Thought for the day: Attitude

Attitude
By:  Charles Swindoll

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.  It will make or break a company...a church...a home.  The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We can not change our past, we can not change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We can not change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with you.  We are in charge of our attitudes."

Thought for the Day: Keep Plodding Away

  

One of our most famous fairy tales....or fables....is the tale of the "Tortoise and the Hare"  An over confident bunny is caught napping while a plodding turtle finishes the race.  No matter how daunting your day may be, keep plodding away.  Though others may make fun of you and your path or your goal, pursue the race set before you with unswerving purpose.  Remember when you see a turtle that the going may be slow, but your Heavenly Father has equipped you to reach the finish line.  Your victory will be a great surprise to those who tried to discourage you  ----  you may even surprise yourself!!! 

The Learner's Permit

In the state of Tennessee, you can get your learners permit at the age of 15.  Well, Abby did not push getting hers, so I did not mention it to her.  She is now 16, and all of a sudden felt the urgent need to get that permit......she even said to us that she was behind everybody.  Everyone else had their drivers license, she needed to get that permit so she could start driving. I have the awesome pleasure of teaching our girls to drive.  It just seemed to be the natural thing to do since I was with them a whole lot more in the car than they were with their daddy.  I remembered the nervousness I felt not only for Olivia but for myself as we were learning to drive.......and now here we were at round two......., its Abby's turn.  

We took her to get her learner's permit and she failed the first test.  I remember seeing her face when they told her she missed  just one question too many.  And the question was about drunk driving.  She was crushed........I felt horrible.  Not that she didn't pass the test, but that I still had a couple of days before the driving began and my hair turned just a little bit grayer.  We waited the allotted  7 days, and this time her Daddy took her back to the testing center where she passed with flying colors.  Did he let her drive to school when they left the DMV and let her get some much needed practice in?   Why of course not........that job was for me.  I told him he was a chicken.  :)  LOL!

 Abby has been driving now for a couple of months, and I have to say that she is doing fairly well.  But, yesterday was a BIG day.  We were going to go driving on the Interstate.  Abby's sister, Leanna, had to be in Nashville and Abby asked if she could drive home.  I reluctantly said yes...........with major fear and trepidation I got into the passenger seat.........buckled in and said a quite prayer for safety.  Abigail got in the drivers seat.....buckled in.........adjusted her mirrors and off we went.  I am not going to lie............I was a nervous wreck!!!  I was putting my life in my 16 year olds hands while letting her drive down a 6 lane interstate with speeding semi trucks and cars!!!  WHAT WAS I THINKING??????  And, just where was her daddy during this very important moment of her life.........and mine?  

Off we go.....with me working hard to keep my voice at normal tones and levels and letting her concentrate on driving down the very busy I-24 Interstate back towards Murfreesboro.  With every semi that screamed past us, I was holding on to the seat praying.  I looked over at Abby and you could tell she was really paying close attention to what she was doing.....which was a relief in some ways.  She drove the speed limit, and we pretty much stayed in the far right lane.....where the slow cars drive.  All the way home from Nashville, she really did a good job but I had never been so happy to see our exit looming in the distance.  

We made it to our exit, and Abby pulls up to the merge sign and instead of looking at the traffic coming.......she just pulled straight out and merged without giving any right of way to the car that just about hit us and was slamming on their breaks.  I could see my life pass before me!  I screamed at Abby........STOP!!!!    NOOOO........GAS IT!  GAS IT!!  Poor Abby got all flustered and did exactly the opposite of what I was telling her and let off the gas.  It all felt as if we were in slow motion..............as slow as she possible could.......she pulled in front of this on coming car and very slowly got into her lane and very slowly kept going!  The car that we almost had a major car wreck with, honked their horn, got in the next lane and flew past us while still honking the whole time!!!  

"Abby.....merge means you stop and see if you can go....not pulling out in front of a speeding car!!!"   -----------    "I KNOW MOM!!!"   ----------------  "Then why were you driving soooooooo slow?  Why did you not gas it!!???!!!"  ------------------  "I don't know mom.....I kind of froze when I realize what I had done."  

My heart was beating soooo hard......I just could not hardly say anything else.  Abby drove the rest of the way home without incident and we arrived safe and sound.   Over all, she did very well.  But, I sure was glad that we were home and that our interstate driving lesson with on ramps and exit ramps was over!!

After our eventful day, I had to remind myself that Abby did not have a drivers permit.......she had a LEARNERS permit.  Thus, she was learning.  She had permission to learn.....and learn she would.  

Last night as I was laying in bed, I was thinking about our big adventure for the day and I prayed and thanked God for keeping us safe and sound.  But, I believe he reminded me of a few things.....I wonder if perhaps I got a taste of how our Heavenly Father feels as his children embark on their Christian journey.  Like Abby passing the written test, she felt like she knew all the rules.  We as Christians think that tooo.....we think we can keep our life under control, know when to stop, go,  slow down, and speed up.  Then we see a yellow light and we wonder......does that mean to slow down, or speed up and go through quickly without giving thought to merging.  

I have been caught in the intersection of life more times than I care to admit.  I've had times when I couldn't decide whether to go forward or stop or back up.  As a result, I found myself idling in the middle of my journey, holding up traffic.  I think on some of those days, God is saying to me,"Back up.  That's right, back up and wait until I give you a green light."  I've decided that when it comes to driving down the road of life, I only have my learner's permit.  He has never given me permission to take hold of the wheel and apply my foot to the accelerator without Him in the car.

SOOO......to my sweet Abigail Rae.  You really did do a good job on the interstate.....and I am proud of you for keeping your cool when I in my opera voice yelled at you about not merging correctly.  You have the right to learn....that's what a learners permit is all about and momma's going to work harder at not being soo nervous!   

