied the silversmith . . .When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is complete."

A friday challenge

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
Mother Teresa

After Awhile

"After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company isn't security.(Kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.)

After awhile you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open,with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you stand too long in one place.

So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers. And you learn you really can endure, that you really do have worth. You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn."

ByVeronica Shofftall or Judith B. Evans or Unknown for Certain

It's not about being a good Christian

It’s not about being a good Christian

by John Fischer

Here’s one of the greatest things about being a Christian: You can accept yourself for who you are.

Here’s one of the most tragic things about being a Christian: You can be one for a long time without knowing this.

I was. I was what you might call a model Christian. I filled the bill. Any church or Christian school would have seen me as a poster child Christian. There was only one problem: I thought I was, too – when all the while I knew I wasn’t. I knew it was all pretty much a game.

All this was back when I thought a Christian was all about being a good person – someone who would rank high in relative goodness when compared to others more spiritually challenged.

This was before I realized that Christ died to save sinners, and to qualify for the free gift of salvation you have to realize you are desperately in need of being saved. You are drowning. You are dying. As a sinner, you are among the worst.

Once you make “being good” the criteria for being a Christian, out of necessity you become the judge of others because you have to judge others in order to remain good in your own eyes. So if you have not come to this, (i.e. you are still pretty good in your own eyes), and you preach the Gospel (many do, from this perspective), it becomes a Gospel for other people – not for you. And something doesn’t ring true.

You also remain aloof to just about everybody because you can’t really know anyone for fear they might come to know you and find out your secret, that you really are a scoundrel like everybody else. It’s a lonely life. Believe me. It’s much better to be a sinner whom Jesus Christ loves and for whom he died so you can spread the Good News about him to other sinners like you. Then you have nothing to hide, and only Christ – and a lot of friends – to gain by telling the truth.

I think this is one of the things that made Billy Graham such a good evangelist. When he preached about the Gospel, he never excluded himself from needing it. He knew the Gospel wouldn’t preach if it were not, first and foremost, for him.

Which brings us back to being a Christian and accepting yourself as who you are. That’s why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that we all have unveiled faces. We have nothing to hide because we are reflecting the face of Christ whom we worship in continual gratitude for our salvation.

Thank goodness. I never liked being a good Christian anyway.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

My Dream

For my psychology class we had to analyze a dream. I actually have wanted to share this dream (felt like it was blog worthy) so I am posting my assignment. I promise not to ever post a biology assignmnet!

A few months ago I had, what I have come to understand as an epic dream. According to Dream Dictionary (http://www.dreammoods.com/) an epic dream is so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that you cannot ignore it. The details of such dreams remain with you for years, as if your dreamt it last night. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology. When you wake up from such a dream, you feel that you have discovered something profound or amazing about yourself or about the world. It feels like a life-changing experience.

My dream began with several of my close friends and family gathered around me on the ruf top of a building. More and more people that I knew continued to come up (even people that I have not seen or thought about in years). I was having so much fun talking and seeing people. This went on for a long time until I finally noticed a crowd had gathered below. It appeared that the audience (all people that I didn’t know) was staring at something below us that we were not able to see from the top of this building. There was such awe in the faces of those gathered below and those of us on the building were so unaware of what was going on. I decided to walk down from the rough top and see what was going on. To my amazement there stood Jesus in glowing white with his arms outstretched. The color was such an intense white. I walked through the crowd until I was at his feet and bowed down. At that moment the crowd below began to do the same.

I feel that the dream was a reflection of my personal struggle with my purpose as a Christian. During the time of this dream I was experiencing some stretching in my beliefs. I was feeling that “churches” were so mixed up in “church” that we were forgetting Jesus. We were so busy socializing in the dream that we didn’t see the crowd and even more disturbing to me was that we didn’t realize that Jesus was so close. The dream symbolized the loyalties and comfort that I felt while with my closest friends and family, but the pull that I feel to help others see and understand Jesus. Just as the definition of the epic dream states, I feel that I discovered something profound and amazing. I’m not sure that I consciously was getting my mind around everything that I was feeling, but after the dream I felt a lot of clarity. Maybe our minds work out problems better when it has the ability to roam free without our distractions. I seem to find little time in the day to truly allow my mind to process. I believe that is why we NEED to dream.

Do miracles still happen!

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The story of the fighter

The seventeen year old new mom lay in disbelief as the doctors began telling her the news that she couldn’t accept. The odds were against her baby boy and he would most likely not make it through the night. If he does survive he’ll never be normal, too much had gone wrong. He had a broken clavicle and both lungs were collapsed. Their small town was barely equipped for these infants and they lost more than they saved. She reflected back to the preeclampsia scare, how long the labor had been, and then how horrible it had been to watch as the doctor forcefully delivered her baby with the horrible forceps. That was supposed to have been the hard part and now she wasn’t sure that she would be able to bring him home. She watched her husband hit his knees and beg God not to take him. She kept hearing Matthew 16:18 ….and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. She knew what she would name him. She knew that he would survive. She believed that he would come home with her. Of course the gates of hell would not overcome her Rock. She trusted God and she began to only focus on that scripture. Her thoughts were interrupted by a glimpse of hope, a nurse came to tell her that they were working on him but he was fighting mad. The nurse told her that survival is always 90% spirit and that baby had spirit.

