Yesterday afternoon, I took Allie shopping for a Homecoming dress. It was quite the experience. She seemed to know where she wanted to go, and her friend Austin, and Timm went with us. Now, Allie does not have a date to go with, (which is fine with Mom and Dad), but she was in a great mood to try on clothes, which doesn't happen often. She even let the boys pick out a couple of outfits for her to try on.
She had us laughing at some of her descriptions of how some dresses fit. Two of them, she wouldn't even come out of the room because she stated that they were not covering enough of her. But in spite of it all, we had a successful trip and she is now the proud owner of a pretty Homecoming-esque dress. Everyone approved. Well, except Dad. He stated that it was too revealing, but that is his job to say that.
I asked Allie who all are going to the dance and she said she had no idea. She says everyone she asked if they were going were either not going or not sure yet. She is kind of disappointed in her "friends" because they do not seem in to going. Austin is going, but not as her date.
She is pretty excited about getting dressed up and going to this dance. I hope she does it. Her self-confidence is good, but she is wanting to have fun and do more with her friends. To her, friends are very important right now. They are what matters and for her, they are hard to come by. Trust is a big issue with her. Luckily, we all know that God can be trusted and he will bring her and you what is needed. It may not be understood, but God has that plan for you and when it unfolds, you will go, "Oh, now I see."
Psalm 31:14 "But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Let us all pray we have the trust that God will bring us through whatever we need.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Family Time
This morning, on my way to work, the gas light came on on my dashboard. I am not surprised by this. I knew I would need gas soon, but not on my way to work. Well, I decided I would stop and get gas. So I pulled in to Ameri-Stop and reached for my wallet. Uh-it's not there! Man! I couldn't get gas! I left my wallet at home.
Let's see, I took it out of my purse to get the kids lunch money. Oh, it's still on the desk. Well, let's pray I have enough gas to get me home & to the closest gas station. Running out of gas isn't the worst thing that can happen. But not getting your tank filled up is. I am not talking about your vehicle's gas tank. I am talking about your soul.
Every week, we know of people who seem to be letting things get in the way of a service. Right now, I am guilty of this. I am the kind of person who has always believed that anytime the church doors are open, I should be there. But I am also learning that with a family, you need to make time for them. This is why I am not as into Sunday evenings or Wednesday Bible Study. I have tried to do my laundry on other days of the week, but Sunday seems to be the best day for us. And with football season, all the Junior High games, except maybe 1 is on Wednesday. Luckily they are early, 5 PM, and I am the type of parent who wants to be there to support my kids in all they do. But the next two Wednesdays are away games. I can not get there before the game is over, so Mike will have to pick up the slack when he can. It's hard, but thank goodness for texting!
So my original point to all this is that you have to find ways to fill your soul-tank. I have choir practice and I have Sunday morning church and Sunday School. I also have my own study of the Word and this devotion. Both help me when I have had a bad day. I know in a few years that I will be back to helping out when I can and going to church on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. But for now, justified or not, I am wanting to raise my children to know I love them and support them. They know God and that He is the most important person in their lives. He isn't coming second or last because we pray, we talk about Him, and I try to involve them in as much as they can handle. Allie is going to be helping out with the Children's drama again this year and Timm is going to the Junior High Retreat in a few weeks. They go to Sunday school and help me out with choir and whatever else they can be involved in.
Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Luke 18:17 "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Let's see, I took it out of my purse to get the kids lunch money. Oh, it's still on the desk. Well, let's pray I have enough gas to get me home & to the closest gas station. Running out of gas isn't the worst thing that can happen. But not getting your tank filled up is. I am not talking about your vehicle's gas tank. I am talking about your soul.
Every week, we know of people who seem to be letting things get in the way of a service. Right now, I am guilty of this. I am the kind of person who has always believed that anytime the church doors are open, I should be there. But I am also learning that with a family, you need to make time for them. This is why I am not as into Sunday evenings or Wednesday Bible Study. I have tried to do my laundry on other days of the week, but Sunday seems to be the best day for us. And with football season, all the Junior High games, except maybe 1 is on Wednesday. Luckily they are early, 5 PM, and I am the type of parent who wants to be there to support my kids in all they do. But the next two Wednesdays are away games. I can not get there before the game is over, so Mike will have to pick up the slack when he can. It's hard, but thank goodness for texting!
So my original point to all this is that you have to find ways to fill your soul-tank. I have choir practice and I have Sunday morning church and Sunday School. I also have my own study of the Word and this devotion. Both help me when I have had a bad day. I know in a few years that I will be back to helping out when I can and going to church on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. But for now, justified or not, I am wanting to raise my children to know I love them and support them. They know God and that He is the most important person in their lives. He isn't coming second or last because we pray, we talk about Him, and I try to involve them in as much as they can handle. Allie is going to be helping out with the Children's drama again this year and Timm is going to the Junior High Retreat in a few weeks. They go to Sunday school and help me out with choir and whatever else they can be involved in.
Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Luke 18:17 "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Are you Tough?
Are you tough enough? I heard a joke the other day. 'Chuck Norris doesn't mow his lawn. He goes out and dares it to grow." Now that is tough. Some days I am good and some days I am this scared, sad person who wants someone else to take over. I may put on a good front, but if it wasn't for God, I would never even function properly. My hope rests in him. He helps me be tough enough. He gave me my husband, who gives me a lot of support and strength. I hope I do the same for him.
You can be tough and still be dependent on others. I think I am tough, but I depend on God for a lot of that. I also depend on God for my salvation. I depend on my family for love and support.
Psalm 62:7 "My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge."
So I guess you don't have to be tough enough. You just have to be tough enough to depend on God.
You can be tough and still be dependent on others. I think I am tough, but I depend on God for a lot of that. I also depend on God for my salvation. I depend on my family for love and support.
Psalm 62:7 "My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge."
So I guess you don't have to be tough enough. You just have to be tough enough to depend on God.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Love Them
I am sad today. One of my favorite teenage crushes has died. Patrick Swayze, the actor who made dancing cool in the nineties, being a bouncer glamourous, and making us believe that love transcends death, has died. He was definitely an actor that I did enjoy watching on the big screen. How will he and the other actors of this year that have died be remembered?
There is quite a bit of controversy around Michael Jackson's death. Farah Fawcett may be remembered 20 years from now as a beautiful pin-up poster. Ted Kennedy will be history books, I am sure. But what about all the brave soldiers who died fighting in the war in Iraq and other countries around this globe? Family, friends and admirers will all miss them. Their names may be honored on a plaque in their hometown or in their family home. But you and I will never remember all of them. Only the people who have touched our lives in some way.
Do you want to remember someone in a special way? Do you want those around you to know how much you care? Tell them every day. This world needs more of us to tell each other that we love them and we care for them. I have a group of friends that I talked to just about every day. I have my family, but these people I make sure to tell every day that I am thinking of them or I care for them. It is now a habit that we all have. It makes me feel better that they know how I feel and that they are as comfortable telling me how they feel.
To each of you that read this, I want you to know that I appreciate you. I love you with the love of the Lord. James 2:8 "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right."
Tell someone today how you really feel. You might be surprised in their reaction, or you might feel closer to them.
There is quite a bit of controversy around Michael Jackson's death. Farah Fawcett may be remembered 20 years from now as a beautiful pin-up poster. Ted Kennedy will be history books, I am sure. But what about all the brave soldiers who died fighting in the war in Iraq and other countries around this globe? Family, friends and admirers will all miss them. Their names may be honored on a plaque in their hometown or in their family home. But you and I will never remember all of them. Only the people who have touched our lives in some way.
Do you want to remember someone in a special way? Do you want those around you to know how much you care? Tell them every day. This world needs more of us to tell each other that we love them and we care for them. I have a group of friends that I talked to just about every day. I have my family, but these people I make sure to tell every day that I am thinking of them or I care for them. It is now a habit that we all have. It makes me feel better that they know how I feel and that they are as comfortable telling me how they feel.
To each of you that read this, I want you to know that I appreciate you. I love you with the love of the Lord. James 2:8 "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right."
Tell someone today how you really feel. You might be surprised in their reaction, or you might feel closer to them.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Happy Labor Day!
Hooray! Today is the last day of summer hours. Honestly, I am happy about that. This day is not getting over fast enough either. For the past week I feel like I have been on edge. I don't know why. I can't sit still and I can't concentrate. I honestly think I miss being with my kids. But that is weird because they are in school and then at band practice and football practice. So they wouldn't be home anyway. I am thankful that tomorrow is a half day and then a long weekend.
Labor Day is here and I am appreciative to my company for giving me Monday off. I will be laboring at home with laundry and such, but as for celebrating Labor Day? Well, tomorrow night is a big Friday Night Lights football game, then two more games Saturday morning. Sunday is church and that evening is a get-together with my parents, family and friends. I hope to get to watch the WEBN Fireworks that are put on down on the Ohio River in Cincinnati. They are always a highlight. We turn up the radio, turn down the tv and watch them. So cool.
What does Labor Day mean to you? For me it means the end of summer. I do try to remember and appreciate God for letting me find a job and the abilities I have to do the job. That is always a good thought.
Psalms 90:17 "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands."
Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is here and I am appreciative to my company for giving me Monday off. I will be laboring at home with laundry and such, but as for celebrating Labor Day? Well, tomorrow night is a big Friday Night Lights football game, then two more games Saturday morning. Sunday is church and that evening is a get-together with my parents, family and friends. I hope to get to watch the WEBN Fireworks that are put on down on the Ohio River in Cincinnati. They are always a highlight. We turn up the radio, turn down the tv and watch them. So cool.
What does Labor Day mean to you? For me it means the end of summer. I do try to remember and appreciate God for letting me find a job and the abilities I have to do the job. That is always a good thought.