Knowing God's Will For My HEART

 

Knowing God's Will For My Heart

I have been praying and praying for a long time now about knowing God's will for my life....for our family.  It gets hard sometimes because you want God to give you an immediate answer, and that is not how our God works.  God does not run on our time.....He runs only on HIS timing.  But prayer is the greatest tool we have to talk to God about the desires of our hearts along with the frustrations of having to wait and wait for that answer.  Make sure your waiting for God's answer....not the answer you asked for.  God always knows best and His answer may not always line up with what we were thinking, but He knows our future and what is best for us. 

But, there is one thing I can do.  I can know God's will for my heart.  When Olivia was a little girl, she was such a happy little one.  Her eyes sparkled every time something new would come along.  With all the wonder of a three year old, she found excitement and wealth in little things.  It really did not take much.....a brand new crayon, a ladybug on the windowsill, a squirrel on the bird feeder, a bracelet made from yarn, funny shapes of pasta and flowers blooming fresh from the ground.  Olivia found them all exciting and was soo very happy and grateful for them.  She would always scream for me to come see her surprising new discovery and I would rush over to see her delight.  One night at meal time, we asked Olivia to say the blessing over the food and she thanked God for all the wonderful new discoveries she had made that day.....forgot about the food.  I loved it, and am pretty sure God knew her heart while she was giving thanks for everything else.  Now that I look back on it, Olivia's life at the time was a reminder of the verse in Bible, " Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done!"  Col. 2:7  There is nothing sweeter than for a child to open your eyes and remind you of all that we have to be grateful for.

I've always been amazed at the children of Israel.  Have you ever seen such an ungrateful lot?  God frees them from their chains, drowns their pursuers, shades them with a cloud by day, provides them with a nightlight at night, brings forth water in the midst of the desert, gives them bread from heaven, talks one on one with their leader and promises them beautiful new homes in a land that will be all theirs.  What slave would have dreamed to have soo much?  But they are not thankful.  Worse....they complain!  I wonder what would have happened to their story if they had not complained.....if they had grateful hearts full of thankfulness.  Falling into the trap of murmuring is easy to do.  God's will for our lives does not include griping and grumbling.  We are called to an attitude of gratitude. 

Its and old saying that every cloud has its silver lining.  Days may seem bleak, and gloominess may settle over our hearts, but there is always something to be thankful for.  No matter what happens in a day, look for that glittering glimpse of heaven around the edges of gray.  May God bring us up short in the middle of a murmur and cause us to remember HIS will for our hearts......which is thankfulness. 

Knowing God's will for our life sometimes causes us to learn many lessons......one of which is patience and waiting upon the Lord.  But knowing God's will for my heart...is easy.  Gratefulness, being thankful and giving thanks even in the mundane.  Thank you Lord for reminding me.  

WATCH OUT FOR WORMS!

"Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world...

People who do not believe are living all around you. 

They might say that you are doing wrong. 

So live good lives.  Then they will see the good things you do,

and they will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again."
I Peter 2:11 - 12 

I've always had a desire to be fruitful for God.  Being fruitful for God isn't something you do all by yourself, free of outside interference.  Being fruitful for God is your every day walk that is full of ups and downs.  In one way, your fruitfulness is every one's business.

Think about where orchards and vineyards grow.....they grow outside!  Fruit needs access to the sun, the rain, and plenty of fresh air.  As a christian, your growing your fruit out in the open, too  ----  where people can see.  Your fruit is your life....the way you live your life.  God's kind of fruit always has to do with people because He cares more about them than anything else.  He loves His children, and He wants us to love them by serving them.  As you work on figuring out how He wants you to bear fruit, this will be your first clue:  It will probably have something to do with helping others.  -----  Helping others.....serving others.....befriending the unfriendly......loving the difficult.....serving others. 

But what if a worm gets loose in your orchard?  You have done something wrong...no one is perfect.  God did not make us to be perfect.....just willing.  But, people are watching all the time.  If you call yourself a Christian, people will expect you to act and behave in a way they can admire. 

Peter wrote that we should watch how we behave because there are people around us all the time who don't know much about God.  They do know that God's people supposedly do the right thing.  But if they see us behave poorly, they receive the wrong message.  It may look like our faith doesn't make any difference in the way we live  ----   that our standards of conduct are no better than anyone elses.

But Peter also says that the good things we do make a big difference.  When people see our good works, they will begin giving the credit to God.

I hope you don't get the wrong idea.  I hope you don't think that as soon as you make a mistake or a poor decision, you cant ever bear fruit for God again.  We are all sinners....saved by grace.....so we couldn't be more wrong.  The Bible is filled with stories of people who messed up then went on to do great things for God.  God never gives up on us, and He always offer us a fresh start.

The most important thing to remember is that your fruit tree is planted right out there in public.  Anyone can walk up and inspect the baskets of fruit your are producing for God.  Much of that fruit will be about loving and serving those people.  But watch out for worms!!  They say one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel. 

Can I Really Count It All As Joy?

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"

James 1:2

Can you imagine what it would be like if no one was willing to endure a little hardship?  What if Noah Had decided that the whole ark business was just too much work for a man nearing his retirement?

What if Moses had quit and gone home after the 3 plagues?

What if Joshua decided to tip toe past Jericho?

What if Esther was unwilling to reschedule a manicure?

What if David had declared that he did not like confrontations - especially with foreign giants?

What if Solomon had asked for cash up front?

What if Daniel had decided it was easier to try to fit in?

