She Speaks: Four Questions, Answered.

Chatty Kelly asked us to share what we learned at She Speaks 2011. It's been a week -- and I'm still sifting through the information, trying to figure everything out. This was definitely the most information packed weekend I've ever experienced... Now put that in context: I went to law school, studied for and passed the bar exam! I never would have guessed a weekend at a Christian women's speaker conference could be more informative. That's dedication. I can't thank Lysa or the team enough... Now to those questions:

1. What was the best advice you got at She Speaks?

Share your story! God gave you a unique story that only you can share. Don't be afraid to share it. In our speaker evaluation groups, it was almost comical how similar some of our topics were. We spoke on the same scripture, but each lesson was unique. So cool to experience!

2. What was the best lesson you learned in a session?

The one thing that stands out most is humor is a great tool for writers and speakers. Jenny B. Jones shared how she uses humor in a pre-conference session and throughout the rest of the weekend, I was more aware of the effect of humor in a variety of situations. Especially with heavy topics, humor offers a release from the tension. Loved that advice! (Learned so much more this question was hard to answer!)

3. What are you going to do with what you learned/what is your next goal?

Since coming home, I made contacts with some people to let them know I would like to speak at their events. I'll be speaking at MOPS this fall and have another engagement already in the works. Now, to develop those talks so they shine God's glory even more!

4. Anything else you want to share (good, bad or ugly)?

Soooo.... Friday night, we shared our testimonies. My problem? I tried to fit "my story" into Andy Stanley's formula -- in three minutes! Unfortunately, I took out most of me. It didn't flow from my heart, but was forced. (My dear husband identified the problem the night before I left, "What are you doing? That doesn't sound like you at all.") I tried to patch it back together, but... well... We can learn from mistakes, too. Right? Saturday night, I recovered somewhat, thanks to God and a supportive prayer from Melissa Taylor. It never was quite me, but it "felt" better and flowed more smoothly. From now on, I'll take Andy Stanley or anyone else's advice, but I will NOT allow it to change who God made me to be! Just improve who He made me! 

Still amazed. Always thankful!

It's a Contest

Hey all,

My sweet friend, Leigh, posted an entry about life's detours at her blog today. Thought you might enjoy it. Please stop by -- http://leighfrance.com/blog/?p=235

And, if you stop by today, she's having a contest. Check it out! Great prize! :)

Love,

Reflections on She Speaks

I've been home from the She Speaks conference since Sunday. What did I learn? How did I grow? What was my take-away? Great questions, every one. But I have no answers. Not yet.

You know the story of Jesus with the woman at the well? The Pharisees wanted to condemn her. Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." The next verse says, "And he stooped down and wrote on the ground." (John 8:7-8). I've heard this passage in sermons often through the years, always focused on sin and judging others.

This morning, though, I am struck by the last half. "He stooped down and wrote on the ground." He didn't point fingers. He didn't lecture and reprimand. He wasn't hurried or rushed. He stooped down. He wrote. He waited. Patiently. Even though the Pharisees did not deserve his patience. Even though, technically, the woman DID deserve the punishment. He wrote. Patiently.

That image is caught in my head. My Lord, who knows all my faults -- every punishment I deserve and every stone I throw. He waits. Patiently. Until I understand.

Grace. This story -- not even shared at the conference (at least not in any session I attended) -- is my heart's takeaway. My Lord, Jesus, loves me. When I'm casting stones. When I sin. When I doubt. When I procrastinate. When I'm overzealous. He loves me.

Lord Jesus, fill me with your grace. Help me extend grace to others like you did for the woman at the well. Fill me with purpose to reach others with your message of love, grace and forgiveness. In your precious name I pray. Amen

**Maybe someday I'll share specific things I learned. Today, I share my heart.**

Choose Change

Today, I'm guest posting over at Encouragement Cafe. To visit there, click here. But first...

When we moved to North Carolina, I spiraled into the deepest depression I'd ever known. Though I had given up on myself, my husband never gave up on me. He pursued God on both our behalfs. One Sunday, I begged him not to go to church, just to stay home. With me. He stayed. The next week, I went.

The pastor, known since that day as "my" pastor, explained that the church is hope for the hopeless. He challenged them to love with the hands and feet of Jesus. The sweet people of that church, known since that day as "my" church, loved me exactly like that. They reached out.

I reached back.

They dropped a lifeline into my pit.

I grabbed hold and pulled up.

Love's redemption. The broken person comes into the church, gets loved on... and then...

Some grow. Like me. We grab hold of the rope. We choose change. Lives transformed by the love of God.

