Abundant Life Coaching from Coast to Coast

March 12, 2010

Time to Turn Around

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) "He (God) is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven."

Friend To Friend

Several years ago, an interesting cartoon appeared in the Saturday Review of Literature. Little George Washington is standing with an ax in his hand. In front of him, lying on the ground is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his smug admission that he did it because, after all, he "could not tell a lie." However, his frustrated father is standing there saying, "All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is when are you going to stop doing it?"

That really is the question we need to be asking ourselves. We often soothe our bothered conscience with admissions of sin, presenting them to the Father in obedience to the spiritual principle that we must confess our sin. One element of true confession goes a step farther, resulting in a changed lifestyle and behavior. It is called repentance. I once associated the command to repent with old-fashioned gospel meetings and screaming preachers on television. In reality, repentance is the very cornerstone of genuine forgiveness and gives credibility to the very act of confessing sin. To repent simply means to "turn away from." When we choose to turn from our sin and turn to God and His ways, we are practicing true repentance.

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of a prostitute who came to Jesus Christ seeking forgiveness. Her story is a beautiful illustration of authentic repentance, the result of her unabashed willingness to abandon her sin and seek God's forgiveness.

Luke 7:38 "As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

Notice that this woman stood behind Jesus like a "caught" child ashamed to look her Father in the eyes. I am certain that her guilt and sense of unworthiness prevented her from facing Him. Just being in His presence made her doubt everything about herself but nothing about Him. Standing so close to Him completely transformed her and she began to weep. Jesus was as pure as she was sinful. Every ugly thought, word or deed of her past must have flooded her heart and shattered it.

Tears of sorrow and joy spilled down her face onto the feet of the One - the only One who truly loved her. Those tears were the first genuine prayer of her life. She then let her hair down in total submission, dropped to her feet and began to dry the feet of Jesus with her hair. The social custom of the day demanded that women keep their hair bound up. To let it down was considered a brazen act and could even be grounds for divorce. But this woman was beyond caring about social custom and earthly rules. She was conducting eternal business, finally finding what she had been searching for in every wrong relationship, every failure and every dead end choice. She found Jesus!

This woman began kissing his feet and pouring perfume over them, totally oblivious to the condemning stares, lost in the wonder of His love. The word "kissed" literally means "to kiss again and again." She somehow knew that He understood everything she could not say and loved her in spite of her great sin.

It is very important to notice that Jesus did not move away from her. He did not condemn her or stop her. Jesus Christ knew exactly why she was there and He was thrilled! He saw her heart and received her humble action as an acceptable gift of worship. Jesus looked past her sin and saw her heart crying out for forgiveness. I love His response to this woman recorded in Luke 7:48 "Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven'." The verb tense of "forgiven" indicates that this forgiveness of sin was completed in the past, continues through the present and will keep working in the future.

Forgiveness is our greatest need and God's highest accomplishment, a complete and eternal gift bestowed on those who truly confess their sin.

Let's Pray

Father, I recognize that I am a sinner in dire need of Your forgiveness. I come to You right now, repenting and turning from the sin that has separated me from You. Thank You for Your forgiveness and love.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Are you ready to make the following commitment? Read aloud the following statements as your decision to deal with your sin - God's way.

I recognize the truth that forgiveness demands repentance. I now choose to confess and turn from the sin in my life. I will destroy any paths that might lead to those same sins. I will trust God to forgive me and empower me to keep turning from that sin. And I choose to do so right now - today!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

More From The Girlfriends www.girlfriendsingod.com

Just Because You're Mine

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Friend To Friend

Anabel Gillham was a woman who loved God, but had trouble accepting that God could love her. Sure, she knew the Bible verses that talked of God's unconditional love for her, and yet she knew herself, and doubted a God who knew her innermost thoughts would approve or her.

The root of her problem was how she saw God and how she believed God saw her. She knew what kind of God He was. She read, Exodus 34:6, "Then the LORD passed by in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth…", but she believed she had to earn that love. She believed she had to be good enough to deserve it. Then God used a very special person to help Annabel understand the depths of God's love for her - her second child, Mason David Gillham, who was profoundly retarded. Let's let Anabel tell you her story.

