What do you want for Christmas??

"What do you want for Christmas? What are you getting for Christmas? What's Santa bringing you?"

Sound familiar? I've said it to probably every kid I've come in contact with around Christmas for the past 10 years or more. Why? Because that's what people said to me when I was little.

This year, I have been very aware of and uncomfortable with the idea of secular Christmas traditions. I think at the heart of them, they are fun and harmless. It becomes harmful when Santa is the focus and not just a fun addition.

We are so very blessed  beyond our imagination. This year, we are really trying to focus on what we can do for others, how we can show Jesus to someone in need, and enjoy time with family and friends.

Over the past week I've been asking my pediatric patients "What is Christmas?". I was humbled that most of them said, "Christmas is Jesus's birthday!". Thank you parents for teaching your kids what it's really all about! I want to challenge you to ask kids what they are giving this year rather than what they are getting.

Because I can..

My friend Rachel is an amazing mom and such an inspiration for me. I'm sure it helps that she has the sweetest little boy ever. I was honored to see this beautiful boy a lot this weekend. 

On Saturday, we headed to Birmingham for a shower to celebrate with her high school friends. He was so good. He slept the entire way there. He was playful, sweet, and so flirty with all the girls. He is so funny with women! She's going to have a heartbreaker! On the way home he was a little fussy but only because he had a dirty diaper.

On Sunday, D and I were able to attend his baptism (dedication) ceremony. It was so sweet. When the pastor asked for everyone who had prayed for baby David to stand (and nearly everyone in the church stood)... I cried. The journey that Rachel and Daniel have traveled to have God place David with them is so overwhelming to me. 3 years, they prayed and cried, and dreamed, and cried some more, and then prayed some more. They knew that God was preparing them for something huge. They have an amazing dedication and faith in God's plan and God's timing.

Prescription for Anxiety....

Taken from Breaking Free - Beth Moore:

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lets have a little fun and parapharase the verses from a negative standpoint. Turn this prescription for peace into a no-fail prescription for anxiety.

Begin with the following words and complete the two verses accordingly. "Do not be calm about anything, but in everything...



I can't wait to hear what you have :)

God is so good!

I really wish I could elaborate but I can't right now. Just know that God is working even when you don't see it. "If you can't see His hand, trace His heart." - Basically, if you can't see what God is doing and you are becoming discouraged, remember His truth, His character and His love for you.

OH OH OH!  I CAN'T WAIT TO ELABORATE!!!!

Pride

As you know from "P R I D E - That's me"... I'm dealing with some pride issues.

Last night my church started the "Breaking Free" study by Beth Moore... and wouldn't you know that the first day's homework this morning was about.... you guessed it! Pride. Ouch! More to come later :)

Bessemer

So my weekend in Bessemer was pretty uneventful.

Da is having a very hard time breathing due to COPD.
He is convinced that NyQuil is the cure.
He doses in and out throughout the day and then doesn't understand why he can't sleep at night.
He has no concept of the passage of time.
He thinks that my phone is "that magic light".
He says I have "magic eyes" because I don't turn on a lamp to read.
He is very grateful for help even if he protests the whole time you're trying to help him.
He tells you he's hungry by asking if you are hungry.
He really can't take care of himself but likes to think that he can.
In the (not so distant) past, I felt it was my duty to make him realize that he was dependent on us... I guess so that he would appreciate everything we do for him and be more cooperative with us.
I've recently been more and more convicted about my attitude toward him and against him.
I realize now... that it is better for me to let him believe that he is as independent as he thinks he is.
I realize now... that by serving him in a respectful way, I am honoring God and manifesting His love.
I realize now... that God has been working on me and softening my heart to Da for a long time... every now and then I harden it again... I'm a work in progress.

And finally, my walk with Monroe went something like this...

Except he was sitting the entire time.

P R I D E - that's me...

Wow.. this Seeking Him study is a little painful...

Keep in mind that the word "revival" that is used in this study is not something we do... it's something that we prepare our hearts for God to do. Don't think of it like "I'm going to a revival at my church tonight". Think like "I need to cleanse and prep my heart for God to have room do something great and unfathomable within me."

I also found this website that was very informative and scripture based... Focus on God

I can email you the excel version if you would like... just leave your email address in a comment (you can delete later if you want)

This is from Day 5 of the week about humility...

(click picture to enlarge)

Camp is serious stuff!

