Thankful Thursday #58

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am so excited that my husband and I have celebrated 17 years together. God is the center of our marriage, He is leading us and guiding us. I can't wait to see what He has planned for us in 2010.

2) I am so excited that I got into the ladies Bible study in my area. I was on the waiting list and I've been praying every day! Finally, on Monday, I decided to put it on my planner for 2010 (a step of faith) and the next morning I got the call that I was in! WOOOHOOO! We will be studying the book of Daniel.

3) I am glad to see 2009 end. It was a challenging year for me and my whole family. God was my strength and a present help in times of trouble. God has been my rock and my source of happiness. I am grateful for His presence during 2009. Glad He is walking with me head first into 2010.

4) I am thankful for the special weekend trips I've had with my husband. With six children, finding time to steal away just the two of us is priceless!

5) I am thankful for my writing. It is therapeutic and an amazing outlet for me. Being part of the published world is challenging, ever changing and exciting and I'm glad God called me to write. Looking forward to focusing my energies on my writing in 2010.

Begin With The End

2009 is quickly coming to a close.  For me, I'm glad to end this difficult year and bring in new hope for a new and better 2010.  Regardless of whether your year was great or challenging, it is going to end in just a few days. 

Are you ready to reign in 2010?

Have you set any goals?

To read the rest of this post, hop on over to Titus 2 in Action where I have posted to my Parenting Pointers Column.

Thankful Thursday #57

Due to a hectic holiday schedule, this will be the Thankful Thursday post for 12/17 and 12/24.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my marriage is growing and changing. We are not just standing still, but growing both spiritually and emotionally and physically (I could do without the physical aging!). It's important to stay connected during these times of growth and change.

2) I am thankful for Christ's birth.  My life would be worthless if He hadn't called me into His loving arms.  Praise God for sending His only son so that through Him I would be saved!

3) I am grateful for my family.  During the holiday's it's great to know that I have been given a large and loving family.

4) I am thankful for Christmas break. I hope it will be a time to just hang out as a family and a time for me to get ready for the new year. Proper planning is a must!

5) I am thankful for all of you who leave comments of my blogs. Each comment is a treasure to me! I really value your input and encouragement. Thank you!!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Talk like a Teen

Do you have a teen or a tween? I have one teen and two tweens. Let me just say that I've noticed they don't talk the same as I do. They are moody, and emotional, and sensitive at all times (Wait, I think my husband may see a pattern learned from me! LOL!). They also want to stay up really late to just "chat" with mom and dad.


They have changed the way they want to communicate - So what's a parent to do?

To read the rest of this post, hop on over to Titus 2 In Action to read my column, Parenting Pointers.

Thankful Thursday #56

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1)  I am thankful that my husband has warm arms to hold me with.  Sometimes I just need to be in his arms, and he is always available for me.  I'm glad that God made Tim my covering.  He is a generous God.

2)  I am thankful that my family was able to participate in the Bethlehem Walk over the weekend.  It's a reenactment of the town of Bethlehem at the time of Christ.  You actually walk through and it takes about 45 minutes while a guide tells you the story of Christ's birth and then of his death and resurrection.  It was so much fun!  My husband and son worked in the blacksmith shop; while I worked with my girls in the stable with the animals.  It truly represents the meaning of Christmas like nothing else I've ever experienced.

3)  I am thankful that my kids are motivated at school.  After their first report cards, they were all motivated to bring up this grade or that because they all want to be on the A/B or A honor roll next time.  How exciting is that to a Mamma's ears!

4)  I am thankful that it is almost time for Christmas break.  I have missed my children this year - being their first year in school.  I am looking forward to spending two weeks doing fun stuff with them.

5)  I am thankful for God's word.  It truly is living and I love devouring it.  Each time I open up my Bible I'm moved and I am closer to God than before.  It's so exciting to learn about the one I love the most, my God!

The Right Gift

On Monday, Dec. 7, I will be a guest blogger over at Eternity Cafe.  Susan, has cast a vision for 40 days of focus on God.  This is a great way to prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth.  Stop by her blog to be encouraged daily during this advent time.



Only 18 days remain until Christmas!  Have I bought the right gifts?  Have I made my lists, and checked them twice?  These are common thoughts for many of us right now.  We need to make Christmas special and memorable, right?