Mace could sing one song with great gusto, just one: "Jesus Loves Me." He would throw his head back and hold on to the first "Yes" in the chorus just as long as he could, and then he would get tickled and almost fall out of his chair. I can still hear him giggle when I think back on those days that seem so distant and so far away. How poignant that memory is to me.

I never doubted for a moment that Jesus loved that profoundly retarded little boy. It didn't matter that he would never sit with the kids in the back of the church and on a certain special night walk down the aisle, take the pastor by the hand, and invite Jesus into his heart. It was entirely irrelevant that he could not quote a single verse of Scripture, that he would never go to high school, or that he would never be a dad. I knew that Jesus loved Mason.

What I could not comprehend, what I could not accept, was that Jesus could love Mason's mother, Anabel. You see, I believed that in order for a person to accept me, to love me, I had to perform for him. My standard for getting love was performance-based, so I "performed" constantly, perfectly. In fact, I did not allow anyone to see me when I was not performing perfectly. I never had any close friends because I was convinced that if a person ever really got to know me, she wouldn't like me.

I carried this belief into my relationship with God, and as I began to study the Bible, I found, to my horror, that He knew my every thought, let alone everything I said or did (Psalm 139:1-4). I was standing "bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God" (Hebrews 4:13), TLB. What did that mean to me? That meant that He really knew me, that He saw me when I wasn't performing well. Based on what I perceived as my responsibility to perform in order to receive acceptance, I concluded without a doubt that He could not possibly love me, that He could never like what He saw.

Mace could never have performed for our love, or for anyone's love, but oh, how we loved him. His condition deteriorated to such a degree - and so rapidly - that we had to institutionalize him when he was very young, so we enrolled him in the Enid State School for Mentally Handicapped Children. We drove regularly the 120 miles to see him, but on this particular weekend, he was at home for a visit. He had been with us since Thursday evening, and it was now Saturday afternoon. As soon as the dinner dishes were done, I would gather his things together and take him back to his house. I had done this many times before - and it was never easy - but today God had something in mind that would change my life forever.

As I was washing the dishes, Mason was sitting in his chair watching me, or at least he was looking at me. That's when it began. My emotions were spinning, my stomach started tumbling, and the familiar sickening thoughts of just a little while, I'm going to start packing Mason's toys and his clothes, and take him away again. I can't do that. I simply cannot do it. I stopped washing the dishes and got down on my knees in front of Mace. I took his dirty little hands in mine and tried so desperately to reach him.

"Mason, I love you. I love you. If only you could understand how much I love you."

He just stared. He couldn't understand; he didn't comprehend. I stood up and started on the dishes again, but that didn't last long. This sense of urgency - almost a panic - came over me, and once more I dried my hands and knelt in front of my precious little boy.

"My dear Mason, if only you could say to me, ‘I love you, Mother.' I need that, Mace."

Nothing.

I stood up to the sink again. More dishes, more washing, more crying - and thoughts, foreign to my way of thinking, began filtering into my conscious awareness. I believe God spoke to me that day, and this is what He said: "Anabel, you don't look at your son and turn away in disgust because he's sitting there with saliva drooling out of his mouth; you don't shake your head, repulsed because he has dinner all over his shirt or because he's sitting in a dirty, smelly diaper when he ought to be able to take care of himself. Anabel, you don't reject Mason because all of the dreams you had for him have been destroyed. You don't reject him because he doesn't perform for you. You love him, Anabel, just because he is yours. Mason doesn't willfully reject your love, but you willfully reject Mine. I love you, Anabel, not because you're neat or attractive, or because you do things well, not because you perform for Me but just because you're Mine." (Anabel Gillham, The Confident Woman: Knowing Who Your Are in Christ, (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1993), 26-29)

Hearing Anabel's story transformed my thinking about God's love for me. For years, I lived as though I had to be "good enough" for God to love me. I understood that salvation was a gift of grace - a free gift from God that I did not earn - but somewhere I began believing the lie that I had to perform properly to keep the gift. I feared if I was not good enough, He would take it back. But that is a lie.