Some don't grow. The rope hangs down. But the hopeless sit at the bottom of the pit, refusing to grab it. Refusing to choose change. Eventually, they're left in a pit filled with ropes dropped as people tire of holding them out.

That hopeless person asks: "Why am I still here?" "Why am I all alone?" "Why isn't the church helping me?" She never realizes that someone was there -- offering help. Offering hope. She never realizes that she didn't choose change... or that the helpers gave up. Exhausted.

Psalm 18:29 says, "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall." With help. With God. That's how it works. Not them helping me, but all of us working together. Then, I -- hopeless no more -- can scale a wall.

If you feel like you're all alone, won't you grab hold? Take that rope. Choose change.

• Serve others by joining a ministry team.
• Connect with others through small groups.
• Volunteer at the homeless shelter and give your time to those less fortunate than you.
• Read the Bible (James is a great place to start).
• Pray -- Praise -- Pray.
• Count your blessings, one by one. 

Grab a rope. Get out! It's up to you. Will you choose change?

Where does the time go?

When summer began, six long weeks ago, I hoped to accomplish much. The goal: get it done early and relax. Put the office together and get it organized. Finally. A place for everything and everything in its place. Today, there's beautiful furniture in the office. And boxes and boxes and boxes of papers. Stacked everywhere. Half done. I know it's there, but I shut the door. If I don't peek inside, I won't have to finish it. Right?

Can you relate? (Oh, Please tell me I'm not the only one!)

Maybe you've been meaning to organize your laundry room or pantry -- so you can find things more easily? Maybe your summer plan included doing more with the kids, but you've fallen into the same rut you do every summer, letting the days slip away unnoticed? Maybe you've been meaning to spend quality time with God every morning -- you know it will help you grow, but for some reason (or no reason), it just doesn't happen?

Time.

It's the one gift God gives that can't grow. Faith grows if we trust in Him. Wisdom grows as we gain knowledge and understanding. Trust grows when we face our fears in God's confidence. But not time.  Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence." Time is the one gift God gives that can't grow.

Job faced trials beyond anyone's imagining, losing his entire family, his riches, his health. Yet he understood time. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!" (Job 1:21). Job understood that life is not about what we gain here on earth. It's not about our pain or sorrow. Our lives, the good and the bad, are meant to be used to praise God. Plain and simple. Live for God -- every day that you have. Because when it's all said and done, that's all we really have: The life that God gives.

Time. The one gift God gives that can't grow.

My office waits. I know that organizing those papers will help me use the time I have more effectively. I know that each day with my kids means one day less to spend with them. I know that each day I don't spend with God means one day less to learn all the incredible truths He has just for me.

Yet I sit in my jammies -- it's 9:30 a.m. -- waiting for the day to begin.

Time.

Dear Lord, help me understand this precious gift you have given. Help me choose to invest my time in the things that matter to you. Order my days, guide my steps. Help me become like Job -- praising you through all the ups and downs. Rejoicing in YOU regardless of what the day looks like. Help me remember this precious gift of time and help me use it wisely. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen

American "Idol" (Part Five)

Genesis 22: 6-8 says, "Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
   “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
   “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together."

If you've been following the American "Idol" posts all week, Abraham's trust in God has been a central theme. Over time, Abraham's faith grew. He learned to trust God with all his heart. When God decided to "test" him (Gen. 22:1), Abraham was ready.

These verses take it a step further. They show us Isaac's trust. No doubt, Isaac had witnessed many burnt offerings sacrificed before God during his young life. He knew they needed a sacrificial lamb. Can you see it? They're climbing a mountain, carrying all the wood they need for the sacrifice. They're carrying the fire. Up the mountain. Without the sacrificial lamb.

Isaac had a choice. He could have asked sarcastically, "Dude, ummmm.... I think you forgot a little something. No big deal or anything, but when we offer sacrifices to God we use a lamb. And... well.... I think your old age is catching up with you, cuz you forgot!" He could have done that, but he didn't.

He could have rebelled. "Dad, seriously? You want me to climb that mountain without a lamb. And you want me to carry all that wood. Forget it. I'm. Not. Going." Maybe he could have added that famous kid line, "And you can't make me." But he didn't.

Isaac took the wood. He climbed alongside his dad. He asked about the lamb. Then he was done. Obeying, trusting. Why?

Look back at Abraham's life. Abraham trusted and obeyed God. Sure, he made mistakes along the way, but he learned from them. By the time Isaac was born, trusting God was natural for Abraham -- just a part of the way he does life. And his son had the front row seat! Isaac could trust his dad, because his dad trusted God.