Psalms 90:17 "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands."
Happy Labor Day!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Pray for the Singer
This coming Sunday, I am singing for special music. The song I am singing is one that I found months ago and couldn't get out of my head. I actually did sing it on a Sunday night in July, twice, in fact. So for the 15 or 20 people that have heard it, I hope you will enjoy it this time.
This song is one I used in a devotion a while back, during Dad's treatments. It is called "God Is Good" and it is sang by the Southern Gospel Group, Legacy Five. It talks about how all through my life God has been good no matter what I have been through. There have been sadness, joy, pain, but no matter what, God has been good.
I have been practicing this song, but I can't get the words in my head. The chorus is easy, but the verses seem to throw me. I think it is because for me, they hit so close to home. This song talks about how with God you can face your greatest fears.
The problem I am having is that when I sing this song, I cry. I hate that. I love a song so much that I have to sing it, but I can't. I have been practicing this song for quite a while and it is never far from my thoughts. That is how much I love this song. I want to do a good job for God and for all of you that will be there to listen to it. I want to get the message across that God is good in my life and that is my testimony. But I don't want the tears that come from the feelings I have lose the translation. There have only been two other songs that I have sang or practiced that have done this to me. The first one, I sang several years ago called "Try Jesus". The other is one I have not sang yet. It is called "Another Soldier Is Coming Home". I is one that I can even talk about.
So pray for me this week as I practice and try to get this song ready for church. Pray that God will give me the strength to sing it, that his love will come through and that each of you will hear the words and appreciate the love for this song I have.
Psalm 13:6 "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."
This song is one I used in a devotion a while back, during Dad's treatments. It is called "God Is Good" and it is sang by the Southern Gospel Group, Legacy Five. It talks about how all through my life God has been good no matter what I have been through. There have been sadness, joy, pain, but no matter what, God has been good.
I have been practicing this song, but I can't get the words in my head. The chorus is easy, but the verses seem to throw me. I think it is because for me, they hit so close to home. This song talks about how with God you can face your greatest fears.
The problem I am having is that when I sing this song, I cry. I hate that. I love a song so much that I have to sing it, but I can't. I have been practicing this song for quite a while and it is never far from my thoughts. That is how much I love this song. I want to do a good job for God and for all of you that will be there to listen to it. I want to get the message across that God is good in my life and that is my testimony. But I don't want the tears that come from the feelings I have lose the translation. There have only been two other songs that I have sang or practiced that have done this to me. The first one, I sang several years ago called "Try Jesus". The other is one I have not sang yet. It is called "Another Soldier Is Coming Home". I is one that I can even talk about.
So pray for me this week as I practice and try to get this song ready for church. Pray that God will give me the strength to sing it, that his love will come through and that each of you will hear the words and appreciate the love for this song I have.
Psalm 13:6 "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Gift of a Child
Have you ever watched a show called "18 Kids and Counting"? It is a reality show without the made-up drama. The family that is followed is the Duggars from Arkansas. They are a God-fearing, wholesome family who have 18 children. Is that wonderful or crazy? Does it really matter?
People immediately decide to judge the parents because they have had so many children. Why is that? To you and me that may seem like a lot of kids, but to the parents, Jim-Bob and Michelle, they are so happy that God has blessed them with each child. They have lots of love and a firm grounding in the gospel. They believe that each child is a gift and are raising them to be loving, wonderful kids. In fact, their oldest son is now married with a child of his own on the way.
Mike and I love each of our children very much. Even if they don't understand why we do things the way we do. Sometimes they see the here and now and not the bigger picture. Our children are wonderful individuals whom I hope we are instilling a love of God and of others in. That part isn't too hard, but the angst of just being a young adult/teen/pre-teen in this day and age is so scary. I pray everyday for my kids and their friends. I ask God to watch over them and to help them make good decisions.
I also pray for each of you and hope that you feel God's loving hand on you. Remember that God loves you and no matter what He is in control of our life.
Psalm 10:12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
People immediately decide to judge the parents because they have had so many children. Why is that? To you and me that may seem like a lot of kids, but to the parents, Jim-Bob and Michelle, they are so happy that God has blessed them with each child. They have lots of love and a firm grounding in the gospel. They believe that each child is a gift and are raising them to be loving, wonderful kids. In fact, their oldest son is now married with a child of his own on the way.
Mike and I love each of our children very much. Even if they don't understand why we do things the way we do. Sometimes they see the here and now and not the bigger picture. Our children are wonderful individuals whom I hope we are instilling a love of God and of others in. That part isn't too hard, but the angst of just being a young adult/teen/pre-teen in this day and age is so scary. I pray everyday for my kids and their friends. I ask God to watch over them and to help them make good decisions.
I also pray for each of you and hope that you feel God's loving hand on you. Remember that God loves you and no matter what He is in control of our life.
Psalm 10:12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
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