Wait!  Whose birthday is it, anyhow?  Most likely it's not someone in your family or circle of friends.  It's Jesus' birthday.  So where is He on your list?  After all, it is His birthday.  Shouldn't He be on your list?

I know that in today's society we are pressured to make a list of loved ones and to put down the perfect gift idea for each one.  But what if we put the name Jesus first under each loved ones name.  Next, pray and ask what God would want you to give that person.  I'm not talking about material things here.  No, I'm talking about relational gifts.

Here are a few examples:

Christmas List:

1) My husband
a. Jesus - Pack his lunch at least once per week with a love note.

2) My daughter (toddler)
a. Jesus - Plan a play date for just the two of you and play what she wants to play.

3)  My daughter (teen)
a. Jesus - Go online together to find a child to sponsor (this was her desire for Christmas this year). Then take her shopping to buy gifts for that child.

4) My daughter (tween)
a. Jesus - Put a love note from God (He inspired me to write love notes based on scriptures. If you are interested in them you can contact me) under her pillow every Monday this month.

5) My son
a. Jesus - Spend the time to read the Bible with him two nights per week.

These are a few examples from my own Christmas list. As I study the Bible, I find that God is not interested in the material things that we can give as much as the relational things.  He is all about relationships and we need to put those at the top of our lists.

I pray that God will lead you and guide you this holiday season as you remember that relationships are far more important than material things.

Thankful Thursday #55

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my husband was able to take three of my kids flying! It was a flying club and it was FREE! They were able to go up twice and took some amazing pictures. (This is the pilot and my three kids next to the plane they flew in!)

2) I am thankful for a display of God's glory in nature. I woke up one morning this week to ice on the cars. When I went outside I saw this amazing "snowflake" on the front of my truck!

3)  I am thankful for a good Thanksgiving.  This was the first time we celebrated a holiday since my dad went home to be with the Lord in August.  It was a challenging day, but God helped us all see the joy in being together as a family.  (This was one of 4 tables we set up - there were over 30 of us!)

4) I am thankful that we were able to pick out our Christmas tree over the weekend. This is the tallest tree we've ever had at over 9ft. tall. Having such a big den is a real blessing. (This is Dad and Ashley with brown bear searching for the perfect tree.)

5) I am thankful that November is a big birthday month in my family. In my family we have 7 birthdays, on my husband's side we have an additional 2. Two of our own children turned 11 this month. (Stephanie is on the left and Valerie is on the right.) 

Don't Wait!

Can you remember when your child was young and how they had a cute way of saying something?

My youngest, Tiffany, says the word SEED instead of SAW when she is talking.  It was really cute when she was younger, but now that she is in pre-school, I decided it was time to correct her speech.

The next time I heard her say, "Daddy, I seed a deer on the way home today!" I lovingly replied, "Tiffany, it's not seed, but we say, saw."

To that she said, "No Mommy, we say SEED!"

Ok, this was going to be more difficult than I had realized.

To read what happened next, hop on over to Titus 2 In Action, where I am posting this on my Parenting Pointers column.

The turkey rap.avi

This one is for all the hunters out there!

Thankful Thursday #54

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful for my husband, Tim. God has given me my soulmate in this man. He is always attentive to my needs (and wants - yes I'm spoiled) and he is a great provider and an attentive Daddy. I look forward to growing old with this man.

2) I am thankful for my six wonderful children! I love each one of them in a unique and special way. They all bring so much love and joy and fun into my life. Thank you, God for giving me these precious gifts. I can't wait to see how many grandchildren we will have!

3) I am thankful for my Christian friends. Lately God has surrounded me with some of the most amazing women of God! What a privilege to have so much support and love (not to mention so many coffee dates!). Being part of the BOdy of Christ is wonderful!

4) I am thankful for my family. Both my family and my husband's family live nearby and that means lots of love and support. They are not only my family, but my friends. That's a lot to be thankful for!

5) I am thankful for my church. Being a part of the church body is so rewarding. It gives you so many opportunities for service and for interaction with other believers. I've made some special friends and my kids are fully engaged in activities and friendships there. I especially like that it's only 15 minutes from my home.

