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.