This is the hard part: We want our kids to trust God -- even though we don't. We worry about disease, accidents, and kidnapping. We stress out over finances and the house we live in. We fight with our spouse, both struggling for control. We want our kids to trust God -- but we don't. Hypocrites!

Abraham trusted God -- with everything. Even his son's life! In turn, Isaac trusted his dad. When he grew up, it's clear he trusted God too.

What will you do? Trust God, so your kids will trust him too? Or hold on for dear life -- and keep them from learning to trust? It's up to you.

Genesis 22:9-12: "When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
   “Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”


Dear God, Help us trust you with our kids. Help us trust you with our finances, our marriage, our jobs... everything. Help us learn from Abraham -- and live like he did, walking closely with you. Reading your Word. Praying. Fellowshipping. When the fear creeps up, help us turn to you and let go of the fear. We love you, God. Help us show it more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

To read these posts from the beginning, go to American "Idol" (Part One).

American "Idol" (Part Four)

photo © 2008 Pen Waggener | more info (via: Wylio)
Genesis 22:4-5 says, "On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”


For those of us who battle to trust God, whether with our children, work, finances, or relationships, this passage demonstrates how strong our faith in God can be when we choose to trust him. 


Abraham kept going -- right on up that mountain -- Isaac in tow. No worry. No fear. He says, "We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham's confidence in God's provision was absolute! He didn't send the servants off to search for a ram -- to help God out. He didn't bring a servant along to take Isaac's place, just in case.


How different Abraham's actions were compared to those of us who doubt.

On date night, we hire a sitter, but then check in 20 times just to make sure the kids are okay. We skip out on the tithe to have money for emergencies. We install security alarms on the doors -- and deadbolts -- and flood lights. And still, we're scared of the dark.

Abraham trusted. Absolutely. Completely. We can too.

It comes back to the choice I talked about in the last post: Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

If you struggle to trust God with some part of your life, what's holding you back? What can you do that God can't do? I'm not being smart. I'm asking seriously. If you're afraid of something -- is it too big for God?

Consider the same question Abraham did, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Ready for the "funny coincidence?" Abraham and Sarah were asked this question BY GOD when they got the news that they would one day have their son, Isaac. See? God tested Abraham's trust for the birth of his son. Abraham grew closer to God through that experience. When it finally came time to trust God with the "sacrifice" of Isaac, Abraham had already learned that God is trustworthy.

If you struggle to trust, look back. When has God shown himself trustworthy to you before. Go ahead, make a list. Thank Him for every provision he has ever given: a friend when you were crying, unexpected funds when your checkbook was empty, a kind word when you were hurting... What is it? What has he done for you already?

When you finish your list, thank God for all he has done. Then ask him to help you trust him more. With everything.

To continue reading this series, go to American Idol (Part Five).

American "Idol" (Part Three)

photo © 2007 D.A.K. Photography | more info (via: Wylio)
Genesis 22:2-3 says, "Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 

Isaac was born to Abraham at the ripe old age of 100. Abraham's wife, Sarah, was 90. They had longed for a child for decades. Not years. Decades! After waiting all those years, Abraham and Sarah must surely have treasured Isaac, the child their hearts had longed for. Yet, when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his son whom he loves, as a burnt offering, Abraham did not hesitate. Scripture says, "Early the next morning... Abraham got up and loaded his donkey." 

How could Abraham do this? Why didn't he argue with God? Going back to verse 1, we discover God's motive: He was testing Abraham. God was testing Abraham's heart, how much he trusted God. Surely, Abraham would do anything for his beloved son. No doubt, if needed, he would have died in Isaac's place (that's my opinion -- based on my own experience as a mom). Our love for our children is so great that most would do anything, including give up our lives, for them. Abraham didn't ask God to trade places, though. God told him to go. He told him to sacrifice Isaac. Immediately, Abraham took Isaac and went.

When I first became a mom, I hovered. Nothing touched my son's lips that wasn't pure and healthy. He ate plain yogurt, pureed fruits and veggies without preservatives. He always had a clean, fresh blanket to play on. And I washed his toys regularly -- vigorously! We never missed a doctor's appointment. I never missed a hiccup, a sneeze, or a whimper. 


While laboring with my second son, the doctor told me I could push. I asked her to wait a minute and called my firstborn to tell him good-night and that I love him. Yes. I was the quintessential overprotective mom!


Can you tell that I did not trust God with my kids' lives? Do you see how I worried, fussed, protected and hovered to keep them safe? Parenting that way wore me out -- and wore my nerves thin. No mom can be everything to her kids. No mom can protect her kids from every speck of dirt or bump or bruise. But I sure did try.