But, they didn't.  They had a job to do.....and they looked to God for their guidance with each step they took.  They counted it all joy.  It can be a monumental shift in perspective, but we too can count it all joy.... meaning we would need to change the way we think and instead of always seeing the glass half empty, we instead see the good in it and see the glass half full.  All our perseverance and endurance will result in both present joy and future joy.  It all counts.  

What does it mean to count your trials as joy?  I know its just not that easy for me to count any of my trials as joy.....especially in the mornings when we are getting ready for work and school and everyone has the morning  grouchies.  We each have different struggles, so personalize this concept.  What is on your list?  Do you have a list?  Write down what kind of struggles or trials you might have.  Its good to see those things on paper sometimes.  But when your looking at your list, ask God to give you eyes to see the bigger picture....the bigger perspective in order to find joy in our trials.  Pray that God will help you see things His way.

In God's way of thinking, everything that comes our way has a purpose.  The things we'd rather forget or do over again might be the very things He is using to make us stronger, wiser, and more trusting.  We are to count it all joy, even when life throws us a curve ball. 

Nobody's Perfect.....But Being a Good Example Sure Can Help!

I'd rather see a sermon, than hear one any day.
I'd rather one would walk with me - than merely show the way.
The eye's a better pupil - more willing than the ear.
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear.
And the best of all the people are the ones who live their creed,
For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.
I can soon learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done.
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true -
But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
For I may misunderstand you, and the high advice you give.
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
                                     By: Edgar Guest

Nobody's perfect.  I know some people think they are close to it...(hahaha) but, thank the Lord that nobody has it ALL together and is perfect in all that they do.  I used to think that some people (women/moms) had it all together.  But, as I get older I do realize that they dont.  Surely their house is not clean ALL the time......right?  ")

In my own home, I',m beginning to see more and more of my reflection as I look at my teenage daughters.  Thankfully I do see some good traits; but I also see some of my negative traits popping up from time to time.  It was a highly convicting moment when I heard my own daughter using the exact same whining words of complaint that I used in a griping session I had with my husband.

We have all done things that we regret.  I think of Peter who denied that he even knew Jesus  -  no once, not twice, but three times.  No doubt Peter felt like a failure.  Peter had to feel as if he could not build a church when he displayed some weaknesses.  But, he learned that God is a forgiving God.  He forgives us, renews us, and still uses us, despite our mistakes. 

After Jesus was resurrected, he came to Peter and asked 3 times, "Peter, do you love me?"  Peter answered, "Lord, you know all things; you ,know that I love you." And Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep"  John 21:17.  Peter had messed up, but God still had a great plan for Peter's life!  Peter would become the leader of the first century church, feeding the many followers who would soon come to know Christ as their Savior.

We are also bound to mess up from time to time.....at least I know I am.  And, some days its more than once!  Boy oh boy, I know that I mess up a LOT!  But I am so very thankful that the Lord has said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1John 1:9.  God can still use us, because God forgives us!  In fact, when we make a mistake, God can use us to teach our children by example how to come before him, repent, and accept his wonderful mercy and love. 

I just recently had to go to one of my daughters and tell her I was sorry for the way I acted and the things I said out of haste.  She accepted my apology and gratefully it is behind us now.  I want my life to be the best sermon and sermon example all three of my daughters will ever see or hear.  I do want my girls to be godly teenagers who grow up to be godly women.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  As my light shines for Christ, my girls will see my good deeds and praise the Lord - with their words and with their lives. 

It's sooo true......, Actions speak louder than words!!!  "The foundations of character are built not by lecture, but by bricks of good example, laid day by day."  -Leo B. Blessing

Lord, help my each step, my every breath and my fast moving mouth be a good example for my girls.  And, may that example always come from a heart that is willing to keep looking to you for guidance and strength.  Amen!

F.R.I.E.N.D.

F  -   a friend never fails to be faithful, even when others falter.  She wont say, "You're fat" (even if you are)or focus on your flaws.  She is the first to point out your finest features.  A friend will fortify your fragile frame.  She will free you to flourish.  A friend will never forsake you.

R  -  a friend is a rare and ready rock you can run to in the rain.  She will rescue you from rushing rivers - regardless.  She will revive your heart, refresh your soul, and reassure you of rapid recovery.

I  -  a friend is not impatient or impolite.  She will inquire about your day and include you in her plans.  She will identify your most incredible ideas and ingenious innovations.  A friend is interesting, inspiring, and indispensable.  She is the keeper of your most intimate secrets.

E  -  a friend is a friend till the end.  She is eager to listen and easy to talk with.  She's your most energetic encourager.  A friend will embrace you even in the midst of your most embarrassing encounters.

N  -  a friend will not nag (unless it is absolutely necessary)  Naturally, she  knows your deepest needs and is also nice enough to nudge you when you are neglecting your nest, being too nosy, or contemplating nonsense.

D  -  a friend is devoted and dependable.  Her destiny is to divert you from defeat, and her devices for depression usually involve the delicious.  It's a friend's divine duty to drown your disappointments and dispose of your dismay, and many times she does it in a most delightful way!

Thank you to my FRIEND!!!  -  I love you and believe with all my heart that God gave you to me.  You know who you are.  :)

A Daughter Is.....

A Daughter Is.....

A daughter is a new beginning

A daughter is an awful reminder of the

way you behaved at fourteen.

A daughter means that you will know the meaning

of the verb TO WORRY.

A daughter is the person to whom all that stuff

that has been twenty years in the attic belongs.

A daughter is your excuse for making a doll house.

A daughter spells out the end of monotony.

A daughter is the one who feathers her new nest

with feathers from your old one.

A daughter is the person you thought you would

stop worrying about when she hit twenty one.

But who is still worrying you silly at forty five.