I hope you can find at least five things that you are thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day, 2009. Life doesn't have to be easy to be thankful. A thankful heart is a decision. Don't let circumstances decide your level of happiness, lean on God for peace and then look around at His gifts. I love you all!

Being Thankful is a Decision

On Monday, November 23, I will be the guest blogger over at Eternity Cafe. Susan has felt led of the Lord to encourage other Christian's to have "40 Days of Focus" on Jesus, of course! This is to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus' birth, as well as prepare our hearts for His triumphant return.

Three days from now we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday set up by the pilgrims to celebrate the planting of a new colony here in America. With six children, we've read the Thanksgiving story many, many times. One thing is clear, they were thankful - but not because it had been easy for them.

When they came to America, they didn't expect extreme hardships. They were hoping to find fame and fortune and religious freedom. If they knew the hardships that they would have faced that first year, do you think they would have volunteered to come? They experienced famine, sickness, death, hostile Indians - just to name a few! They were cold and unprepared for what they were faced with. But, they had one thing that got them through - FAITH IN GOD!

No matter what was going on, they made sure that they were at church and learning about the Bible and their God. They prayed and believed, and when loved ones started dying, their faith remained. I'm in awe that they chose to celebrate that first year in America. I have to admit that at first glance, it didn't seem so successful, or victorious.

So how did they celebrate and give thanks with pure hearts after suffering such loss and trauma? They knew the Bible! Here's what one verse says:

1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This is only one of many, many scritpures on giving thanks. 

So what is going on in your life this year?  I know that for me, 2009 has been a year of great trials and great pain.  My beloved father stepped into heaven (unexpectedly) in August, just to share one trial my family has been through.  Now I have a choice to make.  I can allow myself to fall in to a pattern of sadness with negative feelings, or I can focus on scriptures and let God teach me how to have a thankful heart. 

I am convinced that the only way to get through the pain of life is to break forth with praises and rejoicing to the God who is always faithful and who never sleeps or forsakes His children.  Stay focused on the scriptures, dig into them daily, and you will find the strength to have a grateful heart this Holiday Season.

James 1:2-3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Philippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.


Hebrews 13:15  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Thankful Thursday #53

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1)  I am thankful that God is the great "I AM."  No matter what I need, I can turn to Him and He will be there for me.  He will never leave me or forsake me. 

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

2)  I am thankful for Kelly.  She and I have been friends for many years and no matter where life takes us, we walk through it together.

Proverbs 17:17a  "A friend loves at all times."

3)  I am thankful that for a season we were able to be a part of a great country, community, loving church.  The youth group was especially precious, as was the youth pastor.  I am grieved that the church has divided, but thankful for the opportunity to see where it leads us.  God is in control and He will make sure this works out for His glory.

Romans 8:28  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

4)  I am thankful for a beautiful home, a van large enough to fit my family plus a few friends, food to eat, clothing to wear, just to name a few!

Philippians 4:19  "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

5)  I am thankful that I had the opportunity to host a Pampered Chef party on Tuesday.  I had a great turnout and really enjoyed each lady who came.  God has surrounded me with the most amazing people.  It is a privilege to be a part of the body of Christ.

1Corinthians 12:12  "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

Christian Writer's Guild

My sweet friend, Bonita, has interviewed me on her blog, Encouraging Words for Writer's today.  The topic is the Christian Writer's Guild.  She asks some great questions that could help you decide whether you should enroll in this or a similar writing course.

Hop on over to see if the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild is the right choice for you.

Feeding their Consciences

When my children were young I remember how simple it was to discipline them.  For example, if they were to take a piece of candy out of the candy dish even though I had told them not to, I would simply discipline them and tell them, "I told you no," as my explanation.

Now my children are older and this tactic no longer suffices.  You see, as they mature, they move from just being action controlled to needing their own moral reason why.  But I am a busy mom and taking the time to give that moral reason why can be challenging. 

To read the rest of the story click HERE.

Thankful Thursday #52

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that when my dryer broke on Monday night, my wonderful husband took the morning off on Tuesday to go buy a new one with me and then install it! He never complained or griped! He's amazing!

2) I am thankful for technology. I can't imagine having to hand wash our clothes! With six kids and two adults living in my house, not having a washer and dryer for even one day means laundry overload!