Camp was AWESOME!  We had a great group of 24 kids and 9 "adults".

The message was based on Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."

What a great message for our kids [and for me too]!  I was very convicted by the act justly lesson because I don't always treat people as they should be treated... especially Da. And I unconsciously take advantage of the fact that he's old and forgets easily... but he does remember how people make him feel and I have not made an effort to make him feel welcome and wanted.

HFC has some of the most awesome kids ever... I'm NOT just trying to be nice because some of you read my blog :). I expected drama with that many kids and especially with that many girls but there really wasn't any! The kids were well behaved and pretty responsible. We had a couple of the younger boys losing their stuff on a daily basis but everyone was where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there. I witnessed several of the girls reaching out to some of the more withdrawn/shy kids and that was extremely touching.

This part is borrowed from Shirley's Blog because she's a better writer than me... :)
We had an opportunity to meet, Brooke, a Compassion International sponsored child, now in his senior year in college in Kenya studying social work. His passion is to start an orphanage in Kenya to help those who have no hope. What an amazing testimony. He shared what life would be like in Kenya living in poverty. Both of his parents are gone. All of his childhood friends are gone. A typical home is a 10x10 shanty that will hold from 4-6 people. IF they have any food, it is only one meal per day of vegetables and a maize flour mixture called ugali. He said that Africans are praying people – they pray night and day because they are totally and utterly dependant upon God. They pray and give thanks for a meal that isn’t even in front of them yet!! He didn’t have a pair of shoes until he was 9. On Sunday, he was wearing flip-flop style shoes made out of motorbike tires!!


The most profound thing that I took away from his talk was his comment about how easy it is to complain in America. We have SO much and we are SO comfortable and SO blessed, and yet we find things to complain about! He said that in Africa, they don’t complain – they are so thankful when they do receive a meal. Amazing!

Today =

Today = 151 days (5 months) since I quit smoking.

Today = I was in a funk... a really bad funky funk

Today = a reminder that I shouldn't expect others to do what I think they will do or say and I definitely shouldn't get my panties in a wad when they don't do/say what I "need" them to.

Today = a reminder that God is where my joy, satisfaction, hope, love... comes from (you name it... it comes from Him)

Today = a glimmer of an answered prayer - D got a call from goodyear! He goes in at 7am to do a physical and get a start date!!

strength and dignity...

This weekend was fantastic!  I went with Rachel and part of her small group to Kennesaw, GA to see Beth Moore... Live and in person!  Woo! We attended a live event that was simulcast to over 300 other places with approximately 300,000 women watching.  

Marianna, Margaret, Kayla, Bethany, Katie, Rachel, & Me

(more pictures at the bottom)

There were at least 9,000 women (and a few men) at the live event as well.  The topic of the event was "So Long Insecurity", which is also the title of her new book (a must-read now book). Go ahead and buy it... I'll wait...

It is so obvious that God is using this woman to reach the masses.  I am so thankful that I have had 2 opportunities in the past year to see her live.  There is nothing like the feeling of 10,000+ women praising God.

First read Ephesians 4:1 - 5:2

A SECURE woman is...

Saved from herself... 

• Our human minds are twisted by idolatress self-interest - to curve in upon yourself, obsess over yourself.
• The Holy Spirit curves us up - to God - and out - to others.
• Insecurity is basically a sense of pride.
• Security can make me think enough of myself to not obsess about myself... what freedom!

Entitled to truth...

• Ephesians 4:19, 21 discusses the power of addiction and then the Truth. Notice the repetitive "you were taught". These were not unbelievers! 
• The power of addiction - too often I think of addiction as extreme like alcohol or drugs but we can totally be addicted to... ourselves, food, work, etc... The more we live in addiction, the more withdrawn we become and the darker our thinking becomes.
• We get caught up in deceptive desires - we believe a lie - "If I could just be/have _____, I'd be secure!"
• The LAST thing the Enemy wants you to know is the Truth. Christ. A life in Christ Jesus.

Clothed with intention...

• Proverbs 31:25
• Every. day. decide to be clothed with strength and dignity. With the "new" you.
• Putting off the old and putting on the new starts with our thinking and moves to our feet.  We must first decide to react differently (as a woman clothed with strength and dignity rather than exposed and insecure). It is then that we will feel secure (gradually). Don't wait to feel secure before you act differently.

Upended by grace...