A daughter is your part in forever.

-- Pam Brown  --



Thought for the day: Minced Words

Are you careful not to swear at all?  Or are you guilty of Minced swearing?  We have a bad word jar at our house and every time someone says a form of slang or even worse....a quarter goes in the jar.  It is soo easy to do, especially when you are working with or going to school with people who use bad language......and soo much of our slang is bad language.  Scripture warns against swearing in anyway, form, shape or fashion.  Ask the Lord to help you be a better testimony by using only language that will honor him.

"Do not swear  -  not by heaven or by earth or by anything else."

James 5:12

Thought for the Day: Facing the Music

Have you ever been in trouble and you had to face the music?  Meaning, you had to face your trouble head on and accept responsibilities.  Have you ever had to learn a hard lesson because of something wrong you did?  It leaves you feeling depressed and angry.  Confess your sin to the Lord, and let Him give back your joy.  Then the next time you are tempted to think you can get away with doing something wrong, remember that you cant hide sin.  Don't learn the same lesson all over again and again.   Psalm 34:11-18 & Numbers 32:33

Thought for the Day: Prayer

Why is praying sooo hard for us to do?  Praying is just a simple, heartfelt conversation with God yet for some reason we make it soo much more.  Do you only pray at mealtimes and betime, or do you pray about things all through the day?  God cares about everything you care about, and he wants you to ask for his help.  He is pleased to give it!  So, pray through your day.  Pray about the little things as well as the big things.  He's already listening without your realizing it, so might as well make it a prayer and draw closer to HIM!!!

Thought for the Day: Trust

Do you have an easy time trusting people?  What about God.....do you trust Him?  Do you trust God in times of disappointment?  Or are you quick to complain and fuss when things don't go as you want?  It's soo much easier to complain when things dont go right.  Just this week, I was complaining to my husband about how tired I was, yet I still had a full night ahead of me and I just wanted no part of it.  Once I got to the bonfire that I had to be a part of, I found myself enjoying it and really glad I came.  My attitude needed some adjusting, and I found out that I had spoken way too soon to complain when in all actuality, I very much enjoyed every bit of my evening.  If we are only truly trusting God, we can have a cheerful & hopeful attitude.  This only comes from him......and a lesson learned for me.  Dont jump to conclusions and complain about something that hasnt even happened yet.  -  Psalm 33:20-22 & Proverbs 15:15

Dont Be Jealous

Are you jealous of your brothers and sisters?  Does it seem as tho they are talented but you arent?  That is not true.  God has given certain abilitieis to each person.  It's up to you to do what God enables us to do.  Be thankful for your differences and work together.

"Work Hard and Cherrfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."  Col. 3:23

Thought for the day: A Measure of Faith

Are you claiming God's promises by faith?  God says, "I will supply all your needs."  Do you trust him to do that?  When you are in doubt, do you pray for the wisdom he promises to give you?  When you are afraid, do you remember his promise that he will never leave you?  Jesus said that faith as tiny as a grain of mustard seed could move a mountain.  Will you, by faith, claim God's promises?

"He has given us all of his riches and wonderful promises." 

II Peter 1:4 

AND READ II Peter 1 :2-4

Thought for the day: Happy vs. Unhappy

Does something in your life make you unhappy?  Do you wish you could leave it and go your own way?  Happiness comes from trusting God, even in difficult times, not from running away from problems.  Asking God to help us accept things we can not change.  Work hard to make life happy for those around you.  Read Acts. 16:19-25

"Those who trust the Lord will be happy."  Proverbs. 16:20

Noah's Wife

"Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have you righteous in this generation."  Genesis 7:1

Several weeks ago, I was reading the Bible about Noah and the ark.  Right now, I am focusing on my family and being a good wife.  I got thinking about Noah's wife.  I wonder about her.  Who was she?  What was her name?  What did she like and not like?  The Bible does not give us much insight about her......but, I do know this......she must have been an obedient person.  I read that in a survey they asked what the name of Noah's wife was, and one response was Joan of Arc.  Good guess.....but wrong ark.  Wrong time period.   Wrong person all together.

Noah was 480 years old when God told him to build the ark.  Are you reading me?  He was  480 years old!!!  Oh my word......in our times, that is some old, old bones building an ark.  It took him 120 years to build this boat.

So, what was Noah's wife up to for 120 years while the ark was being built?  Noah also had three sons and three daughter in laws.  What were they doing?  The Bible is not real clear on this.  I hope those boys of his were helping him build the ark.  But, what about Noah's wife?  Well, I would like to think that she was doing her part.  Maybe she started the preparation......such as: she started canning foods, gathering up foods, clothing, blankets, personal needs, and helping to furnish the various animals quarters for their trip.  I also think that she must have endured criticism, sarcasm and meanness from the towns people. 

Noah led his family into obedience, being the man of God that he was.  Can you see yourself building an ark?  Cutting down trees.....dragging them to the site......cleaning them up......raising, lifting and nailing them into place?  Lots and lots of splinters were going on during those days, I'm sure of that.  Can you see yourself as you write down, organize and gather up all the animals to put on the large ark?  What a job that must have been.  Chasing down animals, looking for them, setting traps to get them and then putting them on the ark and into their specific compartments.  I am sure Noah's wife had a part in all of this.  I'm sure she was a huge part in gathering up all their food to last the time they were on the boat.  Of course we do know this was our very first cruise ship.  Except for people, it was mainly meant for animals.  Then, as you enter the boat, the door closes.  Can you imagine having to listen to the towns people cry and ask for help?  What a burden that must have felt like. 