Maybe you can relate? He's got a cough -- it's getting worse -- should I rush him to the E.R.? Maybe you research the best baby toys and books and play classical music. Maybe you obsess about whether to watch TV or not. Or which kids to play with on the playground. 


Maybe your kids are older, and you agonize about friendships -- the ones they should have but don't or the ones they have but shouldn't. Or school? Clubs? Activities? Sports?

Luke 12:25-28 (MSG) says, "Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance--but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even see, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"

For you? Do you realize God will do his best for you? He loves you. He loves your kids too. Read about it in Psalm 139:13-18:

For you created my inmost being; 
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
   your works are wonderful, 
   I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you 
   when I was made in the secret place, 
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
   before one of them came to be. 
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! 
   How vast is the sum of them! 
Were I to count them, 
   they would outnumber the grains of sand— 
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Back to Abraham... He set off to Moriah with Isaac, no fear. No questions. No worries. He understood that Isaac's life came from God, just like his.

If it's hard for you to trust God with your kids' lives, pray. Ask for understanding and peace. He created your child, ordained your child's life, and loves your child. More than you can. Ask him to help you trust. Give your kids to him -- and your fears, too.

When the fears and over-protectiveness creep back in, give it all back again. And again. And again. Until you have the faith of Abraham.

To read this series from the beginning, please go to American Idol (Part One). To continue to the next post, please go to American Idol (Part Four).

American "Idol" (Part Two)

photo © 2007 Daniel Catt | more info (via: Wylio)

We can learn a lot about trusting God with our parenting from Abraham and Isaac.


Genesis 22:1 says, "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

   “Here I am,” he replied.

God called out to Abraham, and Abraham responded immediately. God called. Abraham responded. Why? Because they are close friends. Abraham's heart was full of love for God.

Most of my life, I wasn't that close to God. I was saved. There were even seasons of closeness. But there were also times when God called and I just didn't hear him. It was like our friendship had slipped away -- not because of him, but because of me. I didn't make time for God. And what happened? I became fearful for my kids. I worried about everything -- even whether I could survive a trip to the grocery store. I got depressed, badly enough that I wouldn't get out of bed to shower or care for my young children. Life seemed so hard. But, that was my choice. Not God's plan.

How about you? What's your relationship with God? Do you respond immediately when He calls, like Abraham? Or does your life look more like mine did -- full of fear, loneliness and worry -- because you don't hear God's whisper of love every day?

In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." God's desire is for our lives to be filled with fruit. When we love others in the love of Christ, they can discover a relationship with him, too. We walk confidently through the storms of life (finances, health, relationships), and others see our strong faith and become curious enough to check it out for themselves.

When we walk in fear -- unwilling to trust God with our kids' lives, our finances, our health, or whatever, we ignore him. We don't hear his voice calling. We don't respond. Life gets hard. No fruit.

We have a choice: Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

Choosing Christ means:
1. Giving our fears to him -- even if we have to do it again and again, we keep trying until we finally hand them over and let him keep carrying them. It doesn't matter what our fears are, finances, relationships, job, or KIDS! First Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on me, for I care for you." Jesus died on that cross so that we could live forgiven AND free from worry -- because we know how the story ends. Heaven! Rejoicing! PARTY!

2. Shining our light for others -- When Jesus carries our fears, it frees us from the burden of worry. We can "rejoice in the Lord always." (Phil. 4:4) We don't rejoice in our circumstances -- whether they be good or bad. We rejoice IN THE LORD True joy is not found in what we have in this lifetime, it is found in our eternal relationship with Jesus. Again -- we are forgiven, Jesus carries our burdens, and we know how the story ends. It's up to us to live FOR JESUS so others can know Him too!

If you, like I did, face fears, pray to God. Ask Him to fill you with His love -- to the deepest corners of your heart. Ask Him to help you remember that Jesus died so you don't have to live in fear or worry. Ask Him to help you grow in trust -- and see Him more and more each day. You have a choice: walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

Wouldn't it be nice to know God the way Abraham did? He calls. We answer. Immediately.

The story continues at American "Idol" (Part 3).

American "Idol" (Part One)

The U.S. has an obsession with "stars." American Idol, SYTYCD, and The Voice fill our TV screens with "star" wannabes. And we watch! Scotty McCreery, the most recent AI winner, is from our area -- his house is about 20 minutes away from mine. AI mania struck our region hard: Scotty news reports, Scotty banners and billboards throughout the community, facebook status updates all about him... AI was "IT."