I am enough…because Jesus lives in me and the Holy Spirit works through me. And friend, so are you.

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me just the way I am. I thank You that I don't have to earn Your love, but receive it as a free gift that You lavish on me! And God, I thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Look up the following verses and note what you learn about God's love for you.

Psalm 52:8

Romans 8:38-39

Ephesians 2:4-5

1 John 4:10

1 John 4:16

Never Give Up Parenting a Difficult Teen

Mark Gregston

Heartlight Ministries

If you're dealing with a wayward teen, you know how relationally fatigued, emotionally beaten up, and personally worn down you can get. In fact, you may right now be thinking, "I've been pushing against this wall forever…I just can't do it anymore." But let me encourage you to never give up…keep parenting, even when the going with your troubled teen gets toughest.

I understand just how confusing and tiring it is. I've spent most of my life working with dozens of struggling teens at a time! So, here are a few ways I've learned to cope…

Overcome Worry and Find Peace

I have learned that in the midst of the worst storms with teenagers, peace is still possible, and peace can spread from you to your teen. It's infectious! The first step to find peace is to shift from worrying to meditating on God, entrusting the problems — and your teenager — to Him.

Peace is the direct opposite of worry. The situation with your teen won't improve when you worry. In fact, when worry takes control, it usually makes matters worse for everyone. So, where does the tendency to worry come from? Well, we know it doesn't come from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Peace can grow in your heart when sitting in the presence of the Lord, "being still." It is difficult to accomplish these days, as every minute seems to be filled with the hustle and bustle of 21st century life. However, when quality time with the Savior is given priority, peace can come amidst the turmoil.

The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty One who will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you by His love;

He will exult over you with loud singing.

-Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Begin by spending a few minutes daily focusing on your relationship with God and reading His Word. It may mean changing your sleep schedule in order to wake up a little earlier, before everyone else. Or, it may mean you need to take regular breaks away from home to calm down, collect your thoughts and meet with God. You will come to know that God is able to quiet the worry in your heart with His love.

You might also visit someone who is a positive spiritual encouragement; attend a retreat to focus on God, or simply go on relaxing walks. When you do, avoid the distraction of electronic media, which can overpower what God may have to say to you. It is in those quieter moments, alone with God, that He can provide you with a new idea, a new approach for managing your problem with your teen, and a new perspective of resting in Him.

Seek Help with Change

If you could fix the problem with your teen yourself, you would have done so by now. After all, your best thinking has you where you are at this point, and it doesn't appear to be working. So, it could be time to get some help from a pastor, a professional counselor, a medical doctor or a psychiatrist. Find a support group and don't be afraid to ask for help. Try something different, and keep trying. It may even be that something within you or your spouse needs to change before you will see difference in your teen's behavior. If so, be open to whatever change needs to take place.

Learn to Recognize Progress

It's easy to be so overwhelmed by problems with your teen's behavior that you fail to recognize any progress. Progress is not "problem solved." Progress means steady improvement. So, if your child is screaming at you every day, and then only yells at you once every other day - then that's progress! Finishing some of his homework, when he previously did no homework, is progress. Effective parenting requires that you look at the big picture while focusing on just a few problems at a time; then applauding any progress, no matter how small. Refuse to make your teen's lack of a complete turnaround to be your constant disappointment. Turnarounds rarely happen overnight. Instead, applaud every step in the right direction, even if it is a small one.

Change is a personal matter for teens. They bristle at the thought that their parents or authorities are trying to "change them." They may or may not be comfortable in their own skin, but they'll fiercely defend who they are now and how they think. When they feel you are trying to "change them" you'll have an even bigger battle on your hands. Instead, recognize progress when it happens, and shift the discussion from "changing them" to the specific things they can do to improve their own future.

Adjust Your Expectations

Huge expectations hardly help anybody. It is better to realize that parenting teens is more like a marathon amidst a minefield, than a sprint through a flower garden. Chances are high that your teen will not have a smooth run down the road of adolescence, and it is better to expect some difficulties and prepare for them.