3) I am thankful that I had the chance to fill in at church last night. I helped teach the K-5th graders at Cool Kids and it was a pure delight. They are so precious! The things they say and do just amazed me.

4) I am thankful that my family has had the flu, and now we are all healthy! Phew! What a relief that we've been through it and now we are all on the other side and can move on with the winter.

5) I am thankful for friendships. They make my life easier and warmer and more loved. The fact that great people keep moving in and out of my life is so special. And with the internet, I can keep up with them no matter where they live!

Shine Like the Sun

Matthew 13:43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Have you ever thought about the differences between the sunlight and the moonlight?  The sun is a source of light, while the moon only reflects the sun's rays.

In the verse above it says, the righteous will shine like the sun.  I've always thought we were reflectors of Jesus' light, but here I see it differently.  Jesus is supposed to be living so fully in us that he will shine out of us as the source of light.

Each morning, I drive my children to school.  On the way there, we crest a hilltop and drive down into a valley.  We all look with anticipation because most mornings there will be a cloud in the valley and it is breathtaking to see.  Sometimes, the cloud will be so big that the sun's rays are actually cutting through it and you can see 1,000 sun beams shining through the thick cloud.  What an amazing sight.  We usually take a moment to reflect on God's glory.

If we were merely reflecting God's light, we would not be strong enough to cut through the darkness.  But God in His amazing wisdom, knew that if we could be so full of His word that we were the source of light - then we could be effective at cutting through the darkness of sin and death.

Thankful Thursday #51

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that God is the foundation of my marriage. God knows what we need and when we need it, and that is a tremendous help! God knows our hearts better than we do, and He knows when and where to touch us in a loving way.

2) I am thankful that Titus 2 In Action has officially launched! If you haven't had the chance, pop on over and check it out. May God be blessed by this new blog!

3) I am thankful for the Word of God. It is full of every answer that I need in my life. Le me repeat that, it is full of every answer that I need in my life. It has all of God's promises for my life. Oh how I love to just bask in the promises of God's Word.

4) I am thankful that God protects us. I had a flat tire in my 12 passenger van this week. Well, within one hour, AAA and my mom were on the scene. I spent the day at her house with two of my kids while the van was towed to a place where they repair tires. We were not in harms way even once!

5) I am thankful for the promise of eternity in heaven with God! There will be peace there, and joy unspeakable, and beauty to behold. No sickness, no death, no sin... Wow, I am so longing for His return so I can begin this eternity!

Lead by Example

The other day I took my four year old daughter, Tiffany to the grocery store. As I helped her out of the car I noticed that she had her purse in one hand and her pretend cell phone held up to her ear with the other hand.


How cute, she looks just like me, I thought.  As I began to try talking with her, she responded, "Mom, I'm on the phone." Wait! That wasn't so cute... to read more click here...

Countdown!

We are now counting down to the launching of Titus 2 In Action.  This is a blog which will be hosted by 6 bloggers who each have their own column.

Titus 2 In Action is a place to learn from other Christian's who are walking out their faith and are ready to share their experiences with others in order to encourage.  God created us to need each other for this very thing.  We are told to teach one another and to exhort fellow Christian's and that is what Titus 2 In Action is all about.

Come by on Monday, November 2, and see what you think.  We will be posting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  You will need to visit for two straight weeks to get the full effect and to read a sampling from all six authors.

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Thankful Thursday #50

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my husband is the spiritual leader in our family. It is so great to be married to another Christian. I realize that this is a privilege! When I want to tell him what God is saying to me, he is right there to listen and encourage me because he understands what I'm talking about.

2) This is my 50th Thankful Thursday post, WoooHooo, YeeeeHaaaa!!! Let's all celebrate great numbers of participants and 50 weeks of thanking God for all that He has done.

3) I am thankful for the fall colors. I absolutely love the fact that I live in the south and we enjoy a magnificent display of changing color all around us.

4) I am thankful that I had the opportunity to go on three field trips over the past week. We went to the pumpkin patch, the zoo, and Yorktown. All great times.

5) I am thankful for God's word. You know, there are times when the enemy whispers lies to me and I start believing them, UNTIL I remember to turn to the Word and read what God has to say. That always reveals God's love because the truth will set you free!!!