After almost a year in the ark, the whole family came out.  They were all alone!  Everyone had drowned.  Noah and his good wife became the 2nd father and mother of the human race.  WOW!!!  We serve a God who is faithful to those who obey him.  Only a few may receive the recognition of a Noah, but all of us can be included in His plans.  I think I will name Noah's wife, Mrs. Noah.....an amazingly obedient wife and woman.  She had to have a heart full of obedience that was anxious to hear from God and her husband.  God uses little people to make big changes.  He sees us through the storms.  Then, he blesses us with one of a kind rainbows!!!

Thank you Mrs. Noah for your amazing example of grace, for your example of obedience and for your example of working hard.  For without you, Mr. Noah could not have done all that he did. 

I'm a Cracked Clay Pot

Please let me say in the beginning that I am giving you this story from a book I have at home......a book about depression and how to overcome it.  The story goes as follows:

Many years ago in India, a water carrier trudged from his home to the river every day.  There he would fill two huge clay pots with water and then put them on his shoulders, a stout pole holding them in place.  He would then return to his home and use the water in his daily tasks.

One of the pots was always sad during the return trip.  This is because small fissures ran across its surface, allowing water to leak out.  By the time its master had gotten to his home, fully half of the pot's water was gone.  Because it love the master, this pot felt guilty for being such a poor container.

One day the pot got up enough courage to speak to its master.  "Oh sir, I am so sorry to cause you so much trouble."

"What are you talking about?" asked the master.

The pot was ashamed.  "Because I am such a poor container, I waste the precious water you gather.  The cracks in my surface make me unworthy to help you anymore.  I wish to be thrown away."

Smiling gently, the master said, "You have completely misunderstood.  There are other pots without cracks I could be using.  You have seen them by the side of the house.  Haven't you ever wondered why I insist on using you instead of them?"

The pot had to admit it had often wondered this very thing. 

"It's because you can do something for me none of the others can do."

"Me?"  The clay pot was incredulous.  "I have cracks and fissures that make me weak.  How is this possible?" 

"I am the master," the man replied.  "I see and plan things you do not begin to understand.  But this once, I will show you how you are uniquely valuable to me."  And picking up the cracked clay pot, he began walking toward the river.

"Do you see how beautiful the flowers are on this road?"

The pot nodded with wonder.  It had never really noticed the beauty evident on the journey to and from the river.  Instead, it had always focused on its weaknesses.

"After filling you each day, I always make sure to put you on the shoulder closest to the side of the road.  As I walk, your cracks and fissures allow the water to trickle out and nourish the soil between the river and our home.  As a result, this portion of the land is more beautiful than any other."

The pot was stunned.  "Do you mean to say I have had a part in bringing about this beauty?"

The master nodded.  "It is only because of your system of cracks and fissures that these flowers have been able to bloom.  Your weaknesses, given to me, have become your strengths.  Through them, together we have created wondrous beauty!"

I am a cracked clay pot.  Not a crackpot, mind you!  But a vessel lined with cracks and fissures.  When I focus upon my weaknesses, I never see the beauty in life's journey.  When I place too much guilt upon myself, I never notice how God wants to use me.

But, when I give myself and my depression to God and allow him to use me  -  weaknesses and all  -  then he will begin to show how his strength is made perfect in me.  He will draw my attention to the lives touched by my compassion and sensitivity.  My heavenly Father, who loves me soo deeply allowed his only Son to die for me, and you, and will take yours and my weaknesses, and out of them create works of wondrous beauty. 

I want to thank HIM for using me for his glory.  And one more thing....Look UP and enjoy the journey!!!

Livie-Love's Friends

Olivia has many, many friends and I have had the pleasure of getting to know them.  What a joy it has been to be a part of their lives and to get to know them.  And what a joy it has been for Olivia to bring them into our home and allow me to be a part of her life and thier friendships.

Kelsey R.  .....  a an amazing young lady who is without a doubt a strong and resilent human being.  She has been thru soo much in her short life, yet she moves on, smiling and singing......and tripping her way thru life.  I have loved her since the day I met her.  Olivia and Kelsey met in middle school and from that day on they have been friends.  Now.....they have been friends with their ups and downs.....but, they have always managed to bring themselves back together and love each other.  Truth be known, I know without a shadow of a doubt there is nothing either one of these two would not do for each other.  I pray that they remain close even when school is over and they move on to college.

Hannah Marie  =  our red head beauty.  She also has been a part of our life for at least 4 years or more.  God has given her the gift of humor.  This young lady has spent many hours at our house and never has she been here without laughter errupting all over the house.  She introduced Olivia's sisters to the world of hair dying and she always makes sure to give me hugs and let me know how much she enjoys being around.  We also have had our ups and downs, but we just all hug each other and move on.  Hannah has a home life that is backwards.....what I mean is her mom works nights....sleeps days .....so, she does not see her as much as she would like, but boy oh boy does she have a fierce and loyal love for both of her parents.  I am proud of Hannah and all the accomplishments she has made in her highschool years. 

Victoria Ashley Morrow  =  Out of all Olivia's friends, I know Viki the least but do know that she is a piece of Olivia's heart.......and that's good with me.  They are both in clubs at school together, they study together, they laugh and laugh together and they stand up for each other.  I have never seen the two without something mischievious looking in their eyes.  :) 

Olivia, Sarah and Kelsey.....color guard buddies.  They have done it together and gone thru it together.  This is the first year they have had to wear all the makeup and boy has it been an adventure.  But.....they LOVE color guard.  They work hard at it, support it, practice it and it always shows when they are on the field.  But, the best part of it is when they are in the stands.  They smile, laugh, sing and move along with all the band music at  the top of their lungs!!!  I LOVE watching them have fun.  What an amazing group of young ladies.