I say this because most of the parents of the kids I help are great parents. The kids I deal with are also usually great kids; they're just experiencing a blip on the radar screen of their life. Their spin-off into another realm has caught their parents by surprise, and they are at a loss to know what to do. I give them advice and help them know how to handle things, but most of all I say to them, "Don't expect perfection, and don't quit."

Keep in Mind that Teen Problems are Usually Short-Lived

Teen problems usually have to do with hormones, immaturity, and brain development. They are fueled by struggles for independence, identity, and the testing of beliefs. But all of this is just a phase! That's why, in the midst of the turmoil, you still need to stick with them, even if you don't feel your teen deserves it. The goal during the battle is to keep your relationship with your teen alive. God doesn't give up on us when we fail. He gives grace. Are you willing to give your teen the same grace?

Over time, your relationship with your child will change for the better, but only if you don't quit on them. It is tempting to just give up and let them run (and ruin) their own life, but for the rest of your life, knowing you hung in there will be your rich reward. So decide right now, "I'll never, ever quit." And through it all, remember this; the wrong idea of God is that He is too great to care. The right idea of God is that He is too great to fail.

Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, national radio host, and the founder of Heartlight, a residential counseling opportunity for struggling adolescents, which houses 50 teenagers. Learn more at http://www.heartlightministries.org or call 903-668-2173.

Since Roe Vs Wade in 1973 over 40 MILLION abortions have taken place, demonizing human life(mother's & baby's) but there are laws & foundations protecting animals ~ endangered species. When did protecting and idolizing animals & 'mother' earth become so much more important than protecting a little boy or girl, the future of AMERICA, a 'soul' that lives forever? Humanism is an awful lie to by into!

Changing our way of thinking!   Pro-life/Pro-choice

An aqaintance of mine, Diane, challenged me in my way of thinking and this is her story:

Diane's experience with a 70 yr. old woman in her little town.

Her approach to voting was always to be Independent of any party and vote in each election based of her own liberal leaning agenda. She voted for Regan and Carter for different reasons. Just background on her politics.

I ran into her a couple of years back, under the pavillion at our County Fair where I was manning a republican info table. She was manning the democrat table next to me. PERFECT : )

I asked her, as I know her pretty well, why she was a Democrat? All the dealings I have with her on town matters she is quite fiscally conservative. Her answer was,"I don't think the government has the right to tell a woman what to do with her body". "I don't either", I said." I am pro-choice. I just think women should choose LIFE."

From here, she began to use the typical arguments for abortion based on incestuous rape,gang rape, and other manners of discusting ways that a women can be violated. When finished she was astonished that I did not agree with her that in these cases, abortion is SURELY justified. I responded as I usually do, the innocent life you are snuffing out had not a thing to do with the actions that caused the pregnancy. Adding murder of an innocent does not erase that which has been already done. However, making a plan for adoption, flips the karma and balances the evil deeds done to you with the life giving and loving gift to a loving family. The ordeal can be left where it should be, in the past and a woman can move on KNOWING she did the very best she could to deal with one of the the most ugly of all crimes against women. She admitted to me that she agreed with what I was saying and I had made her think more about her feelings on it.

After about 2 months, we saw eachother again at a town thing. She approached me with a hug. I was feeling a little nervous because the "karma" arguement was an on the fly stratagy for dealing with this lady in particular. She dabbles in Buddism and other peaceful practices(as she calls them) so I knew she would have a hard time reconciling her "peaceful" tendencies with the act of violence that abortion is. She was tearful as was I when she squeezed my hands and told me she had decided it was hypocritical to practice peace while advocating death of innocents.

She votes conservatively now and is a visible force in our town for the right to life! It worked in this case and has worked since, many more times. Are there any other ways that you have tried? Converting liberals doesn't have to be hard it just has to speak to them from where they come from. Find the" sweetspot" and exploit that (in a good way). Changing hearts and minds is what saves the lives of innocent babies.

Having stupid, time consuming and expensive resources wasted in government to study and examine and craft a way to take choices from you and your family,can be better used to make life changing impacts on society.How many people has she saved in the last 2 yr's? How many have I saved? Probably will never know that.

