Poured out with Purpose

As I flipped the calendar page to November this morning, I was stunned at all the boxes already covered with commitments. Notes jotted here and there all over the month. So many commitments, constraints vying for my time.

Staring at the calendar page with playgroups, soccer practices, homeschool meetings, and a string of other commitments staring back at me, Psalm 90:12 fell as a refreshing wave over my weary soul.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

The thought followed... "What if this was your last week on earth? How would you spend it?"

Wow, as I pondered that thought I realized how fragile life is and how we never do know when we will be called home to Christ. I want to have poured my self out fully for His glory. But I want to have done it where HE wants me to...not just poured out. But poured out with purpose!

Pondering this, I considered the things God calls priorities in my life: my Jesus, my man and my children. The areas to pour out my heart, soul, energy and time should reflect these priorities.

Well, it is a gray area, for sure! All I am doing is 'good' and God-glorifying but certainly not ALL 'best'! As I am seeking the Lord, He has lead me to drop a couple commitments and refocus my time and efforts on Jesus.

I am praying to glorify Him with the weeks ahead as I begin to walk into a month with some blank boxes on the calendar. What about you? What would your week look like if you thought it was your last week?

Something Worth Celebrating

Quite often I find myself reminding my sons to be 'leaders' rather than 'followers' in various situations with friends and one another. Just last night as my boys played happily with their cousin, I continually heard the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of wrestling and running that inevitably ends with tears. So I called my firstborn and calmly reminded him of some 'other choices' to make and encouraged him to go lead the others in these better choices. A few minutes passed and the children had decided on a board game and were beginning to play. I was so proud, and relieved to not be drying tears...or applying ice...for now.

But this got me thinking...

Why is it that we believers and followers of the Lord Jesus have decided to not be leaders ourselves? But rather to allow the world to make witchcraft and evil 'fun' for our kids? We follow along with the world's ways rather than making a new way.

There IS a great reason for believers to celebrate on October 31st. That day in 1517, a man named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis about purgatory, indulgences and other false teachings of the church at the time, to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. And along with a group of men over the course of several years, began a reformation of the church that, bottom line, put the Word of God in the hands of His people! You and I can open a Bible and read it for ourselves because of men who were killed brutally for the sake of the gospel. God intended His Word FOR His people. Luther and others were used by God to make it happen. October 31st 1517 was a monumental day worthy of much celebration!

So this year my boys and I will Party in honor of Reformation. We are playing games like Pin the Thesis to the Door, Building a mighty fortress (Martin Luther wrote the hymn "Mighty Fortress is our God") and even a Bible Smuggling game. I have a great kids book to share with them, too. And what would a party be without CANDY, CUPCAKES and GOODIES?! There will be enough to make a dentist rich!

My point is to celebrate Jesus and His Word and to educate the children (and mothers) on the Reformation and the value of something we too often take for granted...The Holy, Living Word of God!

What about YOU? How will you celebrate the Reformation and teach its truths to your children this year?

A Bit about Me...

Thought this would be fun...saw it here.

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while your blogging?
I LOVE coffee...especially with flavored creamer and one Splenda. A steamy cup is usually next to me while blogging!

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
Other than Jesus, my Bible and my sweet fam...I would have to say index cards! I use them CONSTANTLY to memorize Scripture, to teach my boys and even to write names of those I am praying for!

3. Beach, Mountains or farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
I am a beach girl through and through...but lately my country boy and I have pondered farm living more and more...

4. What is your least fav chore/ household duty?
Definately cleaning the showers!! They are so big and there is just too much physical work involved! I'd rather spend that energy playing with my boys!

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
I have been told many different things...not all good!! heehee! But my favorite is when people say I look like Jesus in the way I act or serve in a particular instance! Praise Him (Matt 5:16)!!

6.Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?
I love my man and my boys and unless I am off to dig into God's Word with someone, I DEFINATELY prefer to be home with my guys!!

7. What is your all time favorite movie?
hmmm...I am not much for movies, but I did love Family Man and Fireproof, all time fav might be Snow White, though...

8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
I was trained well by my mama and I remove my make-up every night...otherwise I pay for it in the morning by way of an ugly spot!