• Ephesians 4.32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
• Insecurity is literally unbelief. People who really feel forgiven, will forgive! People who have received Grace will give it! Grace is the only thing you can give away that you can also keep! 2 Corinthians 5:17 states that we have been made "new creatures in Christ."
• How much more likely would we be able to forgive if we were secure? Does everything come to us as an offense?
• Grace turns everything right-side-up - dark to light. addicted to free. condemned to saved. insecure to secure. 
• Give up your "right" to be _____ (mad, upset, depressed, obsessed...) 
• Show some GRACE - you are forgiven! Act like it!

Rebounded by love...

• Live as though you know you are loved
• Be imitators of God... - Ephesians 5:1-2
• We can't run God off - we can't out-sin his forgiveness
• We tend to put our security in people and they. will. fail. you.
• Do I hold out an empty cup to everyone in my life to fill it up/(make me feel good) or do I give it to God?

Exceptional in life...

• We need to know we are special - we matter - we stand out.
• When you decide to put off that old insecure self, you will be exceptional. If you were able to live secure,  you would stick out like a healthy thumb :) We can give into our culture or change. People could say, "No one can survive that....except maybe her." Be able to live secure that people want to know where your security comes from. Be the exception!

Disclaimer: Rachel blogged first and I copied a few things that she said much better than my notes did - The early blogger gets the post :)

Pajamas on and finally settled in... we were all so tired but of course stayed up for more girl talk. I am so blessed to have these girls in my life!

No we didn't all sleep on one pull out couch but we probably could have :)

We were so excited to sit right behind the "deaf ministry" section!  The interpreters were so wonderful and added a whole new level of worship for me!

These were taken after we got BUSTED by Travis Cottrell for using THE ONLY men's room left in the building. Moral of the story: if you ever want to meet Travis face to face... hang out in the men's room :)

this isn't even half of it!

Secret Church...

The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL has been doing Secret Church.

Here is how they answer the question of What is Secret Church?:

When we think of "church" in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a Pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, "church" meets in a home, an apartment, even in secret. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer and fellowship, as it is dangerous to travel to "church" and they want to make the most of their time together.

Secret Church is our "house church," where we meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study--lasting 4-6 hours--and prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe. This is not for the uncommitted or faint at heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His Word, and know His Church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church.

God will use this focused time of study to enrich our knowledge of His Word as we gain understanding of the state of His Church and our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. The objective of Secret Church is for you to pass along what you learn to others, so that you can make disciples of Christ--both locally and globally.


Rachel and her wonderful small group girls invited me to join them for a podcast about Spiritual Warfare.  We did 2 hours tonight and will do 2 hours next week.  It. was. amazing. eye-opening. challenging. overwhelming....... I can't wait to finish it. then watch it again.... so I know I didn't miss anything :)

Streams in the Dessert

I stole this from The Sullivan blog...



See how the lilies of the fields grow. --Matthew 6:28

Many years ago there was a monk who needed olive oil, so he planted an olive tree sapling. After he finished planting it, he prayed, "Lord, my tree needs rain so its tender roots may drink and grow. Send gentle showers." And the Lord sent gen tle showers. The monk prayed, "Lord, my tree needs sun. Please send it sun." And the sun shone, gilding the once dripping clouds. "Now send frost, dear Lord, to strengthen its branches," cried the monk. And soon the little tree was covered in sparkling frost, but by evening it had died.

Then the monk sought out a brother monk in his cell and told him of his strange experience. After hearing the story, the other monk said, "I also have planted a little tree. See how it is thriving! But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better that a man like me what it needs. I gave God no constraints or conditions, except to pray, 'Lord, send what it needs--whether that be a storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. You made it, and you know best what it needs.'"

Easter....

Wow.. Easter meant a lot more to me this year than any other.  I LOVE THAT!  It was so exciting... not because of anything different that we did or big plans but because of the growth in my relationship with God over the past year.  Thank you God for pulling me back to you and never leaving me or giving up on me.

Here's some pics of my sweet niece and nephew from this weekend.  My nephew's 5th birthday was the 31st so we combined our Easter dinner and a birthday party... so much fun!

It's Friday

We watched a video Friday night at the Good Friday service...



Christian speaker and activist Tony Campolo's best-known message is about a sermon delivered by his preacher at the mostly-black church they attended in Philadelphia. The essence of the preacher's message was one line, which he mentioned over and over again - a message particularly appropriate on Easter weekend. You can listen to or download the message at Tony's website, along with several other of Tony's messages.