Personally, I'm not an AI fan -- though we did watch the last couple shows. You know, Christian local hits the big time... It was hard to resist. I pray for him, specifically that God will guide him and his family as he adjusts to his new stardom. His parents are invested in his dream, supporting him -- and from all I hear on the news, helping him stay grounded.

Not all parents see their kids make it to the big stage, whether in music, dance or sports. Most kids participate at a local level and never go further. And that's okay. Except...

Often, music, dance or sports become the center of family living. A full 25% of the American population eats drive-thru fast food for dinner each night. Why? We're running from work to soccer to baseball to whatever else the kids have going on. Kids do homework in the car while we multi-task on our cell phones, juggling more than we ever should. Arriving home late in the evening, parents finish up homework there just wasn't time to do and everyone falls into bed. Exhausted.

Family finances are in shambles -- so much money invested in kids' activities that both parents need to work just to keep up. Marriages crumble -- with everything invested in the kids, parents have no time to connect with each other; the marriage relationship gives way to the parenting role. Husband and wife look at each other and wonder, "Do I know you?" Teens raise themselves -- so caught up in activity and skill building, parents sacrifice relational building with their kids. Parents and teens, strangers in the same house. The teens turn to friends, the internet and television to be their compass -- and then parents wonder why their kid is pregnant at 17, or self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, or isolated in their bedroom. Putting kids first kills the family.

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham. He told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar. Abraham never questioned God's plan for Isaac's life. Abraham understood that Isaac was a gift from God -- and that God had a plan for Isaac. Abraham's faith in God was strong and secure -- He passed the test. God sent a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place. No doubt, Abraham and Isaac's strong faith was strengthened even more that day.

I wonder what would happen to fast food in America. I wonder what would happen in our schools if kids weren't so tired. I wonder what would happen to the divorce rate if we put God first -- and activities second. When we idolize our kids, giving them everything without first asking God if that's His plan, we can't have the same peace that Abraham did. I wonder...

Father God,
Remind me ALWAYS to seek your will for my family. Remind me to look to you first before deciding my kids need this or that. Help us keep our priorities straight: Your kingdom first, our family second. I desire the peace of Abraham as I raise my kids. Please help me be strong enough to say no when I should. 
In the precious name of your Son, Jesus,
Amen


To read more, please go to American Idol (Part Two).
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1 Timothy 4:12 (Part Two)

Have you been waiting? Patiently? To find out what Nathan did that made the camp thing seem small?

Without further ado, here it is (please laugh at the appropriate times!):

After camp ended Wednesday, we came home exhausted. Camp was awesome and several kids accepted Jesus into their hearts for the first time! We couldn't possibly ask for more! While my kids were off relaxing, I logged onto my facebook account...

Get ready -- this is the ironic part where you get to laugh at me. It's okay. I'm tough. I can take it.

...to post on Nathan's wall how proud of him I was.

photo © 2010 Asthma Helper | more info (via: Wylio)
YEP! My kid was upstairs in his bedroom and rather than climb the stairs to talk face to face, I chose to post it on his wall. Duh!

Except... His wall wasn't there.

You see, during camp, God showed Nathan the value of friendships. He showed Nathan how distracting facebook can be. You know how it is: the phone buzzes or the email dings -- whatever -- and like moths to flame, we are drawn to see who said what. Then we get sucked into the abyss -- lost on facebook for hours. No food. No bathroom breaks.

I yelled up the stairs, "Hey Nathe, what's wrong with your facebook page?" (You may laugh again -- I still did not share my compliments with him.)

He came downstairs, light-hearted. "Oh, I deleted it." Like it was no big deal. Seriously!

WHATTTTT?????

He clearly interpreted my surprise and added, "Mom, facebook has been eating up my time, keeping me from doing school well, practicing piano, or even watching movies with the family. I was way too caught up in it and God has bigger plans for my life. Besides, I can text with all my real friends whenever I want."

WHOA!!!

How about you? Does facebook steal your time? Is it keeping you from God's best plan for your life? Is it keeping you from real relationships with people you know and love?

I'm not attacking facebook here. But, I am learning from this wonderful young man that life is short. It's precious. Friendships are real. They should be treasured. And maybe, just maybe, facebook is getting in the way of that. If a TEENAGER can walk away from facebook, maybe some of the rest of us should too! (I'm still undecided, by the way... but I am building in some firmer boundaries.)

Lots of love!

1 Timothy 4:12 (Part One)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.

Be an example to all believers in what you say,

in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Nathan, my 17 year old son, had the incredible opportunity to share the large group teaching at our kids’ church camp this week. He spoke eight times, each lesson better than the one before. My heart burst with pride watching him.