Guaranteed,more than the federal government!

I am thinking about writing a book. Failure And How I Achieved It: AGAIN. I just have a talent for not getting it right. It amazes me how many times I can fall down, even on the lessons I've spent a lifetime learning. I have 3 weeks of great devotions, then for a week, nothing. Doris and I have 20 wonderful days together then I will get crabby, cranky, and contrary. I do so good at staying truthful then out of the blue I will exaggerate to the point of lying. (Like I just did when I said I have 3 weeks of great devotions before I miss.)

A couple of days ago we took Jon-Mical to the local tennis courts and let him run and chase tennis balls over this huge expanse of green concrete. He'd run great. (We'll as great as a 2 foot tall, 21 month old kid can run.) Then all of a sudden he would just fall. No hole to step in. No object to trip over. For no reason he would just sprawl out on the pavement, little hands outstretched, face down. Just like my walk with God.

Then he'd do an amazing thing. He would hop back up and start running again. He never looked back. He didn't stop to analyze the fine points of kinetic energy, optimum balance, and gravity. He just started running again. Full of life and joy, enjoying the next steps.

I guess there is a lesson to be learned there. (You knew there would be, didn't you?) We are all going to fall. You might stay on your feet longer than I do. You might not make quite as spectacular a splash when you go down, but I promise you this, you will fall. Remember the verse of scripture, "Where two or three are gathered together, one of them will take a nose dive." (Mike 4:15) It's just the way we live in a fallen world, fallen.

The good news is we don't have to stay down. We do not have to remain on the pavement. If there is one thing I have learned it is that falling is not final and failing is not fatal. Listen, fallen brother or sister, God loves you as much when you are nose down on the sidewalk as he does when you are flying down the track. He does not give up on you. Let me say that again, He does not give up on you so don't you give up on yourself. Here is a real verse, I John 2:1 says, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin (fall). But if anyone does sin we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ the Righteous One."

So, try not to fall. Keep fighting the good fight. Keep running the race. But when you fail (and you will), hop up. God is not finished with you. He has so much more growing for you to do. Hey, maybe you could write a book about it?

Thanks for your prayers,

Mike Courtney

Branches Recovery Center

www.branchesrecoverycenter.com

Waiting for God's "Immeasurably More"

Cindi McMenamin

Author of When Women Walk Alone

Lori looked away as she sat across the table from me and told me something she knew I didn't want to hear.

"It's not that bad. I was over-reacting. Besides, it's better to have a little pain with him at times, than to be alone."

Lori was choosing to stay in a dating relationship that was clearly unhealthy and unsafe. I knew God had more in store for Lori. But Lori apparently didn't believe that. And she was settling for far less than she should.

So often we, as women, settle. We think, at times, that it's better to stay with a boyfriend who mistreats us - verbally, emotionally, or physically - than to have no man in our lives at all. We reason that it's better to stay at a job that we hate, than to look and pray for something better. We would rather be around negative people who bring us down than to feel we have no friends at all. And when we settle like that, we are clearly saying to God and others that He is not capable of giving us anything better.

I remember feeling that way, too. I had just met the man of my dreams. But he lived 1,000 miles away. And my on-again, off-again boyfriend of four years lived just across town. That relationship was convenient. It was comfortable (for the most part....except when I was crying my eyes out!). And it was better to be with someone, than to be alone, I remember thinking.

It was my sister who finally burst my unbelieving bubble with the truth.

"If you settle for what you have now, you are denying God the opportunity to bless you with a man who will love you like He intends for you to be loved. Don't break God's heart that way, Cindi. Let Him bless you with His best for you."

My fear to make a change was denying God the opportunity to bless me? God used those words of my sister's to convince me to trust Him and walk out of an unhealthy dating relationship that was slowly drying up my soul. And as I did?God proved Himself true to His Word. God had something far better for me. He was just waiting for me to believe it.

In Ephesians 3:20, we are told that God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

In another translation, that verse reads: "God can do anything you know, far more than you can ask or think or imagine in your wildest dreams?." (The Message).

