Be Still

Last week was to be an extremely busy week for me. We had planned a soup supper for two of our church's Sunday School couples' classes to be held on Saturday, November 2. Everyone was invited to bring their favorite soup to share and either a dessert, bread or drink. We love opening our home to our friends and fellowshipping apart from church.

I had a daily to-do list because I was trying to avoid the last minute mad dash to get the house cleaned and ready. I was so pleased with myself for being organized. Believe me, it's rare enough of an occurrence that it should have been celebrated!

Then I fell.

What can I say? I'm far from graceful. I was standing still at my vanity mirror, then I stepped backward to turn around. I stepped right out of my backless shoe, lost my balance, and landed on my right hip.

Thankfully, my husband works from home. I was able to text him and tell him I'd fallen and I couldn't get up. Yep, I used those exact words.

For two days, I could do absolutely nothing. Sitting hurt. Lying down hurt. Bending down was impossible. Standing was a bit more comfortable. I iced the area non-stop and took anti-inflammatories. But I could do nothing to help prepare for the party.

I had tons of things to do and couldn't really do any of it. But I had a great deal of time to reflect on my misery. And I heard that still, small voice of God whispering, "Be still." Oh, that is so hard!

My family worked overtime to pick up the slack. The house was immaculate. Our friends had a wonderful time, if the amount of food consumed was any indication. Everything went off without a hitch.

Now I know I needed that time to rest. God knew it and even when I struggled to accept it, He extended grace to be still.

What about you? Do you need to be still and rest for a few minutes? Or even a few days? I know we're all busy. We're pulled in all different directions on a daily basis. But sometimes we need a recharge. Don't be afraid to take a few minutes for yourself to rest each day. And don't let an accidental fall be the reason you have to.

Tragedy in Connecticut

I sat glued to my TV yesterday afternoon as the horrific details of the elementary school shooting in Connecticut emerged. Twenty young children, all with their lives ahead of them, dead at the hands of a crazed gunman. Twenty sets of parents who won't watch their children open up his or her Christmas presents this year. Twenty families who will never, ever be the same. And the adults who were killed - their families are grieving too. As we go about our holiday celebrations in the coming days, these people will be burying their loved ones.

As more details are revealed in the coming days, there will be much discussion on gun control and perhaps mental illness. We will seek to place blame somewhere, anywhere in an attempt to understand this senseless act.

I know where the blame lies. It lies in man's sinful heart. There is evil in this world. We saw it with our own eyes in each news report, as each heart-wrenching detail was made known.

I fell to my knees, praying for those directly affected by this horrific tragedy. But I prayed for our country, too. We need God. We've tried to remove Him from schools and government, but today's tragedy made it clear that path isn't working. We must turn back to Him.

My heart is so heavy for those who have lost loved ones. But I want them to know there is hope in Jesus. He can heal hearts and bring peace in the midst of unimaginable pain. My prayer is that people will draw close to Him in these sad days.

Operation Christmas Child - It's Not Too Late!

This year our family is participating in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Every year, thousands of shoeboxes filled with toys, toiletry items and other things make their way to needy children around the world. You can get involved, too.

First, find a shoebox or other similarly-sized box. A plastic shoebox with a lid works perfectly. Then fill the box with items for a girl or boy. You can even choose the age-range of the child. Here are instructions for packing your box, as well as suggestions for what items to include.

We decided to donate online so we could get a barcode tracking number for our boxes. That way we can track our package and see what country it goes to.

A special thanks to my husband who wrapped our boxes. He did an excellent job!

Then you simply take your boxes to the collection center nearest you. You can find out where by putting in your zipcode here. Our drop off location is literally around the corner and down the street from us. November 19 is the last day for collection, so you have almost a week.


If you don't have time to pack a box and get it to a drop-off location. Operation Christmas Child also has an option that allows you build a box online with options to put in each box. Or if you want to help someone who has packed a box but can't afford the shipping donation, you can donate to cover the shipping costs of these boxes.

If you don't have the resources to help monetarily, please pray for this ministry. We've already started praying for the children who will receive our boxes, that God would use our small contribution to reach their hearts for Him. There are so many ways to get involved, so why not help spread God's love and reach these needy children?

Thoughts on the Election and Where We Go from Here

The election's over and the guy I voted for didn't win. Thankfully, I wasn't putting my hope in Romney. Scripture tells us not to do that, anyway. "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes." Psalm 118:8-9.

The biggest problem facing our country isn't economic. It's not a social problem, either. It's not equality or women's issues. It's not immigration or  welfare.

Recent polls and surveys suggest that more and more Americans don't believe in God. If they don't believe in Him, why would they obey His commandments to live holy lives? That's why I firmly believe that our country's biggest problem is spiritual. And no political candidate can solve that one. Only Jesus can do that.