Thank you Olivia for sharing your friends and your life with me.  I have cherished every moment of it and I of course, cherish you!!!!

Congratulations on being a senior!  You ROCK!!!!

Being Still is Hard For Me!!!

"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.  Be alert, be present.  I'm about to do something brand new.  It's bursting out!!  Don't you see it?  There it is!  I'm making a road thru the desert, rivers in the badlands."  --Isaiah 43: 18-19  (The Message)

My life has always been somewhat mapped out for me!  Growing up the daughter of an amazing dad who is an Evangelist, we traveled a lot, went to church on a nightly basis, sang the hymns every nite, played the piano every nite, home schooled and traveled some more.  No, I do not think this was a crazy or boring childhood.  In fact, the opposite.  My dad made it an adventure and I believed in it!  As I went thru college, it was classes, homework, papers tests, chapel and work.  Then from that season of my life I moved on to marriage.  With this new adventure came all new responsibilities of a husband, children, pets, a home, extended family, bills and much, much more!

As I look back at my childhood, teen years, college engagement & marriage, I am afraid I have not taken much time to be still.  I have never had a true sabbatical.  A sabbatical is a time of approach to God with open hands and open heart and a time to day, "God, renew me; speak to me; prepare my heart for new things YOU want to do in my heart."

I truly believe we have seasons in our life.  And I do believe God is preparing me to move out of one season and into another.  He is moving me into another space in the house of my life.  While I am very excited about what is coming up, I am also worried and scared to death.  It feels like to me a season of newness.  What is coming up for my family is new!  Of course I want to be in the center of God's will during all of this...but I do know I have a tendency to take over at times.

What about you?  Do you feel as if you are in the center of God's will when things are changing?  Or are you at a place in your life where it seems stagnant?  I am longing for God to do something new with my life.  The first step is to express that to God.  Then SIT and be STILL and listen to God.  IF you are sensitive to His will and want to find His best for you, you can be assured that He will respond. 

Often we think of new beginnings on January 1 with resolutions.  But God is about the business of change and new business far more frequently than that.  God is a God of new things.  I found that multiple times in the Bible David urges us to "...sing to the Lord a new song."  For example: 

 "He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what he has done and be astounded.  They will put their trust in the Lord."

Psalm 40:3

"Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.  His right hand has won a mighty victory, his holy arm has shown his saving power!"

Psalm 98:10

I have made plenty of mistakes and the devil loves reminding me of them.  But these verses give me hope that God is in control!  I love to sing, and apparently King David did also because He mentions in these verses (and many more) to sing a song of Praise to God for what He has done!  So every chance I get, I am singing a song of praise!  God has not just done some amazing things in our past by dying on the cross,  He's the God who's doing some amazing things now!  He simply wants us to come to Him and ask for daily times of refreshing, especially when we are in our valleys. 

"God, what new thing do you want to do in my life this season?"  That's the question I have for God when things are changing all around me.

Running Late

I have a confession...I am perpetually running late.  I admit it!!!  My husband hates being late...and I seem to always make him late.

Definitely need to work on this....prepare in advance a little better....get up earlier....get the girls moving faster.....

Is the impossible possible?  hhmmmm.....I'll let you know!!!

Leanna's a cheerleader!!!!



Leanna's a cheerleader!  Several years ago, she asked her dad and I if she could try out for cheer leading...to which we reluctantly said yes.  It's not that we did not want her to have this opportunity...its just that she has not had any formal training at a gymnastics gym...and all teams require that now.  I was just afraid she would not make the team and then we would be scooping her up off the ground in tears.  But...we did agree to let her try....and try she did.

I have to say that I am rather proud of her spirit of working hard and really "trying"!  The week of auditions, they had cheer camp every day after school where they learned a cheer, a chant, a dance routine and jumps.  Then, on Friday they had auditions.  Before the auditions began, they gave each girl a number and told them that later in the evening the roster would be posted on the school doors and to look for their number....not their name.

Bobby's sister was in town, so we went over to his parents house to have a cookout and visit with her.  Leanna was pretty quite while we were there....nervous about her auditions.  Around 7 p.m., she asked me if I would driver her over to the school to see the posted roster.  All the way over to the school, she did not say one word...and I was sitting there thinking about what I was  going to say to her when she did not see her number posted.  I had it all planned out...I would hug her...tell her that there is always next year...and then offer to take her to Sonic to get ice cream. 

When we arrived at the school, there was a young lady standing looking at the roster with her mom and she was crying...she obviously had not made the team.  I looked at Leanna and asked her if she wanted me to go with her to look at the list and she said that she wanted to go by herself.  She walked up to the door...looked at the list...turned around and looked at me with her mouth wide open!  I rolled down my window and asked her if she was OK, and she said in a shocked manner, "I made it!"  I jumped of the car...walked up to the door and asked her what her number was.  11....the number is 11.  I took my turn looking at the list....."OH MY WORD!!!  YOU MADE IT!!!"     Needless to say, we both were excited and started jumping up and down!

That was 4 years ago.  Leanna has been cheering ever since.  Her gymnastic skills and tumbling have improved amazingly and she works hard.......what is ever soo surprising to me is that she works hard at all of this without me ever having to push or nag her.  I am proud of her and her accomplishments.  The picture above is her and and two of her best buds.....who happen to be cheerleaders also.!! 

Sooo.....GO LEANNA....GO BLAZE ...... GO BLACKMAN  and GO MOM AND DAD'S POCKETBOOK!!!!    hahaha!!

Three Girls!!!