I want to say, "Thank You!" to all of you who have participated over the past 50 weeks! You have all blessed me and more importantly you've blessed God for your willingness to give Him all the praise! I can't wait to see who will be giving thanks when we reach 100! Hey, the sky is the limit!!

Celebrating October

Here are three pictures of my house. The trees in my backyard are magnificent! I just love looking out my kitchen window and seeing this fantastic sight.

I had the opportunity to go to the zoo with my two youngest daughters last week. Here are a few pictures of what we saw and experienced. Fall is my favorite season.

This is one of my favorite pictures from this fall. My two youngest girls in my niece's wedding. Little princesses!


If you haven't taken the time to enjoy the change of seasons, now's your chance! Go outside and just look around. God loves color and He does an amazing job displaying His glory!

Psalms 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Thankful Thursday #49

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my husband is my best friend and that we've been married for 17 years! We had a wonderful anniversary weekend. We had dinner out on Friday, and then brunch on Saturday.  We went to the fall festival at our church with the kids and enjoyed food, music, and fellowship.  Then home to put the kids to bed so we could relax together.  Refreshing!

2) I am thankful that on November 2nd I will be launching a new blog called, Titus 2 In Action. This is an idea that was God inspired! We will have 6 bloggers who will be contributing. Each blogger will have their own column. If you get the chance, stop by and sign up to follow so that you don't miss any of the great posts that will be there.  The columns will be: Parenting Pointers, Father Figure, Marriage Matters, Grandma's Gems, Digging Deeper, and Homemaking Helps.

3) I am thankful for the 5 other bloggers who have faithfully accepted the position as co-author of Titus 2 In Action! If you want to see who they are then hop on over to the blog.

4) I am thankful for my praise band. The members of the band are serious about the Lord and we are hoping to grow in the Lord together with an upcoming Bible study! How cool is that!

5) I am thankful for friends, both new and old. I've had the chance to meet some new friends this week and that has been delightful! Looking forward to nurturing these new friendships as well as continuing to nurture the existing friendships that I have.

6)  I have to list one more this week because I am so thankful for YOU!  That's right, if you are reading this post than I am thanking God for you today.  I am so excited that as of last week we have been consistently hosting over 40 bloggers on this Meme and that is something to get excited about!  Glory to the King!

Barnacles

The above is a picture of barnacles growning on the post of a dock.  If you've ever been near a dock, you've seen barnacles growing on something.  The interesting thing about barnacles is that they are alive and they are growing.  In theory they are serving a purpose.  But what are they really doing?  They are deteriorating the host.  Sometimes that host is a dock post, sometimes a boat that has been in the water for a long period of time.

If they are growing on a boat, you need to have it raised out of the water and the barnacles scraped off so the boat doesn't become weak and risk becoming unstable and damaged.

The Lord has recently taken me through a "stripping away" process in my own life.  I've been watching as He has taken most of my extra activities away - some were important and lifegiving to me (so I thought).  But what He was really doing was cleaning off the barnacles of my life because they were making me weak. Even though they were life giving activities (for a time) they needed to be cleaned away.

This was not an easy, or pleasant, activity that I've been going through.  But ever since God showed me what He was doing, I've had a peace about it.  As soon as I resolved to the fact that God was the one cleaning these things from my life, everything started to turn around for me.  Now I see a definite "new" path that He has me on and I'm excited.  But I will try to remember that in a few years, it may be time once again for a cleaning of the excess barnacles that will be developing on me.

In a way it's exciting because a ship that is sitting in dry dock instead of being used in the water won't have any barnacles, so if we have barnacles it means we are an active member of the Body of Christ!

Thankful Thusrday #48

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I'm thankful that on Saturday, October 17, Tim and I will be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary! Now that's something to get excited about!

2) I'm thankful that we are getting rain. This has been a year with abundant rain here in Virginia and it's a refreshing break from the droughts in recent years.

3) I'm thankful that I live in a rural town. We had a business expo recently and it was just plain fun. We knew so many of the people who were there that it was a blast.

4) I'm thankful for supportive friends. God has really blessed me with some of the closest, most loyal friends I could have ever asked for.