The baby did defeat the odds and got to come home. Though he had recovered physically he rarely spoke in front of others. His speech was hard to understand and he was such a perfectionist that he would rather not speak than chance it not sounding right to everyone else. When the time came to start school, they were again forced to hear more bad news. He had trouble learning and did not have the physical skills of a child his age. He couldn’t even jump a rope. The school informed his parents that he would need to be in resource classes. That would be his only option and it would be a miracle if he finished high school. Now having gone through all that they had with this little boy both parents refused to accept this fate. He had survived against all odds, he was a fighter. They believed that if people treated him like an idiot he would become one. So instead they moved and his mom began to play games with him at home to help him learn. All the while, they never told him that he was any different.

That young man did finish high school and even received a football scholarship. Now it would be nice if this story ended here with his graduation and tons of success, but in the first two weeks of practices he injured his neck. They told him that he would never play football again. He could not accept this, of course. So the young man transferred to a less expensive college and began his own rehab on his neck. After all, he was a fighter. Of course, his neck healed and he was invited to play division three football and finish his degree. He did get his bachelors degree and even went on to get his masters. He is now an outstanding teacher and coach.

So the next time someone tells you that you can’t or you won’t make it just remember the story of the fighter and know that spirit is always 90%.

Priorities

I find myself rushing around this morning trying to get ready to go to my daughter's Valentine party at school. I am working to get both of the little ones fed, dressed, and ready to go. I feel excited about our "valentine celebration" tonight that my daughter planned for our family ( I hope that they like their little treats). I have all of the lessons and books laid out to work on during naptime and then there is the house cleaning before our company this weekend. I don't have time to slow down more than to pray, check all the email, and of course the blogs. This is the moment that my day just changed.

Recently my friend, Marley introduced me to the life journey of a 33 year old wife and mother named Kristina. I could never do her life justice by trying to tell her story, but you should read it. http://kristinascalling.com/ Her husband did an outstanding job of taking over her blog when she could no longer maintain it. Today she went to be with Jesus and my heart breaks for her family. It was so easy to relate to her life. She has touched my heart and changed my priorities. She truely fought the good fight and now she has won the race.

Today, in honor of Kristina, I will slow down and celebrate life and all of my earthly blessings.

The Grocery Cart

Integrity comprises the personal inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from honesty and consistent uprightness of character.

You know that there are always those stories that others tell you that just never seem to leave your mind. When I was younger I heard a preacher tell the story of his trip to the grocery store with his son. As they finished putting the groceries into their vehicle he and his son began to go put the cart away. His son asked him why they didn't just leave the cart between the spaces like everyone else had done. The father just simply said because we will be the kind of people that put our carts away. Because it has been a lot of years since I heard that one, I may have confused the details and I HATE that I don't remember who and where that came from, but I ALWAYS PUT MY CART AWAY. The more important thing is that eveytime I do, I think about what it really means to have integrity. Here is my definition: Integrity is what you do when there is no audience. Even if it is just putting you cart away. The next time you are in a parking lot with a grocery basket ask yourself, what "kind of people" do I want to be?

The Secret

I'm sure that by now you have heard about The Secret. It is an amazing motivational DVD. It has lots of great quotes and some really positive perspective. It is a "how to" dvd about using the law of attraction. This same principle has been addressed before (ask and it is given , what the bleep do we know?) and as a christian I believe that it is the core of what we believe about our relationship with God. Sort of reminds me of a scripture: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Since we are self-growth fanatics, we loved it and would highly recommend it to eveyone. Oprah covered it on her show last week and I thought that was a pretty sure bet that everyone has at least heard of this by now, but if you haven't it is worth watching. So if you are looking for some self-growth material we give this one a 10!

After the Super Bowl win!

This really warms my heart and reminds me that we should celebrate with God, too!

Psalm 118:21 I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!

Click Here: The 212 Movie

I got this from Rocky and WOW what an ispirational video. Please watch!

Are you who you say you are?

I got this from my mother-in-law today and it has a very powerful message.

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman hit the roof--and the horn--screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

Special Women

Trey had a really great post about his admiration for moms who bring their children to church without help. I have also known and had tremendous respect for these women. I wanted to share what Rick Atchley wrote on this topic, too.

The Ministry of Motherhood

by Rick Atchley,

preaching minister for Richland Hills Church of Christ

Ft. Worth, Tx

I've seen her in every congregation where I have ever preached. She usually sits at the back of the auditorium. She is accompanied by two or three young children, but no other adult. She attempts to sing or listen to the sermon, but most of her time is spent just trying to keep her kids quiet. Coloring books and Cheerios spend much more time in her hands than the Bible.

If this wasn't frustrating enough, she has to endure countless gazes from those around her who have forgotten how their own kids behaved, and are now terribly "distracted" by hers. When the assembly is dismissed, she looks exhausted more than uplifted. She trudges with her troops back to the car, and wonders if it was worth it.