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something you never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I can still touch my nose with my big toe (why would anyone care? I have no idea!!)...I would LOVE to learn the biblical Hebrew and Greek languages (would be much more helpful than touching my nose to my toe!)

10. What is one strange thing you are really good at?
(besides nose touching?) I am detail-oriented and can visualize most things in my mind after reading them...helps with Scripture memorization!

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
I flat out thought he was hot! He reminded me of Tim McGraw...I still think he looks a lot like him!

12. What is something you love to smell?
I know this is weird, but I LOVE the scent of my Bible!

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I do not answer the phone during the day when i'm homeschooling...sorry for those who leave messages all the time!

14. When you have extra money what is the first thing you think to do with it?
Buy commentaries and word study dictionaries...exciting right?

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
I think I am a loud laugher...at least out loud. My boys' and the funny things they do and say make me laugh the hardest! What did I do before kids?! heehee

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
I LOVE bookstores...especially old, used bookstores with rare books...I even love the scent of them!

17. What's one thing you'd do more often, if you had more time?
I praise God for the gift of homeschooling my boys and getting to spend much of our time together, reading, cuddling and chatting...so if I did have more time I think I would spend it all with my boys and my man!

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
I LOVE a bargain! I love yard sales, thrift shops and rummage sales!

19. What is your favorite story character of all time?
I LOVE Cinderella...what a beautiful picture of us and Jesus!

20. Would you want to be famous?
Only as a Jesus serving woman in my family line!


I'd love to see your answers, too, on your blogs or in the comments!!

But what about...?

The other morning, I had run into Target to grab ONE thing! Yeah right. You know how that goes!! Well, my youngest son had been saving his money for a special toy that he finally found there at Target. He asked if he could buy it and I said yes...I was actually excited FOR him! Well, then my oldest...who has not had anything specifically in mind said, "What about me?"

Immediately I thought, well just because HE got something does not mean YOU have to get something. Did I just hear my mother in my own head? Yikes.

My thoughts went back to the instance in Scripture where Jesus, speaking to Peter, says "Follow Me" and it's as if Peter looks around and responds with "Lord, what about him?" pointing to John. Jesus must have felt like I did that day at Target and like most mamas do at one point or another...Why should he have any bearing on you, Peter? You are different people with different callings and I have a plan for YOU and one for HIM.

Well, as I have been meditating on Psalm 37:7, the Lord has used the second part of this verse to bring to my own mind the times I look around and say "What about them, Lord? Why do they get a raise when we get laid off? Why do they get to move but we have to stay? Why do they get away with that while we get disciplined for less?"

Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways , when they carry out their wicked schemes."

The Lord's command here is not only to be still and wait patiently but also to NOT FRET WHEN men succeed in their ways. The Lord is not only telling US to not fret about it, but He is affirming that men WILL succeed in their ways and you WILL want to point the finger and say "Lord what about them?"

See, Peter's issue, is often my issue...Jesus says FOLLOW ME. That in itself requires sacrifice, dying to self and a host of other "flesh killers". So we point to someone we think is getting away with something and wondering 'how come THEY don't have to follow Him so strictly?' What Psalm 37 is teaching us though, is that to follow Him IS a blessing. It is telling us that we CAN trust Jesus when He says 'Do Not Fret...yes, others will succeed and carry out their wicked schemes even, but YOU will be blessed to follow Me.' The intimacy of a relationship with a God who says, "I want our relationship to be right and intimate."

So I am trusting Him today...whether or not I SEE the blessing, I am trusting that walking closely with my Jesus IS the blessing! Thank you, Father, for being strict with me and keeping me focused on You alone!

Restful Dancing

If we open ourselves to having teachable hearts, we can often learn much from watching children. When they have been loved on and care for well, they have such trusting hearts and they are full of joy.

As I began digging into the first half of Psalm 37:7 this week, I was taken back to my own childhood as I pondered the Hebrew meaning of this verse. The verse is translated, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him." The original word for 'rest' is damam which means to be silent, still motionless, it is the absence of emotional distress and churning and the ability to be quiet and relax. What a peaceful thought! Just be quiet and relax before Jesus...