5) I'm thankful for answered prayers. Recently, I was in my truck with my youngest and realized I had to drive 15-20 miles and my tank was on E. The gauges were freaking out and I thought, "I'm going to run out of gas!" So, I prayed and asked God to be my "I Am" and to be my fuel until I made it to the gas station. Do you know what happened next? My gas gauge went up just enough that the light went off and I made it safely to the gas station! WOooHOo! Today - Miracles are taking place because God is AWESOME!

The Noticer - a book review

Have you read any good books lately? I recently finished reading The Noticer, by Andy Andrews.

It's a novel about a young man named Andy and an older aloof gentleman named Jones. Jones, not Mr. Jones but just plain Jones, carries a peculiar beat up suitcase with him. There's not much else that is really concrete about him. He's always in the right place at the right time to shed a new perspective on otherwise dark situations.

While each chapter is a unique encounter by Jones and a needy individual (aren't we all needy!), you feel compelled to keep reading as you are sure that the next chapter will shed some light on who this man, Jones, might be. At the end of the book you find out that... WAIT! If I tell you this part you may not want to read the book.

This book had me staying up too late and pushing aside my regular chores!

My favorite chapter is chapter 6. Jones meets up with Willow Callaway, an older woman who has outlived her husband and one of her children. She is saddened by the changing world around her and she has really lost sight of her usefulness. Jones, being the wise man that he is, shows her that she is not only useful but needed desperately. It's a feel good chapter that left me warm and comfortable with the conclusion.

This book is well written with an exciting story line that will keep you reading until the last page!

After finishing the book I realized that sometimes we can have a new outlook on life by simply changing our perspective.

If you haven't read a copy, you can purchase it on Amazon.com. This book was published by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Thankful Thursday #47

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my husband still enjoys taking me out on dates. It is really special to date your husband, it is time well spent.

2) I am thankful that we live in a free country. It is such a privilege to pray in public or even to display our religious beliefs in public.

3) I am thankful that my children are growing into nice young people. It has been a great thing to walk alongside of each one and watch God's hand in their development.

4) I am thankful for special friends. Where would life be without them? I think that it is particularly neat that we can connect far and near through the internet!

5) I am thankful for God's grace. Knowing that He has forgiven my offenses (over and over) allows me the opportunity to pass along that grace to others. I guess that's why they call it the circle of love.

100th Follower Celebration!

I LOVE this song! It speaks volumes to me as a writer, and a Christian. (For some reason you have to click on "listen in Youtube" but it's worth it!)

I am celebrating today because I have over 100 followers on this blog! Praise God! My 100th follower is Cora from Inside the Life of a Pastor's Family. If you get a chance return the favor by visiting and following her blog. She is a pastor's wife with a precious heart.

Thank you all for coming alongside of me with the support of my blogging. You are all special to me and I treasure each one of you!

Working Together

If you read my Thankful Thursday list this week you noticed that I was thankful for my local church. The people there really make me feel like I'm at home by genuinely showing love and care to me and my family.

Just this week I found out that there is a local church in duress. The leadership of this church apparently cannot get along and there have been hurt feelings and hurt people. My heart is grieved.

What will happen? The leaders will probably part and go their separate ways. Unfortunately when there is a change in shepherds like this some of the sheep will leave and some will stay, but some will also scatter. Not a desirable situation.

What causes this kind of thing to happen in our churches?

James 4:1 "Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn't it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body?" (CEV)

'How can this happen to pastor's?' You might be wondering. I have wondered the same thing. But then I am reminded that they too are human and they too have a sinful nature to battle.

Now the burden sits with the church people; have we really been committed to pray for the church leadership? I only pray occasionally for my pastors - now it will be habitual.

2Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (NKJV)

Even the leaders of the New Testament needed the prayers of the brethren. How much more do our pastors and church leaders need our prayers today!

I want to encourage you to pray each day this week for your church leaders - and if the Lord gives you a scripture for one of them give it to them in love. We all need to be encouraged and loved.

Thankful Thursday #46

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I am thankful that my husband stood beside me on Sunday as we watched four of our children being baptized. It was a proud moment and I was grateful that we had weathered the test of time and how proud I was to call him my husband and the father of my children.