As Christians, we need to be on our knees praying and on our feet sharing the Gospel. We need to stop looking to the government to solve our problems and start trusting in the Lord. We need to show our neighbors and community a better way by living out God's love on a daily basis.

So what's next? Well, honestly, I don't know God's plan for our great country. I know He can use whomever is in political power to accomplish His purpose. And so I'm going to trust Him to do that.

Why Can't We All Get Along? Lessons from Nature

Outside our breakfast nook window, we have a hummingbird feeder hanging from a shepherd's hook. It's always pleasant to watch the little birds with their so-fast-you-can't-see-them wings hovering around and drinking from it.

We have three regular customers and they generally get along well.

Until today.

While we ate our lunch, we watched these two go at it, dive bombing each other and even wrestling to the ground. I've never seen anything like it! Our third guy occasionally swooped in and grabbed a quick sip while they were fighting over the feeder.

We watched the battle royale for about twenty minutes. Finally, both hummingbirds were exhausted and took opposite perches to refuel. Then they were back at it.

The kids were amazed. "Don't they know there's plenty for all?" "Why are they so selfish?" "Why can't they just share?"

I explained that hummingbirds are very territorial and it's their instinct to fight for what they think is theirs. They know no other way to act.

Moms, you know where I'm going with this, don't you? I then asked the kids why they had trouble sharing, why they fought over games and toys. Those birds didn't have a choice about their behavior, but people do.

We talked about how Jesus can help us be kind to each other and act unselfishly. It's hard to put others' needs and wants before our own, but we're called to be servants. We can choose to put ourselves first, or we can show love and care for others first.

It's one thing for me to tell my kids these things. But seeing it in action, even though it was hummingbirds and not people, made an impression on them. I love it when simple things in nature provide unique, memorable lessons for us, don't you?

Praying for Colorado

By now, we've all heard about the horrific tragedy at a movie theater in Colorado. People doing an everyday activity, living their lives like normal, were caught up in an unimaginable act of evil.

Please take a moment to read this amazing testimony of a survivor, a Christian mom who explains the sovreignty of God and how we can trust Him even in the midst of tragedy.

The Formua for Raising Perfect Children

Wouldn't it be great if every child came with an instruction manual unique to that child? Wouldn't it be nice if there was a step-by-step process with the guaranteed result of perfectly behaved, kind, loving children? If we followed that formula, then all of our worries for our children's futures would be over?

Ahhh, my friends, there is NO such thing.

I've read my share of child-rearing advice from a variety of sources. Some writers make wonderful claims that if you follow their advice, your kids will turn out great! Well, there are always general principles we can incorporate in our homes. But I'm sorry to say, there are no guaranteed results. Our children are individuals. We can steer them in the right direction, but it's up to them to choose the right path.

You see, if there was an A+B=C sure-fire method of rearing the perfect child, we wouldn't need Jesus in our homes. We wouldn't have to trust Him to guide us. We would slack off in our prayers for our kids. After all, the formula would always work, right?

I've heard many Christian parents bemoan the fact that they've done everything right, so why did their children stray from God? Because they're human! As adults, how many times do we stray from our Heavenly Father despite His love and goodness? How can we expect our children to follow our guidelines when we don't always follow His?

So, do we give up? Do we forgo any kind of discipline or instruction when it may or may not produce the desired results? Of course not. We have the God-given duty as parents to set a good example for our children. We've been tasked with the responsibility of teaching them right from wrong. We pray, we love, we teach. We pour our very hearts and souls into our children.

But what if it's not enough?

Here's where faith comes in. And it's so hard to put our children in God's hands. He can change their hearts when our words can't. He can direct them back to the right path when we can't see the way.

So there is hope in raising our children. God has a special plan for each of them. That's the guarantee we have as parents.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Today was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday at our church. I thought I'd share this video with you that shows the miracle of conception and the wonderful process through which a baby grows in the womb.




As a Christian, I believe that abortion is wrong. Life is sacred and the power of life and death is in God's hands. Today was a powerful reminder of that.

Til disease does us part?

I'm sure by now you've heard of Pat Robertson's assertion that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's is justifiable because the disease is a kind of death. He said it in response to a caller who needed advice for a friend who starting dating another woman when his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Robertson advised the caller's friend to get a divorce but make sure the wife was cared for. I guess he thought that was a better solution than just moving on with someone else while your spouse still lives?

Umm, no Pat. It's better to keep your marriage vows. Remember the "sickness and health" part? Or "as long as we both shall live?"

Of course, the easier thing would be to divorce and move on. We all know that your life as you know it is over once a terminal diagnosis like this is made. But easy isn't always right! And in this case, it's dead wrong!

Would it be alright for someone to divorce his spouse if she was diagnosed with terminal cancer? Lou Gehrig's disease? MS?