Now, the next phrase carries quite a different meaning. It is translated 'wait patiently', which seems similar in the English, but the original word hiyl means to whirl, shake, dance, to wait anxiously and tremble in worship. Intersting, huh? It is nearly a polar opposite, until you look to the little girl in her new 'twirly' skirt...

She floats around the room to the sound of the music in her own head. She twirls and spins with joy as she has not a care in the world. Her Father loves her and delights in her. He carries all her concerns for her; therefore she is free to dance.

Your Heavenly Father loves you. He delights in you and carries all your burdens. (1 Peter 5:7)...you and I are free to dance in worship before the One who watches over us with joy today!

What a Masterpiece!

"What have you done today that only a Christian would do?" ~Corrie Ten Boom


Folding laundry, washing dishes, wiping the counter for the fortieth time....tying shoes, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and listening to a six-year old read a Clifford book do not sound like very noble activities. Yet Ephesians 2:10 teaches us

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

As my Bible study ladies and I have been meditating on that passage this week, I have pondered the good "deeds" I do as a wife and mother. Corrie Ten Boom's quote is a great reminder, but can be a stretch for me some days. Being a mother is a noble calling in itself, no doubt. But the daily, mundane tasks can certainly leave one feeling a bit forgotten...unimportant. Do you find yourself in the same shuffle...whether you are a mother, a wife, or an employee? Unfortunately we then tend to search for fulfillment elsewhere...TV, in another person, food, too much time on the computer...

Thankfully our Savior (who has not only chosen to save our souls but also our day!) has provided a remedy. He reminds us we are HIS workmanship. The original word used here is the Greek word "poima" which means masterpiece, poem and work of art. That means YOU! Those who are created in Christ Jesus as followers of the Lord Jesus, are a masterpiece of the Creator God.

But just as a priceless masterpiece hanging in a museum points to the creativity of its artist, you and I were created to point to our Creator's creativity through good works which He prepared for us even before we were born! He has a plan for HOW you and I are to display Him to others. The original word translated 'good' is the Greek word 'agathos' meaning benevolent, profitable, useful. Beginning in our own homes, familes and spheres of influence we are to serve with works that are benevolent, profitable and useful to those around us.

'Agathos' underscores the beneficial properties of something and represents something as being advantageous to another, promoting his welfare. Who are you and I promoting? Though we are continually reminded by this world and by our own selfish flesh to promote self...we are called to decrease as we cause Christ to increase. The choices we make each day...our attitude and our activities are to promote Christ alone.

As we fold clothes, wash dishes and read with a child we can promote Christ with joyfulness and thankfulness for His MANY blessings; we can serve our families without complaining and arguing. We can seek to promote Christ as He calls us to use our gifts in our spheres of influence without looking for applause and approval of man, but responding to a Father's call to promote His Son so the lost might be found and Christ might be glorified in all we do. THEN we will be living out those good works HE planned in advance for us to do and looking like true works of art!

Knowing Him

When you meet someone, how long does it take before you begin to trust them? What must they do to gain your trust?

I have never been a very trusting person. Call it discernment or a messy childhood...either way, it takes a while for me to give my heart to trusting someone.

When I met Jesus, it was not much different. I saw my immediate need for a Savior and willingly sought His salvation. But over the years, it has taken experience for me to come to the place of fully trusting Him with EVERY area He reveals to me. I am certain there is more to come, but thus far He has brought me to a place of surrender in several (at times very difficult) areas of my heart. How does He get me there? By continually revealing Himself to me...who He is, the essence and character behind His ways.

Psalm 9:10 says, "Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You."

The Word God choose to use here to describe the kind of 'knowing' He desires of us is the word 'yada' in the Hebrew. It is a word used of an intimate knowledge, a sexual knowledge as a man knows his wife. God knows that as we inimately come to know His names (which reveal His character and purpose) we will trust Him. He even goes on in this verse to assure us of His promise to NEVER forsake those who seek Him.

What in your life is currently in need of some stability? Your job? Your family situation? Your marriage? Your health? The One True living God is extending Himself to us and offering for us to know His name so intimately that we can fully rely on it without hesitation. We must be willing to dig in and seek Him earnestly. Are you willing?