2) I am thankful that four of my children were baptized on Sunday! It was such a proud moment for this Mom to realize that her babies are growing up and learning to love God in their own hearts. I look forward to the future knowing that they are committed to serving God with their lives.

3) I am thankful for the cooler weather. I am fair skinned so playing in the sun on a hot day is usually met with sunburn and regret! But playing outside in the fall - now that is my favorite thing to do, and my favorite season! I look forward to the changing of the season's with the colorful fall foliage.

4) I am thankful that my article titled, "From Rejection to Acceptance" will be published in the next issue of The Voice of Grace and Truth. This is a bi-monthly 20 page Christian newspaper. Since the trauma in my family life (my dad's stepping into heaven) I haven't been able to get back into writing. As a matter of fact, I had completely forgotten about submitting this article to them last year! God is so special to nudge me with this publication.

5) I am thankful for my church family. I have searched for a very long time to find the place that God wanted me to call "family" and I believe I've found it. This church is also our children's school and wow, they are precious to us. We do believe that they truly love us and are concerned about our well-being. There's no place like home. *smile*

The Perfect Gift

Last week my son, Daniel, came home from school and proceeded to give me the above gift.

Instead of being excited about it, he said, "Here Mom, I made this at school but it's got lots of mistakes in it so it's not very nice. Sorry."

I was surprised at his attitude and began to examine the gift. It was beautiful to me because he made it with me in mind. It was also precious because it was full of scriptures that I could read throughout each day.

As far as the flaws, I didn't see any of them. I've hung it in my bathroom and throughout each day I've read at least one of the verses.

I began to think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I began to wonder how many times I've decided that I'm not good enough, or that I didn't get it right - again. And how many times I thought I had disappointed God.

Then I felt my Heavenly Father lovingly telling me that He didn't see the flaws in my gifts to Him. He only saw that I tried with Him in mind and that was what He was looking for.

Psalm 50:8-10 "I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."

Psalm 50:23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Thankful Thursday #45

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! If you'd like to participate, just copy the T.T. button on my sidebar and paste it into your post. Next write down five things you are thankful for this week. Finally, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky. It's that easy!

Here's my list for this week:

1) I'm thankful that my husband and I had a 5 day retreat together! It was refreshing to get away from the cares of life and just relax...

2) I am thankful that I sing in a praise band at my church. There are times when I need to just worship the Lord and this gives me that opportunity every week!

3) I am thankful for the Word of God. It is light to my path and nourishment to my soul!

4) I am thankful for the Christian School that my children attend. The teachers are so caring and it made the adjustment this year soooooo easy for the kids.

5) I am thankful that last week we had over 30 bloggers sign up for this weekly meme! How exciting to realize that there were more than 30 people who stopped to give God the glory for their lives! HOW COOL IS THAT!!

A Get-away to Norfolk, Virginia

Tim and I had the chance to get away (just the two of us!) for 5 days and 4 nights to Norfolk, and then Virginia Beach, Virginia.

This picture was the view from our hotel in Norfolk. We were overlooking the Elizabeth River and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. I enjoyed watching the barge's, tugboats, and ships coming in and out of the area.

The second night we were there, we went out on The Spirit of Norfolk. This is a dinner cruise where the wait staff actually entertains you with singing and dancing! Loads of fun - great buffet, too!

This ship is so big that it didn't even feel as if we were on water until it turned around, and even that was only a little motion. This was well worth the effort for the entertainment we had.

Another great attraction is the USS Wisconsin. This is actually parked next to Nauticus and is a free exhibit. This is the same ship that fired the first shots in Dessert Storm a few years back. Here are two pictures:



On our last day in Norfolk, we went on a cruise to see the Naval Shipyard. This was an awesome tour and if you ever get a chance to come to Norfolk, VA (and I hope you do!) please make the effort to take this tour! Here are some pictures of the tour and the Navy ships we saw:



This is a picture of the USS Cole (The smaller ship in the picture on the top right) which was damaged in a terrorist attack in Yemin a few years ago. Sailors were killed during the attack. Quite sobering.

This was an awesome sight, an air craft carrier! This enormous ship cost 5 billion dollars to build and it has 2 nuclear power sources aboard so that at top speed it can soar at 55mph through the seas! Now that would be a sight to see!

We hope to come back to Norfolk, Virginia and next time with the kids.