To many, she and her children were a nuisance. To me, she is among the grandest of all saints. Before you take another look at her, read on.

You are probably aware that the only family Paul ever mentions are his brothers and sisters in Christ. He never married. He never had kids. Yet there was one who was a son in the faith to him, and as dear as anyone he ever knew. That young man's name was Timothy. Paul met him on his second missionary journey when he returned to the town of Lystra. In that little band of saints, there was an elderly sister and her daughter. Though both were Jews, the daughter had married a gentile man who apparently had never converted to the Christian faith. (Acts 16:1-3) To this marriage a son had been born, and through the influence of these two ladies, he became a Christian. The brothers in Lystra spoke well of him, and an immediate bond was established between Timothy and Paul. This young man, Timothy, apparently filled a void in the apostle's heart that had been there since John Mark's departure. Later Paul would write: "I have no one else like him ... Timothy, has proved himself because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel." (Philippians 2:20-22 NIV) It is not surprising, then, that the last letter Paul ever wrote that became Scripture was to Timothy. It might be surprising, though, to learn that some of Paul's last words to his son in the faith were to remind Timothy of the ministry of his mother! What had this grand lady done? First, she had instilled in her son a respect for the scriptures. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)First, notice that Timothy's exposure to Scripture began when he was a very young child. The first thing Timothy learned about was God. Paul reminded Timothy of that and of "those from whom you learned it," namely his mother and grandmother. Eunice and Lois did not take those early years for granted. They shared the faith of their people so this young lad would have the moorings he would need as he grew up in a predominantly pagan environment. Surely, this training prepared Timothy well for the first time he heard the gospel, and motivated him to accept Jesus as both Messiah and Lord. Second, this great lady instilled in her son an authentic faith. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5) Faith is not hereditary -- it is learned. And so Eunice was not just a mother; she was a model. She understood that it would not be enough for her young son to read about faith from a scroll. He needed to see faith lived out in a life. The word Paul uses to describe Timothy's faith as being sincere literally means "non-hypocritical," and Paul adds that this same quality of faith lived in his mother Eunice. In other words, her love for God and his will was not phony. It was genuine to the core, and Timothy picked up on that. After all, no one knows better whether a parent's Christianity is authentic than the children. Timothy saw something sincere in his mother that was appealing. Third, this godly woman must have instilled in her son a desire to minister. Apparently, Timothy eagerly accepted Paul's invitation to travel with him and be trained on the mission field. He had already been doing some preaching in the area. Even the fact that Paul had been stoned and left for dead the last time he had come through town did not deter the young man from answering the call. Now how can that kind of commitment to ministry develop, if it has been discouraged at home? Could that be the reason why the number of young people among us who want to enter the ministry is in decline? Yet there was a woman who loved her son enough to share the Scriptures and her faith with him, and loved God enough to let him go when the call came. Ask any mother of a missionary if that is easy. When Timothy left Lystra it is probable that he never made it back. It is significant that Eunice is never addressed in any of Paul's letters. No doubt tears filled her eyes as she watched her boy walk out of town. But how her heart soared as she witnessed the fulfillment of what she had prayed and prepared for since before he could crawl. Fourth, and finally, perhaps the most amazing thing about this wonderful sister is that she did all of these things for her son with no encouragement from her husband. That is not to say that Timothy's father was a bad man. He may have been a good man in many ways, but he left no spiritual deposit on his boy. That is not how God meant for it to be, but in that home, and in millions since, that is the way it was. Nevertheless, Paul found in the young man a deep sensitivity to spiritual things. Never underestimate the influence of a godly mother.

Now take another look at that woman mentioned at the first of this article. Does she need your glares and frowns? Does she need more discouragement? Or, could she not instead use some support, some respect, some appreciation?

It bothers me that all some church folks seem concerned about with such a woman is how to keep her kids quiet. It seems to me that we need to ask how we can help that sister hang in there when it doesn't even seem worth it, and how the church can assist her in making a spiritual deposit in those kids in the absence of a father who will do so.

Perhaps I empathize with these ladies more than most. I should, for I owe my salvation to one. You see, my grandmother was one of those women who dragged her two boys to church Sunday after Sunday by herself. At my birth, she was the only one of my grandparents who was a Christian. Yet her influence upon my father was profound, and I enjoyed the tremendous blessing of being raised in a Christian home. Today I'm blessed to serve with a great church and have been afforded the privilege of addressing saints across the nation. My grandmother, on the other hand, served the Lord in an inconspicuous way in central Texas. She is not well known, she has received no honorary doctorates, her name has never appeared in any major publication, yet I want you to know that I would not be a Christian today, much less a preacher, if it were not for the stubborn faith of Ona Atchley. (By the way, her husband, my grandfather later did accept Christ and became an elder and served the Church. Godly wives can have great influence, too.) So, take special care of those ladies who sit at the back of the auditorium. That little boy beside her could be the next Timothy. I wonder who will be his Paul?

You can hear Rick talk about this

in his LORD OF THE RINGS series (#5 - Married But Single)