I have heard it said over and over again that God will not give you anything too hard or too complicated in your life that you can not handle.  But, I really cant wait to meet God someday and ask Him why He seriously thought I could handle 3 girls.  And not just three girls......3 TEENAGE girls at the same time!!!  aaauuuuggghhhh!!!!  :)

Olivia  -  she reminds me daily that she will be graduating soon.  She is SO excited about this new step in her life that she can not hardly wait.  She is definitely proud to be a SENIOR and is counting the days down.  Of course, this has us looking at colleges, filling out college applications and trying to understand all the scholarship processes.  But, how can she be old enough for all this to be happening?  I mean didn't we just go to meet Mrs. Thompson her kindergarten teacher at Southside Elementary?  While I am in shock at where all the time has gone, I am proud of her and her accomplishments.  I pray for her earnestly.....and for me.  She is the first born.....bossy at times, never late to anything, keeps all her things in order, somewhat of a perfectionist, and loves to make a good grade........thus she studies and studies without any pushing or prodding from me.  This  will help her in college, for sure.  :)

Abigail  -  She's driving now too.  She just got her drivers permit and she is in the process of learning to drive.  We actually just got back from a driving lesson where Abby drove me to the store and had to park in a parking spot that was somewhat tight to get into.  I think I lost 7 of my nine lives while she was backing up, pulling forward.....backing up, pulling forward and finally into the spot without hitting anything or anybody.  OH MY WORD......while she as proud and I was smiling proudly at her.....my insides were screaming!!!!  Abby is a junior this year in school which means we ordered her class ring.  She is very much excited about this.  She designed it all on her own and is proud of what she did. 

Leanna Claire  -  Is a freshman this year at school.  Of course, Leanna has been 20 years old since the day I brought her home from the hospital.  She is only 14 right now, but she looks much, much older than that.  Leanna is a cheerleader on the football team here at the high school.  They are also a competition team.  She is an alternate this year which is new for her......she has never been an alternate before and this sort of upset her.  But, she is fine and I am fine with it.  This team is a big team and along with it comes BIG responsibilities.  I am proud of all that she is accomplishing, but am glad that she does not have to much to worry about when it come to competitions this year.  While having a year off is tragic to her....its a nice break for me. 

There are definitely days and times when I think that I just can not do it.....keep up with all the drama, hormones and fussing that goes on in our home.  But, then I do know that if my mom could raise 3 girls...then so can I!!!  Thanks mom for the inspiration for not gibing up on me, Beth and Amber......and then Peter.....which is a whole nother story for another day!  :) 

OVERUSE OF WORDS!

Words...everyone has words that they overuse.  Like those of us who use the work "LIKE" ten times in a sentence.  You know what I mean?  Oh...that's another one ... "You know what I mean?"  And there's "ALL".  "I'm ALL .... and they were all, and then all of them..."  I have a friend who says "Literally" all the time.  For instance, she will say, "I literally froze to death" or "I literally starved to death that day".  She doesn't mean "Literally" literally, because she did not literally freeze to death or literally starve.  She just literally exaggerates.  :)

Then there are those of us who run out of steam while talking and say, "...etc" or "yada, yada, yada"!  Here at work, a gentleman came up to the front desk and was asking for directions and then began telling me a story of how he got lost once.  At the end of a sentence he actually said, "...dot, dot, dot."  He said this instead of etc., or yada, yada, yada.  I of course thought this was funny.  He actually said his punctuation at the end of his sentence.  That is like me saying to my husband, "Do you have the time....question mark?"  or how about, "You look great tonight,...exclamation point!" 

When I was in college, a group of us started the use of a word to proclaim all our emotions.  The word was "Tree".  Strange, I know.....but, after awhile...it really became part of our vocabulary.  If we were frustrated, "TREE!!!!"  If we were excited, "TREE!!!"

I am just as bad as anyone else when repeating the same word over and over and over,.....you know what I mean?  :)   

Noise, Noise, NOISE!!!

The TVs on in two different rooms.   Music is playing in Leanna's bedroom.  Abby's is upstairs on the PlayStation, and it of course is noisy.  Both the washer and dryer are running.  The air conditioner is blowing.  The dishwasher is washing.  Bobby is in the garage working with his nail gun and saw table....the generator turning on and off in the background.  We all even sleep with a fan on at night...not for the air circulation...but for the noise.

Bobby and I were talking about how noisy we are.  He said he thought it was called WHITE NOISE.  I thought that was a scary movie.  White Noise....what a strange term...they even have machines out that are called white noise machines that play different sounds...birds chirping, waves crashing, rain with thunder, etc.

Although white noise carries benefits, I think that I have allowed it to drown out other things in my life.  I can, at all times, let the busyness of my life become like white noise.  My to do list gets longer and longer each day.  Emails at work demand my attention.  Friends ask for favors.  My church needs volunteers.  My children are in need...always!  My house needs cleaning.  The laundry needs to be put away.  And all my body wants to do is take a long nap!  All of this becomes white noise to my soul.  It causes me to become hard of hearing...to just about everything around me.

Last night, I was trying to watch the news, fold the laundry and help Leanna with homework all at the same time!!!  I heard Leanna talking to me...but I had pretty much tuned her out.  All of a sudden I realized that she was saying, "Mom, mom, mom,mom, ....APRIL!!!"  I looked at her an d she said, "Will you please just listen to me?!"  I felt bad.  I felt very bad.  I put the TV and all the other things around me in front of my daughter.  What she had to say was not earth shattering, but it was important to her and I was not listening...too much white noise on in the background...I had tuned her out. 

