A Challenge

I love being challenged and I hate being challenged. God keeps calling me to higher things and satan keeps putting his foot out and I keep tripping over it because I allow myself to get side-tracked and lazy. Ugh! And God, in His loving and gentle ways shows me grace and mercy and tells me, “Get up daughter, you are equipped to do all that I am calling you to do.” Thank you Lord!

One of these challenges is memorizing His word. Ann at “A Holy Experience” put out the challenge … or maybe I should say God has challenged me through Ann … to memorize His word. A lengthy scripture and this is the one I chose …

2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:2-3, 9-18

"Because what our hearts know by heart fuels our intentions.”

P.S. I have had this little piece written for a couple of weeks because October was supposed to be “Memory Month.” But God in His graciousness has told me what I already know … that every day, every month, all the time is “Memory Month.” I was encouraged … again (yes, sometimes I’m a little slow) … to pick up my sword, which is the Word of God, and get back to memorizing. Here is another little nugget of truth that re-inspired me from “A Holy Experience”…

“In the context of Scripture, our lives make sense. Created by the Creator, we on this globe are made to live out our story within the pages of The Story. And carry The Story throughout the globe.

Because in the Book, we meet the Person of Peace. Become people of peace.

The children read and the cat suns and the leaves fall and the world hurtles and I kneel at the prayer bench, run hand across the page. I reread the verse I underlined in the dawning. Read the one following it.

Then, unannounced, come ones we’ve been memorizing. Ones too we’ve been listening to during mealtimes, playing in the stereo. Others we’ve been meditating on during family prayer.

I’m making my way back into The Story again.

In the midst of domestic disequilibrium and global turmoil, I feel something… like a rock. An island refuge. I close my eyes, settle. I’ve found my place.”

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4)

Baby Cuteness!

Okay, since it's my birthday ... I thought I would share a little of my cute baby-ness! Thanks for indulging me! :)



Me two days old!
















A picture my mom took to compare how big I was with a toy.











The toy, which I still own, and must surely be an antique now ... not me, the toy!


























Just another of me looking caaaa-yuuuuute!

My Birthday!

Today is my birthday and what a great celebration! God is so good to me. Here’s how it went …

• My sweet husband called at 6:30 a.m. to be the first one to wish me “Happy Birthday” and sing to his “precious wife". My heart leaps at the thought of that sweet man that God has gifted me with!
• Several of my dear, sweet, best friends emailed, called and texted me “Happy Birthday!”
• Daughters collaborated making me breakfast in bed and then did a trampoline routine to the tune of … you guessed it … “Happy Birthday!”
• My sister, my parents and my mother-in-love called and sang, “Happy Birthday!”
• We went to a pumpkin patch that the girls have now outgrown (sad), but while we were there, one of my best girlfriends and her family found us and came to hug and hang. I love fall and I love pumpkin patches and I am so looking forward to the one at Mainstay Farm this weekend.
• We had my favorite ice cream from Chik-Fil-A … I know, I am strange, but it’s yummy to me!
• When we got home … a lovely bouquet with an even more precious card from sweetest husband in the world … can’t wait until that man gets home!
• All day the girls said, “No mommy, you pick, it’s your birthday!” and wrote me sweet love notes.
• Oh, and, the day before, I was blessed tremendously at my prayer group, “Arise and Shine,” by my sisters and brother in Christ who were in attendance. They sang, we prayed, had some birthday ganauche and God had some good words for me. He loves me … and you, too!

It was a very, very good day … and it’s not over yet. I get to have birthday week 'cause when awesome hubby gets home, we’ll get to celebrate some more. Cool!

A Slice of Inspiration ...

"May we remember as parents that we are His children, and He is about the business of changing our hearts, of repairing our ruins, of remaking us. And though He has not finished with us, He has placed in our care His children. May He in His grace keep our hearts aflame for these children. May He give us minds like steel traps that we would never be distracted, that we would not forsake our calling. May He, that great Steward, make us faithful stewards of children, the most precious gifts, of which is the kingdom of God."

R. C. Sproul, Jr. "When You Rise Up"

A Slice of Inspiration ...

"God's truth does not change according

to our ability to stomach it."

Flannery O'Connor

More Gifts ....

211. Innocence ... may we, as their parents, protect them ... with great wisdom and discernment ... from the world and its ways as long as it is within our ability to do so!

212. Swinging.
213. Painting.
214. Forts ... building them, playing in them, inventing different ones, sleeping in them ...

215. Learning to write.

216. Trees … "and the trees raise their arms in praise to Him who made them and the willow trees bow at His feet".

217. And the two shall become one (Mark 10:8), rooted in Christ.

218. Camera’s, especially digital ... to capture all that is joy, the "ugly-beautiful", the fun, all that is our life ... our real life.
219. Warm blankets.
220. Crayons.
221. Water … to drink, to wash in, to swim in … living water.
222. Couples weekend away with our Home Team, our spiritual family, full of laughter, jokes, great conversation, lots of junk food, serious breakfast, poker, golf and pedicures.
223. M & M's.

224. Reading great books … like mother, like daughter.

225. Teaching puppies to walk (or is it puppies walking daughters?)

226. Men fighting for our country’s freedom.
227. Paths less traveled ... and we are all the better for it.

228. Climbing vines.

229. Balance … on log bridges … and in life.

230. Puppy love!

231. Funny sayings that come from the mouths of babes ... my latest favorite from youngest daughter ... "Dern shaddit!"
232. Death has no hold on us! Last week, Misty graduated to heaven. I and many others had been praying for her healing on this earth. It was not to be. Her husband, Darren, is walking with God and that faith does not waiver in spite of his earthly loss. God is good, all the time.
233. A clean desk!
234. Flowers ... God's love shown in simple beauty.

235. And, youngest daughter who loves flowers like her mommy does and sees the beauty in them, in spite of the weeds.

236. Girl's focused on the "gift" list ... they took a notepad and pencil without my prompting with us on our latest nature walk. They penciled in their own list as we walked along. Thank you Lord!

(courage!)

237. Hunter husband ...

238. ... and the fact that he is eager to include us on these adventures in spite of the added noise that I'm sure keeps him from his "dinner" mission. :)

239. Girls who love the outdoors and who are brave enough for any other activity Daddy might suggest.

240. Determination.

This Election

As I was praying over this presidential election and the candidates I believe in, God gave me a verse to be praying over them. Join me in praying ...

"May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community (the United States) to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

Numbers 27:16-17