It wasn’t really the message he shared that spoke to my heart -- though he did a great job teaching. Behind the scenes is where he really grabbed me. What the camp kids don’t know is that Nathan prepared for two months to do this. We spoke often about how to handle special situations. “Mom, if they get restless, can I do ?” Or, "Mom, is it okay if I explain this idea this way...?"

The kids don’t know how he wrestled in his own walk with the “logic of Jesus.” He went to God -- struggling to “understand” what can only be received in faith: the miracle of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. He didn’t back down from the tough stuff, but kept going back to God, back to the Word, and back to leaders he trusts -- asking for their input. But the kids don’t know his battle: they just heard him speak confidently about miraculous faith!

The kids don’t know that after each message he shared he asked, “How did I do?” (Great!!!!) “What could I do better?” Every single time. He wanted to give them the very best -- and each suggestion I offered, he used. He grew as a leader this week, because he chose to serve humbly, respectfully and intentionally. His heart was 100% committed to serving those kids.

I'm leaving for a speaker's conference next Thursday -- to further develop my speaking skills. Hopefully, I'll be as humbly receptive to other peoples' input as Nathan. He sure touched my heart!

Believe it or not, Nathan's choices after camp were even more amazing! Tune in tomorrow to find out what he did! May his example challenge you to look higher and serve with more love than you ever have before.

God bless,

Laughter is good for the soul!

Dear friends,
I try to write posts of encouragement, filled with insight... but sometimes, it's just good to laugh!

When we moved to the semi-rural south (more rural than suburban, but not quite the sticks!), my husband expected his medical practice to be a little different. He did not anticipate the extent of the language barrier. One of his first days on the new job, he saw a patient who had "fell out." He kept asking did you fall out of bed? Did you fall out of the car? Each time, she said, "I just fell out." Both of them exasperated, he finally called to his nurse and asked, "What in the world does fell out mean?" The entire office erupted in laughter as she explained that the patient had fainted. We still laugh about it.

A dear friend just sent this medical dictionary to us to help him out... I'm sure he wishes this stuff had been covered in his medical terminology class! Enjoy!!! And if you can think of any to add, please leave a comment!

Blessings and good health!

Artery............................... The study of paintings

Bacteria...........................  Back door to the cafeteria

Barium ............................ What doctors do when patients die

Benign..............................What you be, after you be eight 

Caesarean Section......... A neighborhood in Rome 

Cat scan......................... Searching for Kitty

Cauterize......................... Made eye contact with her

Colic................................ A sheep dog

Coma.............................. A punctuation mark 

Dilate............................... To live long

Enema............................ Not a friend 

Fester............................. Quicker than someone else

Fibula............................. A small lie

Impotent.......................... Distinguished, well known 

Labor Pain..................... Getting hurt at work

Medical Staff.................. A Doctor's cane

Morbid............................ A higher offer 

Nitrates........................... Cheaper than day rates

Node............................... I knew it 

Outpatient...................... A person who has fainted

Pelvis............................. Second cousin to Elvis

Post Operative............... A letter carrier 

Recovery Room............. Place to do upholstery

Rectum........................... Dang near killed him

Secretion........................ Hiding something

Seizure.......................... Roman emperor

Tablet............................ A small table

Terminal Illness ............. Getting sick at the airport

Tumor............................ One plus one more

Urine.............................. Opposite of you're out

I searched this list online, and am not certain of its origin. Giving credit here: http://www.michaelclark.name/jokes/rednecks/redneck_medical_dictionary.shtml

Birds Eye View

photo © 2009 David Fulmer | more info (via: Wylio)

My recent experience with rush hour driving has taught me a lot! One day as we drove across the overpass bridge to get to the on-ramp, we saw that traffic was backed up as far as we could see. Quick! Alternate route needed!

I hit the "detour" button on the GPS, which instructed me to take Highway 50 -- that was a quarter mile behind us, so it meant turning around. I gazed over at Ben, anxious that he'd be late to golf camp but working hard not to be mad about it, and said, "Dude, I'm not taking 50. Trust me, okay? We're going up Route 42. It's gonna work out."

"Okay, Mom." His white knuckles didn't match his words, but I sure appreciated his effort.

Traffic headed toward 42 was heavy, but moving. We got there in only three light cycles -- not too bad. I turned on the radio to catch the local morning traffic report, just in time to hear, "Traffic out of Johnston County is slow going." Blah blah blah highway parking lot... "And there's a wreck on Highway 50 northbound slowing the alternate route as well." The reporter said to relax and take our time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ben glancing at the speedometer. In my head, I said, "Yep. Speed limit. Apparently they don't know about this route." But I didn't say anything. He was working through his worry his way.