Now I can imagine quite a bit. I'm sure you can, too. And yet God promises to outdo far more than we can even imagine or dream up. That's pretty spectacular, if you really think about it. That gives us a glimpse of just how big and just how perfect our God is. He is a God who is able to do immeasurably more.

Are you settling for less? Do you know that you can do better in your dating relationship or your job or your present circumstance, but you just don't have the strength to make the change? Or are you holding onto something bearable because you feat God cannot bring you anything better?

Whether it be an unhealthy relationship or a job that is sucking the life out of you, you could be settling for second place when God has first place waiting for you in the wings.

Psalm 84:11 tells us "The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

The God who counts the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30), and records your days in a book (Psalm 139:16), and has thoughts of you too numerable to mention (Psalm 139:17-18) wants to blow your expectations out of the water by coming through in a mighty way for you. So let me ask you: How big is your God? You answer that question by what you are willing to accept and what you are unwilling to expect.

Lori ended up trusting that God had immeasurably more for her. She asked some friends to stand by her and hold her accountable, and she gained the strength to walk out of her hurtful relationship. She believed she'd be walking into a realm of loneliness, but she trusted her Lord, anyway. Today she is happy, healthy and blessed beyond reason.

Expect immeasurably more, my friend, when it comes to God's plans and purposes for your life. For you have an immeasurably big God who is waiting for you to believe it.

Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker and the author of several books, including 'Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs' and 'When Women Walk Alone.' For more on her ministry, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.

One of the best things in this world is being a mom.  I am truly blessed by God to have the joy and sometimes heartache of being a parent.  The awesome responsibility to train up a child with the foundations of my Christian faith and heirs to a Kingdom with wealth far greater than what we can ever imagine or understand.  They are princesses in God's Kingdom.

I woke up this morning with my youngest in bed.  I covet getting a restful nights sleep, otherwise I am a grouch, and no one likes a grouchy mama!  There is no rest with Alexandria being in bed with me.  She sleeps so close that she ends up being apart of me.  When I turn over she rolls right with me and I end up sleeping on the edge.

It's a season of waiting in my life right now.  I don't like being here but know that I need to wait on the Lord.  His timing is perfect and He NEVER messes up!  Unfortunately, when I try and take control and move things faster, I end up messing the whole thing up and making a really BIG mess!!   I know that and am doing my best to wait patiently.  It doesn't mean there aren't  times that I still don't try to do it my way or that I like waiting at all.  After about 30 seconds I start pacing, 40 seconds I start wondering why it's taking God so LONG, about 60 seconds later I am meeting with the Lord to let Him know that He's taking WAY TOO LONG and He'd better hurry up!  Then the thought of, 'if it's going to get done, I'd better do it myself.'    

I know God has my best interest in mind and He knows and is preparing me for what He has in store.  I know that and I believe that.  And God wants me to be as close to Him as my little one.  When God leans in to speak to me, He wants me to lean in too.  When He rolls one way, I am supposed to roll with Him.   He's on the edge of the bed, so to speak, protecting me from a fall/lesson that doesn't have to happen.  If I'm close to Him and wait on Him, there is no way I will go over the edge unless I move Him out of the way.  By reading my Bible daily and taking my time to absorb what I've read and let it steep into my heart, to meditate on it, is how I stay close  to Him and make sure I don't fall.

I know that soon my season of waiting will be over and I will look back and wonder why I thought it was so tough and unbearable at the time.  I know that God is continuing to prepare me for His plans, the people that will be in my life and I in theirs,  those people who fit like a glove and be in harmony with and those that will stretch me to the breaking point.  I am always learning and growing and am thankful that God is with me on my learning curve! 

I know I will be glad I waited on the Lord!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Philippians 4:6

I would LOVE to extend an offer to Craig Allen to become one of the site members of this website God has blessed me with.  Please email me so I can send you the information!

Thank you!

Your sister in Christ,

Lori

I LOVE this time of year!

The leaves are changing from green to brilliant colors of yellow, orange, brown and red, and then drift to blanket the ground below.  Us ladies will pile them up a few times, jump in them, throw them around and have fun.  Fall signifies the end of the hot untamed busy summer, to a new beginning for school and more routine schedules.  The farmers are harvesting their crops here in Tennessee and it takes me back to memories of growing up in Idaho.