It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin'!

It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. It was Friday, and my Jesus is dead on a tree. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’. Friday, Mary’s crying her eyes out, the disciples are running in every direction like sheep without a shepherd. But that’s Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’. Friday, some are looking at the world and saying, “As things have been, so they shall be. You can’t change nothing in this world! You can’t change nothing in this world!” But they didn’t know that it was only Friday, and Sunday’s a comin’. Friday, them forces that oppress the poor and keep people down, them forces that destroy people, the forces in control now, them forces that are gonna rule, they don’t know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. Friday, people are saying, “Darkness is gonna rule the world, sadness is gonna be everywhere,” but they don’t know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s a comin’. Even though this world is rotten, as it is right now, we know it’s only Friday. But Sunday’s a comin’.

Jehovah-Jireh

The Lord Will Provide, The Lord Will Be Seen

3 years ago, my husband Dustin & I lived in Tuscaloosa. We had lived in our first house for 10 months. Dustin was a student at Shelton State and I was working full time as a speech therapist in a nursing home 1/2 an hour south.  By all accounts, we were thriving.

One morning, I went into work and was told that my job was in jeopardy.  After 3 prayerful and terrifying days, I was told that I no longer had my job.  I was devastated. How would we possibly be able to pay for this house with NO income.  Dustin was receiving the GI Bill for school but we needed much more than that.  We cried together & prayed together. As scary as it was, we both just knew that God would provide.  Neither of us could explain why or how we knew it.  Within 2 hours of losing my job, I got a phone call from a company that owns 3 local nursing homes.  I had applied for a PRN position with their company about a month before to do some extra weekend and night work.  I had forgotten all about applying.  The girl told me that she ran across my application while cleaning out her desk and she was sorry for the delay.  I was able to start orientation that day and work 40 hours a week for 2 months until we moved to Gadsden, where I was able to take a job that had been posted since I was in college.  I knew from the moment I interviewed that this was where we were meant to be.

Since that time, we have been able to re-connect with our families and spend more time together.  The job market was beginning to collapse as Dustin was finishing school. We have been 15 months without 2 stable incomes. In that time, we have been able to pay off over 10,000 in debt, not because my job pays that well, but because the Lord will Provide and be seen.

catch up...

• D's phone interview went well... they just wanted to verify his resume and confirm his interest in the job. The next step is to wait.... we're getting pretty good at that!

• Da is home from the hospital and getting home health. He is still incredibly weak and doesn't really realize it.  He was on an IV in the hospital that made him retain fluids (he gained 30 lbs in about a week).  Now that he's off of the IV, the fluids are being released.  Mom has been getting up at all hours of the night to empty his urinal so that he doesn't try to get up and then fall.  Mom is back at work this weekend and Dad is taking care of him during the day. I will be going over there tomorrow to give Dad a chance to go fishing in this beautiful weather.

• D's truck (2001) died... for good.  We will most likely be buying my Dad's company truck when the lease is up pretty soon. Until then, we are borrowing Mom's truck or Dad's giant jeep. We are quick to give God the credit for this provision!  When he told me his truck was dead, my first thought was "Thanks God! I can't wait to see how you are going to work in this!"

• I am SO behind in my Living Beyond Yourself study!  UGH!

• Our church has revamped their website (Harvestfield Church) and started a podcast on Itunes! I am so excited... now I can have something new to distract me while I'm working out!

I need the fruit!

Almighty God,

I pray tonight that you help me to show the fruit of your Spirit.

May I experience love for others, even the unlikable.  Grow my love for my husband and show me new ways to show him how much he means to me.  Grow my love for my grandfather and show me how to connect with him.

May I experience true joy in You in all circumstances because I know that You are a sovereign Lord and I am commanded to "rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS"... not just when I feel like it and things are going good.  Remind me to rejoice in my stress, sadness, and frustration.

May I experience peace in uncertainty.  Thank you for the great peace you have already shown me.

May I experience patience (Lord help me!).  Show me my faults so that I may not judge others so quickly.  Show me areas, people, and circumstances that I need to exercise my patience.  Give me the strength to do what's right and not what's easy.  Forgive me for my quick judgments.  I truly do not want the responsibility to be the judge. That's your job.

May I experience kindness, goodness, and gentleness and show it to others.  Help me to remember that we all have our insecurities and nobody wants them publicized or pushed.  God, soften my heart for others.