We made it to golf camp -- with a whole minute to spare! As he got out, I told him how proud I was that he stayed calm. "Thanks, Mom." And off he went.

Driving home, I thought about that bridge. Had we not had a birds eye view of traffic, we would have been stuck in that mess. I thought about my quick decision to take Hwy 42 instead of the GPS suggested route -- after a silently offered prayer of "Which way, God?"

Then I realized, God's always got the bird's eye view. He knows which way I should go -- not just when I'm driving, but when I'm parenting, serving, working, writing... even when I'm shopping. That plan of His -- Jeremiah 29:11 -- is meant for every moment of my day. I, too, can have a bird's eye view, if I just stop and pray, "Which way, God? Which way?"

Repaying kindness with... UNgratefulness?

http://www.ehow.com/info_8273543_duties-cupbearer.html

Joseph interpreted a dream for Pharaoh's cup bearer while they were imprisoned together -- telling him he would be restored to his position in three days. Joseph then humbly requested, "When all goes well for you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison." (Gen. 40, 40:14) The cup bearer forgot. Really? How could he do such a thing? So ungrateful.

Every time I've read that passage before, that's what I focused on... the ungrateful cup bearer.

Before reading it again today, I asked God to give me new understanding of the familiar story. Boy, did He deliver! It's easy to read the Bible as a storybook: Joseph interpreted a dream. The cup bearer got out of prison. The cup bearer forgot about Joseph. Bad cupbearer.

But the Bible's not all about stories. It's about hearts. It's God's inspired word -- recorded and preserved to help us understand Him better. To help us understand how to live for Him.

As I read the passage today, questions swirled in my head: Why did the cup bearer forget? What lesson is there in this for me? The passage doesn't actually record why the cup bearer forgot, but we can make an educated guess based on the circumstances.

Maybe he was selfish. Concerned about his dream, he was happy to "entertain" Joseph. Once he got what he wanted, though, he didn't give Joseph another thought even though they were imprisoned together.

Have you ever had the opportunity to share the message of hope in Christ with someone but opted not to because it was inconvenient? Maybe God nudged your heart to invite the store clerk to church, but because of your busy schedule, you clamped that mouth shut and spoke nothing? I know God has nudged me a few times -- more than a few -- and I've not obeyed. Too busy. Another day.

Maybe he was afraid. After all, Pharaoh had already shown he was willing to throw his "trusted advisor" the cup bearer in prison. Who's to say Pharaoh wouldn't do it again? Maybe the cup bearer decided sticking his neck out for Joseph wasn't worth the risk of going back to prison. If I were the cup bearer, I might well walk on egg shells around Pharaoh out of fear of his retribution.

Have you ever had the opportunity to share the salvation message with someone and chickened out because you were afraid they'd reject you? Yep. We want people to like us. We don't want them to toss us out.

Maybe he was intimidated. The cup bearer's release came at the same time as the chief baker's beheading. WHOA! I'm not sure about you, but if I saw a colleague beheaded, I'd do anything -- or not do anything -- to end up in the same position.

Or have you ever had an opportunity to share Jesus' love with someone because you felt intimidated? Have you ever thought something like, "There's no way he would ever listen to what I have to say. He's too hard. Too angry. Too far gone." The guy with the tattoos up and down both arms. The angry guy in the black leather.

We'll never know why the cup bearer didn't honor Joseph after getting his help, but we can still learn from him.

We'll never know for sure why the cup bearer didn't repay Joseph's kindness, but still we can learn from him and take a different approach. Instead of acting selfishly, thinking only of ourselves, we can think of all God has done, sending his Son to die on that cross for the redemption of our sins, and share the good news with others. Even when it's inconvenient. We can stop worrying about our own approval ratings and serve the One who loves us -- sharing his message whether we lose friends for doing it or not. And we can stop fearing rejection. Jesus died for that guy you deem too lost -- too far gone. He didn't just die for you.

Let's not be like the ungrateful cup bearer. Let's live differently: Share the gospel with everyone we meet. It just might release them from their own personal prison.

Guest post

Hi friends.
Indulge me please. All summer one of my kids has been working with a tutor to improve his reading and writing skills. The tutor just sent me this story, written by my son... with only a bit of assistance on punctuation.