When I was a child we'd travel back country roads between Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Marsing, Parma and Fruitland areas, which where all farming communities,  to see family or take a day drive.  The Fall air was always full of onions, fresh hay being cut and sweet mint and I always knew where we were when we'd pass the sugar beet factory or the cheese factory.  Periodically we'd see onions or sugar beets, sometimes even potatos on the sides of the road from falling out of the transport trucks.  We'd always egg dad on to run over the ones left in the road and see how many we could hit.  Sometimes we'd come across wild asparagus that grew along side the road and we'd stop to pick enough for our family.  It's also that time of year for small community rodeos, love those cowboys, trips to the Berry Patch, Corn Mazes, walks along the Green Belt and Boise River, and last minute camping before it gets too cold.   Another favorite thing we'd do this time of year was to stop at the fruit and veggie stand on the way to Marsing by Lake Lowell, or the fruit stand by my great aunts house on the Snake River in Marsing, go to the Bruneau Sand Dunes, or the Owyhee Mountain Range and ride motorcyles. 

I'm often reminded of all the praying I did as a child and the life lessons we were taught as we took those back roads in Idaho.  Many of those opportunities I take to teach my children today and pray they will do the same with their children. 

My beautiful Fall morning's start with the sun just creeping above the roofs and peering through the tree branches as if it's too tired to wake up.   I begin my days usually with a warm drink and the Word of God.  Sometimes it's all I can do to get out of my warm cozy bed to spend time with the Creator, but I also know how important it is and it makes the day go so much smoother when I do. 

I enjoy watching the girls catch the bus and head off to school.  When they're gone and the house is so quiet from the morning's hussle and bussle to get ready,  I find myself enjoying that peace and quiet time.  I actually covet that time now.  It's a great time to pray and find myself praying for their day and opportunities for them to share with others their love for Christ in the public school they attend.   No matter where I go or what I am doing I find myself in prayer.  When I'm decorating our home for the Fall with deep reds, oranges, yellows, golds, and browns, cooking or  baking as our home is enfused with the smell of fresh baked bread or cookies, or when I'm singing and dancing around the house like a teenager, if you could only see me!  I find myself praying for strangers in the grocery store,  the kids crossing the street, the people looking for their lost dog or cat,  when I'm driving and for the people involved in the wreck I just came upon, the ambulance that sped past me, for the person I just accidently cut off,  friends, family, strangers, and some days for God to keep my head above water!  Most days are smooth sailing but there are some days I'd love to just crawl under a rock and disappear!  I'm so thankful that the latter doesn't happen often, but when it does happen, I have some wonderful Godly friends who are there for me.

I'm blessed to be able to be home when the girls get home.  I anticipate the bus's arrival and am anxiously waiting for them and pray their ride home is uneventful.  It's that time of year they bring home TONS of fundraisers, there's football and baseball games, homecoming, dances, and  PTO meetings.  There's lots to do and pray for.  When I think of my life's motto, simplicity, I am reminded that my life is anything but simple.  That is something I will have to work on this year as I clean out all the "stuff" we don't need.  Some of it will be thrown away and some of it we'll give to others that need more than we do.  Simplicity is a lifestyle I look forward to having and am anticipating how God will bring that around!

The Fall country evenings begin with the sun setting sooner and the cool crisp air tends to hug me as I hang out on my back porch and watch the beautiful sunset.  It's a great time to get the firepit lit up and roast marshmellows and make smores!  YUM!!  The stars glow in the pitch black and I just am in awe and wonder at how awesome and majestic our God is.  All of this he created for us!  It's a great time for the girls and I to look for satellites and shooting stars, to talk about God's creation and all he's done for us.  It's time to praise God and thank Him for the plentiful harvest and all He's provided for us.  More than enough!  It's just amazing how the whole day can be spent with God from the time I wake up till I lay my head on my pillow.

This time of year often signifies things coming to an end for most people.  For me, it signifies a new beginning.

May God be apart of all your teaching moments and new beginnings!