Soo, for today I challenge you, along with myself, to try and have a quiet day.  Of course, there is noise all around us and there always will be.  But, take time to listen, really listen to those who love you and that you love!!!  Take time to talk to God...who loves us more than we could ever imagine.  Take time to listen to what He might be saying to us.  Take time to eliminate some of the white noise of busyness in your life (and in mine) and spend time with your family.  .......I know I will!  :) 

T.V. Drama

When I watch the "Super nanny" I tend to feel better about the behavior of my girls and my ability to be a mom.

When I watch "Wife-Swap", I feel a lot better about my personality dis-orders because no matter how off centered I am, I could never qualify as a contestant on that show.....I am just wayyy to boring!  (By the way....I don't have a personality disorder....just joking.  :)  )

When I watch "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?"  I feel like I am really dumb all over again, and might need to take 5th grade all over again.

When I watch "Deal or No Deal", I am sure I could pick all the right suitcases, but also feel somewhat stressed when they are not picking the right case...why couldn't they just stop with what the banker offered them?

When I watch "Wheel of Fortune" I scream the letter and word our right before the person the TV does...which makes me feel as if I said it first....but really know in my heart that I did not.

And when I watch "Family Feud", I know that with my sister and brother, Amber and Pete, on my team, we would always win the feud!!!

Wrinkled Prayers

One of my quirks is that I hate wrinkled clothes.  While laundry is my least favorite thing to do, I do like to iron.  Strange......I know. 

Last night, I was catching up on tons of laundry and doing a lot of ironing.  My problem is I do the laundry and instead of immediately hanging it up from the dryer, I put it on the bed and move onto something else.  Then, eventually I get the ironing board out, put a good movie in and start getting rid of those wrinkles!! 

I came across one of my girls shirts which is a button up and cotton.....lots and lots of wrinkles!!!  I sprayed it down with starch and went to work.  Ironing, pressing, steaming my way thru.  This shirt was definitely a challenge, ..... but I WON!  It sure did look good hanging there on the hanger after I was done.  I think I even saw it sparkle a little. 

While I had been ironing, I had been praying.  Bobby and I are going thru a valley right now and some days I can see clearly and some days I cant.  We all have burdens and request that we need to lay at His feet, and I was talking to God about each one of them.  But sometimes we don't know what to say when we are praying about our valleys.  We are just not certain what to ask for.  SO, when we pray our prayers seem unclear and confused...as if they are not getting anywhere...a little wrinkled.  Other times we actually ask for the wrong things because we don't know what the best solution for the problem would be...we ask for what we want instead of asking for His will to be given....again they are wrinkled.  Our prayers become messy --- like my wrinkled shirt.  But, I also know the Holy Spirit straightens out those prayers so when they get to God the Father, they are all "neat and smooth" and make perfect sense.

Sometimes I am uncertain what to say when I pray.  But I do know God wants me to come to him with anything, and everything.  The Holy Spirit knows our hearts and knows our burdens and concerns.  This is a good lesson for me to learn....that if I will allow Him  to , God will smooth out the wrinkles in my life.....starting with my heart and my prayer life.

"The Holy Spirit helps us in our distress.  For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words." Romans 8:26

Wont you join me in ironing out the wrinkles of our prayer lives?  Let's pray freely to God and watch how smoothly it all goes!!!  :)

A Pact With The Zipper

According to recent reports from the home front, I am the only mother in the whole world, maybe even the universe, that wont let her daughter wear pants with a 2 inch zipper.

My grandmother has always said that the more covered you are, the more mysterious you will be to a young man and I'm all about keeping kids bellies and backsides captivating.  If they get sick or frostbite (or something worse) all because of a tiny zipper, I would absolutely be sad.  

Am I the only one who thinks a zipper serves a purpose?  I think that its inventor, Whitcomb Judson, would be very put out to learn that zippers are decorative items now.  All that hard work to get it to open and close  -  for what?  Judson called it the clasp locker, and I think he was on the right track, especially with the locker part.  Its bad enough that his invention was ignored at the 1983 Worlds Fair, but now, a second slap in the face.   Judson originally designed the zipper so that a bodily area could slide in an item of clothing and stay IN.  He spent his life's work on a closure to prevent exposure! 

My deep sense of respect for this great American inventor, and my old fashioned fashion sense inspire me to make my case for a minimum of a 4 to 6 inch zipper.  It would allow for at least some protection from "the elements".  It's not like I am asking for a one foot long or anything, just enough to cover all the bases.

While I think this is reasonable, according to sources close to me (which would be my daughters) , I stand alone on this matter.  All other parents see nothing wrong with low, way low risers, and I am single handedly  ruining my child's life and reputation.  Oh, the guilt I feel. Will this be my undoing.   (ha ha  -  that would be a stretch!)

The exact location of her navel, and all other navels under my care and supervision, will remain undisclosed.  It is a security issue, on many fronts, and some backs.

But I do worry.  Will the zipper someday be reduced to only some fancy stitching instead of having any teeth to it?  Will the clock's pendulum swing the other way so that once again we cover the back and fronts of the next set of teens?  I am not hanging on the edge of my seat to find out.

As far as the zippers function on my daughter's clothing, I am for FULL CLOSURE!

How do I handle all the complaints? (and yes, I occasionally have a complaint from someone in the household)   They can zip  it!

Attitude Makes All The Difference!!

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only 3 hairs on her head.  "Well,"  she said,  "I think I will braid my hair today!" So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.  "HMM', she said, "I think I will part my hair down the middle today."  So she did and she had  a grand day.

The next day, she woke up and looked in the mirror and noticed she had only one hair on her head.  "Well"  she said,  "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."  She did and she had a fun, fun day!

The next day she woke up and looked in the mirror and noticed that there was not a single hair on her head.  "YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!!"

Attitude is everything.  Be kinder than necessary , for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Shared with me by a friend.
Writer:  Anonymous