I can't say how disturbing and just downright awful this attitude is, especially coming from someone who claims to be a man of God. I hope Mr. Robertson reevaluates his opinion on this and seeks answers from God, Who never changes.

Praying Friends, Please Pray

I received word this morning that one of my dearest friends from high school and college lost her 15-year-old son last night. He suffered an unexpected heart attack and was gone. It all happened so fast and the family is still in shock.

Tonya and I went our separate ways after college, but reconnected on Facebook a couple of years ago. It was like we'd never been apart. She is an awesome mother and Lucas was her middle child. He was her cheerful, funny guy.

Please, uphold this family in prayer as they walk through a valley no parent should ever have to walk. Pray for Lucas' siblings, too. They have always been a close-knit family. I can't even imagine the heartache they're experiencing.

Thank you, friends.

Blessings - Do we really believe this?

Mommy Guilt - and why you need to get over it!

Mommy Guilt. You know what it is.

The feelings of inadequacy and failure when your behavior toward your children isn't perfect. The inability to protect your child from every hurt and danger that lies in wait. The mistaken belief that every waking minute must be spent doing something with or for your children.

Mommy guilt can be crippling. It can bring us to our knees. It can rob us of our joy and hope. It can lead us to overcompensate by letting our children get away with their own bad behavior. It can push us over the edge and make us give up trying altogether. Do you know that really our children suffer the most from our mommy guilt?

I know some moms who seem to wallow in their guilt, agonizing over every single mistake. They call themselves bad mothers, often in front of their children, when in reality they're simply human like the rest of us! Their children now seem to think that their moms aren't to be obeyed or respected. If Mom thinks she's a bad mother and says so all the time, why would the child feel differently?

Friends, it doesn't have to be this way!

First, let's think about the purpose of guilt. To me, it's two-fold. The first "job" of guilt is to bring us to repentance. If we've truly done something wrong, we need to seek forgiveness. And asking our own children to forgive is the hardest of all. It's humbling to acknowledge to your children that you're not perfect. Guess what? They already know!

The second job of guilt is to get us to change our behavior. It's not enough that we acknowledge we've done wrong. We must turn from what we're doing wrong and seek to do right. Ask for God's help and strength so you don't repeat the same mistakes over and over. If you don't want to feel badly about yelling at your kids, stop yelling. Retrain yourself how to react to stressful situations so you don't automatically start raising your voice.

Recognize that you are not going to do everything right in regards to your children. Sometimes you're going to lose your temper. There may come a time when you unknowingly punish the wrong child for breaking your vase. You might forget to write down the next dentist appointment and miss a teeth cleaning. Do you know why those things happen? Because you're human!

Correct your mistakes. Apologize for losing your temper. And then LET IT GO! If God forgives you for your imperfection, why don't you forgive yourself? Are your feelings about it more important than God's?

God gave your children to you because in His wisdom, He knew you were the best person for the job. He also knew you were going to make mistakes in your parenting and interactions with your kids. He has already provided the tools of grace and forgiveness you need to admit those mistakes and try harder the next time.

Please, let go of the past. Be the best mom you can be TODAY!

Practical Ways to Help after a Natural Disaster

We've all watched the latest natural disasters with horror. The devastation and destruction left by tornadoes and earthquakes is unimaginable. It seems like every time we turn around, another disaster occurs.

I felt helpless as I saw people in my own county lose everything they owned. What could be done to help them? FEMA and local authorities can only do so much. And even then, the "big" things like shelter and food are considered while other comforts are not.

When helping out our friends and hearing from others who had pitched in with clean-up efforts, I compiled a list of things to do to help. Some of these things aren't necessarily for survival, but they do make things a bit easier on people affected by natural disasters. You might not be able to rebuild a house, but these little things can bring comfort to people who are in need.

1. Offer to babysit. Children are naturally curious and digging around in a pile of debris is very alluring. Alluring and dangerous. While a family is struggling to find any remainders of their life in a heap of rubble, they don't need to worry about their children getting hurt.

2. Donate storage containers. When they do find something salvageable, where can they put it? Volunteer to store their things until they can get a more permanent location.

3. Wash their clothes. Often disaster areas are without power or water so there's no way to clean salvaged clothes. They can mildew very quickly. If nothing is salvageable, take them shopping for basic necessities.

4. Buy a disposable camera and give it to the affected family. Often insurance companies require photographic proof of damage. But if the family's camera has been destroyed by the disaster, taking pictures is impossible. Get the pictures developed, too.

5. Keep bottled water handy. Cleaning up debris is hard work and takes a lot out of a person. Help yourself and the people you're assisting stay hydrated.