May I experience faithfulness.  You are a sovereign Lord and ALL that you do is for the growth of the kingdom and your people.  I believe that you are who you say you are and that your word is alive and powerful.  Use me.

May I experience self-control.  I am a weak being. Strengthen me.

Thank you for your word and blessings in my life.  I praise you for who you are...

Amen

Who You ARE

Written by a friend who did Living Beyond Yourself last year. I just got to the part that inspired this lovely rhyme. I love this study!!!

I Have Faith In Who You ARE
In a world that feels so black and white
Expected to do all by our own might
Lord, let me not have faith fueled by sight.
I thank you for who you ARE!

Strengthen me when I doubt or worry
Remind me of your redemption story
Let me have faith to bring you glory
I have faith in who you ARE!

Help me remember we are set apart
Our hope in you is where we start
Let me not seek your works, but seek your heart
I seek you for who you ARE!

You are unchanging and remain the same
That miracles can be done in your name
But if the answer is "no" I will still proclaim
I praise you for who you ARE!

***********************************************
Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock a and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him a must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

Psalm 117:2 For great is his love a toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Living Beyond... Myself

Patience

Tonight's Beth Moore video was about patience.  I can always judge my listening skills and conviction based on how much white space I fill in on my viewer guide!  Tonight was GOOD!

There are 2 kinds of patience...

1. patience in circumstances inspired by hope.

Hope inspires endurance in seemingly impossible circumstances. Hope is a positive outlook toward and expected end.  Not just blind "hope" that could be exchanged for the word "wish".  You truly believe that the thing you desire will happen.

2. patience with people inspired by mercy
This type of patience is impossible except when expressed by God through us. It is much more difficult to endure a difficult person than a difficult circumstance. Delaying of judgement - we cannot both judge others & be patient with them. God is the judge.... not me... more on that later.

We were called to deal with frustrating people to refine us. (good!  then we can acknowledge to God that we need help)
They bring out the worst in us.
They keep us from thinking too highly of ourselves.
They keep our pretenses from working (we can't pretend anymore)

Other tid-bits...

• Patience can be what we don't do... holding back... or what we do... putting up with.
• We know we are growing when God makes us different in the same, old, crappy conflict.
• Conflict + commitment prompts change
• Convenience never produces character.
• The practice of patience helps complete something lacking in us.
• 2 Corinthians 4:10-12... In any give relationship demanding patience, God could be working LIFE (salvation) in one person and DEATH (of impurities, habits...) in the other.

Judgment... Why we must not judge others...
(Romans 2:1-5)
1. When we judge others, we cause God to be harder on us.  (v.1) "At whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself."
2. We do many of the same things we condemn in others. (v.1)
3. We do not know the whole truth. (v.2)  We are incapable of reading minds or judging hearts.
4. We are mere humans. (v.3) & Isaiah 29:16 - "You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!"  We must withstand all temptation to assume God's job!
5. When we judge others, we are judging God. (v.4) To all of us, His long-suffering has been our salvation.
6. God's judgment is always righteous. Ours is tainted by the flesh.
(Matthew 7:1-5)
7. We risk application of the same type of judgment to ourselves. (vv. 1-2)
8. We cannot judge the speck of sawdust in another's eye because of the planks in our own. (vv. 3-4)
9. "There is only one lawgiver and judge" (James 4:12)
10. Only God has noble purpose in His judgment - We judge to make ourselves feel righteous in comparison.
(John 8:14-18)
11. God must agree with us for our judgment to be valid (v. 15)

Hoarder...

First, check out the Stuff Christians Like blog for today... it's really really really good!

I have been accused of "hoarding" negative emotions against people who have hurt me the deepest.  I admit that I am far from perfect.  The concept of "forgive & forget" has been one of the hardest to adopt in my life.  I come from a long line of Sicilian, grudge-holding women.  It is so hard to break that generational bondage.

A few years ago my world was turned upside down by someone very close to me.  I still get sensitive about it even when I'm not trying to.  It drives me crazy that I still get upset about it occasionally.  It usually catches me completely off guard.  I've learned to give it up quicker and not dwell in it for days.

One of the biggest turning points for me to forgive was to admit that even after all this time, I had not truly forgiven in the first place.  I also had to acknowledge that God is bigger than my problems.  I had not allowed Him to truly heal my broken heart, instead, I let Him put a bandaid on it.  It held me together until the sticky wore off!