           "We rolled up to the fifth hole in our clean white golf cart. I looked out over the sparkling green water. I saw the fountain spraying white mist everywhere. I looked at the green and saw that it had a sand trap to the right. The flag was at the front of the oval shaped green by the water. I thought about how I could get across the water.  My six iron would get there if it were land - the ball could roll. My seven iron would hit the ball over the water, but not far enough. I decided to use my five wood. It hits that far and hits high enough. I was the last to hit. No one had gotten over so I lined up, checked my aim, then swung hard and fast. The club made a crisp snap when it struck the ball. I looked up. The ball was over the water then over the green. I looked down and walked away."

I'm one proud mama!

My bags are packed...

I'm ready to go!

Yes, friends, I am running away for three wonderful days and two nights. I leave as soon as I finish this post, shower, write the kids notes from Mommy, eat breakfast, and kiss the gang good-bye.

I'm a little giddy!

And very blessed. Because this guy:

Loves me a whole bunch,

Believes that the desires of my heart are important,

Looks forward to quality time with the kids,

and

Cleaned out the car so I can travel in "luxury."

And this guy:

Skipped out on the pool yesterday,

To clean the kitchen,

The bathrooms,

Vacuum and dust -- even the stairs,

So that I can go without worrying about the house.

Who says teens are selfish?

And these two:

Promised to get along while I'm gone.

And that's no small feat.

So, I'm off to the beach, to write, pray, read God's word and prepare for the She Speaks conference that starts in just two weeks. I think I'll miss these people just a bit... They are the heart of my dreams!

Would you join us and pray for clarity, wisdom, and God's plan to be clear? Thanks!

Love,

Sweet Surprise!

This morning after a fun-filled and somewhat hectic July 4th weekend, I took the kids to the pool. I figured a couple hours of freedom would be nice -- and maybe wear them out a little.

We got to the pool, and as we lugged towels, sunscreen and cooler through the gate, I heard, "Karen Dawkins?" from a familiar, sweet voice. Not so much a question, more the sound of pleasant surprise. I looked over and saw a dear friend at "my" pool.

As it is in life, our lives went different directions and we hadn't seen each other since -- though we kept in touch by facebook. I never would have expected to see her there. But there she was. Joyful reunion.

We laughed. We talked. We understood things without words being said.

I left encouraged for what lies ahead. Energized.

Thank You, God, for this special surprise. Thank You for time with a dear friend -- what I needed the moment I needed it most. Thank You for the gift of her encouragement. I am truly blessed.

A Princess Birthday Tea Party

We celebrated Ellie's birthday a couple weeks ago. The party was supposed to go one way, with my wonderful men (hubby and sons) serving a sweet dinner tea party for the girls. Then, the guys fell -- one by one -- to a horrible little sickness. Ben started it all the day before the party -- thankfully, just a 12 hour affair. Party day, he cleaned and disinfected the whole house as texts came from his brother and dad that they, too, were sick. Hubby and son were banished to their beds for the day while I took on Rob's role of chief baker. And decorated the house, too!

YAY for me!!! The cupcakes turned out great. Pink as could be. And my buttercream, though made with much more mess than Rob's, was delicious. All in all, a huge success.

The girls arrived, one by one, in their best party dresses with their favorite dolls dressed up too. They served tea to their dolls at the coffee table.

I served a "gourmet" dinner of heart shaped peanut butter sandwiches, apple straws and fruit. The sweetest thing happened... They ALL wanted to pray the blessing for dinner. So, we had three special prayers for dinner and Ellie before dinner. Then two more before cupcakes. She's definitely chosen great friends!

After dinner, I thought the girls would play with their dolls more... but alas, you can dress a girl in all the bows in the world, and she's still going to want to play "puppies and bears!" Yes, they ran, screamed and hollered all over the family room. One was the bear, one was the mommy dog, and the other four were puppies. Hilarious!











When all was said and done, Ellie's celebration was perfectly Ellie: a mix of sweet and tomboy! I'm bummed that her dad missed out on it (though he still talks about the noise), but at least it got done! :)

Happy birthday, Princess Ellie. We love you!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

This holiday weekend, we celebrate our 235th birthday as a nation. WOW!!! That's a lot of candles!

We'll celebrate with parades.

photo © 2008 Michael Witzel | more info (via: Wylio)

Cookouts.

photo © 2007 Michael Lehet | more info (via: Wylio)

Fireworks.

photo © 2008 Jeff Golden | more info (via: Wylio)

How about we take some time this year and spend it thanking God?

For freedom. For those who protect our freedom.
For those who have sacrificed it all...

For freedom.

photo © 2011 DVIDSHUB | more info (via: Wylio)

God bless the USA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E