6. Bring along extra work gloves and sunscreen. No one wants to dig through debris without gloves and chances are, if they've lost everything else they won't find a pair of gloves lying around. Under a hot sun with little shade (cause the trees are gone), it doesn't take long to get sunburned, so the sunscreen will come in handy.

7. Fill a can of gas to supply generators or gas-powered equipment. With no electricity, this is very helpful. Our friends were able to save a freezer full of food by running a generator off and on until power was restored.

8. Buy several boxes of garbage bags. Believe me, there are never enough garbage bags when you're cleaning up the mess a tornado leaves behind. Other cleaning supplies are helpful, too - bleach, Clorox wipes, a wet-dry vac if you have one.

9. Put together a personal hygiene kit for the whole family. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, nail clippers, shampoo, soap, wash clothes - anything that will help them feel human again. Don't forget feminine products, too.

10. Home cooked meals and snack items are a huge blessing. It's stressful having to worry about what you're going to eat when everything's gone or the power is off for who knows how long. Having someone care enough to prepare a nutritious meal is a great encouragement.

No kindness is too small in situations like this. Don't let fear of doing the wrong thing keep you from doing anything.

For more tips and hints, visit We are THAT Family's Works for Me Wednesday.

Faith Renewed

I'm generally a cheerful person. Cup half full kind of gal. But last week was difficult for me. Just one thing after another.

My cousin lost her only child on Mother's Day and all week my heart was so burdened for her and her family. I just can't even imagine. Still I pray for her as she learns to cope with the unthinkable.

I received some other news I'm not at liberty to share. Though it wasn't unexpected - in fact, it was a relief in some ways - it still hurt my heart. I wondered why it had to be this way. And realized that maybe I'll never know.

Then Wednesday night I taught a lesson at our kids' Bible club and felt like I was hitting a brick wall with the kids. After the prayer and preparation I put into it, I felt like a failure.

What I really wanted to do was jump into bed and stay there, covers pulled up. Shut out the world and just cry. What I did was what I always do - get up, go about my daily tasks and paste a smile on my face.

Then on Sunday came a bigger blessing than I was expecting. A reminder of what I already knew to be true - God can do anything. His grace is amazing! One of the kids from Bible club who has given me a lot of trouble these last months (and specifically this past Wednesday) accepted Christ as his Savior!

I was humbled and rebuked by my lack of faith. But renewed at the same time. God took my discouragement and turned it in to joy. To Him be the glory! And I know that in these other situations that test my faith, He will prove Himself. Like He always does.

Please Pray for Tornado Recovery Efforts

Yesterday Alabama and several other states were hit with deadly tornadoes. I was glued to the TV trying to see familiar neighborhoods and the extent of the damage. People on the scene relayed how destructive these storms were.

But by the light of day, the damage was so much more unbelievable. We traveled north to take food and bottled water to our dear friends who have been without power since yesterday morning. The closer we got to their house, the more damage we saw. Trees were down everywhere, some snapped in half, some completely uprooted. Downed power lines crisscrossed the road.

We arrived to see trees just feet away from their home. Siding had been ripped off and shingles were missing. You can see their trampoline wrapped around the bottom of power pole.



There were literally dozens of trees down all around their property. It truly was a miracle that they were not injured and their house was spared severe damage.

On our way home, we were directed to go another way due to work crews trying to remove debris from the roadway. Our GPS took us through an area hit even harder than the one we had just left. Houses were simply gone, leaving only the concrete foundations. Trees were strewn about like discarded toothpicks. Clothes were scattered throughout fields. I can't imagine that anyone in those houses could have survived. I took no pictures of any of it. I was just too horrified.

The death toll continues to rise as more debris is removed. Right now it stands at 207 in Alabama. Other states have also reported multiple fatalities. And it's likely to go even higher. There are dozens of people still unaccounted for.

We need your prayers.

Prayers for Alabama

We woke up this morning to the sound of tree limbs falling on our house. Straight line winds in excess of 50mph took out trees and power lines throughout our area. Statewide there were 5 fatalities this morning.

That was nothing compared to what happened this afternoon and this evening, and I certainly don't mean to minimize the loss of life this morning. One very dangerous tornado crossed the entire state, leaving destruction and death in its wake.

Click here to see a video of the massive tornado as it struck Birmingham.

Entire neighborhoods have been leveled. The death toll officially stands at 25 but when daylight comes, that number is expected to rise. Significantly.

We are counting our blessings. We didn't even lose power, though nearly half a million of our fellow Alabamians have. We know it could have been much, much worse.

Please pray for the people of Alabama as they seek to recover from this devastation. Pray for churches that seek to minister to the hurting. Pray for comfort and healing.

Thank you.

Because He Lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

He Has Forgiven Me

Thank you, Jesus! When the guilt of the past creeps in, let the truth of this song lift you up. In Christ, you are free!