Beauty From Ashes

Beautiful radio broadcast from Anne Graham Lotz that you can listen to online:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/archives.asp?bcd=2006-9-25

Time well spent!

Legacy of Prayer

This morning I went to a PrayerForce conference, it was an awesome event. If one comes near you, I strongly encourage you to go. I bought the Bible Study "Live a Praying Life-Open Your Life to God's Power and Provision". I've always struggled with prayer - especially praying aloud. I don't want to be selfish in my prayers, and I've often struggled with what to "say" to God. I'm excited about this journey - I'll keep you updated.

At the conference Jennifer Kennedy Dean spoke about the Legacy of Prayer and how it builds up a spiritual trust fund for generations. She referenced a beautiful quote from O.Hallesby, Prayer:

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. - Matthew 6:20

The longer you live a life of this kind, the more answers to prayer you will experience. As white snowflakes fall quietly and thickly on a winter's day, answers to prayer will settle down on you at every step you take, even to your dying day. ...This shower of answers to prayer will continue to your dying hour. Nor will it cease then. And when you pass from beneath the shower, your dear ones will step into it. Every prayer and every sigh which you have uttered for them and their future welfare will, in God's time, descend upon them as a gentle rain of answers to prayers.
Our family has been a believing and praying family for three generations. The elders have prayed faithfully for their descendants. During my whole life I have walked in the prayers of my forebears and in the answers to these prayers. A quiet rain drips steadily upon me.

What an awesome thing to leave my children, I want them to have that knowledge and security.

Conflicted

Have you ever listened to Dr. Laura? I listen to her everyday. I wish that I had listened to her at the age of 18, my life may have turned out differently. I am not a stay-at-home Mom. I never wanted to be, until the birth of my 3rd child. I'm know I was selfish and immature, but I didn't think I could handle it. I work in a family business and am poised to take over in a few years when my father retires. My mother-in-law kept/keeps my kids while I work.

What Dr. Laura lacks that I do have is the perspective of life as a Christian (she is Jewish). She is not an advocate of unrequested forgiveness or taking your problems to Christ. So, I do find myself disagreeing with some of her advice.

But, on the subject of child rearing I find that she is winning me over, and I agree with her more, the older I get. However, I am not going to change the position I am in. I feel like such a Hypocrite.

Thanks for letting me have my little pity party. I don't talk about it because no one wants to hear me feel sorry for my own self and decisions. BUT, since this is an anoymous blog, that very FEW people read, I feel like I can blog WHATEVER I want!

Anyways, if you happen to be a new Mom, struggling with the decision on if you should return to work, or stay home - STAY HOME! I honestly believe it is the best thing for you and your kid!

Thankful thoughts

A post last week at the Motherhood is Not for Wimps blog got me to thinking. How blessed and thankful I am for my life. What a great, loving HWH I have. What wonderful children (3) I have. My youngest, who is 4 1/2, and was a TOTAL surprise, is such a sweet gift. I live for the moments when he says to me "Mommy, you're warm". He'll snuggle into my arms and lap and lay contently until his 4 yr. old attention gets drawn to something else. He lights up and runs into my arms when HWH brings him through the door after a day at Pre-school. I know I will miss those moments. Perhaps because I feel certain he's our last little one, or perhaps because I'm a bit older and more patient now then I was 7 years ago when my oldest was 4, I enjoy youngest childs youth more than any of the others.

I don't mind them growing up, but I still wanna have those snuggle moments when my kid tells me "I'm warm" and finds peace, security, and comfort in my arms. I can't imagine a much better feeling in my life as a parent.

A Fine Line

A couple of post lately from my favorite blogs have me again pondering the fine line between and the difference of opinions/belief paradigms . . . . .

Tell me what you think.

Saturday, August 26, 2006-from Life With Brock Gill

what does worldly look like?
recently some of my friends were accused of being worldly because of the way they look and dress. a group of fundamentalist pastors decided to pick on my friends because they were doing ministry and being worldly. they claimed that they are using worldly methods, and it was disgusting to God. they had problems with the way they do their hair, saying they didnt comb their hair or something. my friends that i am talking about are professional skaters and bmx riders who also bring they message of jesus at their shows. these guys skate in front of thousands of people at their shows, why not give the gospel i ask. if the way a person looks on the outside is a reflection of the way they are on the inside then lets use this logic and have some fun. ok? ok, here we go.what does worldly really look like? if someone dresses with baggy pants and messy hair then they are worldly. using this same logic lets turn it around. if you wear a button down shirt with some tan pants then you look just like the doctor i saw on tv last night who does abortions for teenage girls. abortion is murder therefore you dress like a murderer. Click here to read the rest . . .

And I agree with Brock's point, we must be creative in the ways we reach people. To reach those that aren't going to go to church or aren't friends with Christians, what Brock and many others do I believe is great!

But, what concerns me about events such as those, or say, Billy Graham Crusades, or what not, is the follow-up. Now, know that I have NOT YET gone to one of Brock's shows or a Crusade, so perhaps I'm speaking out of ignorance - I just worry that they'll "accept" Christ, and that will be the end of it - they won't know what to do next. (This is what happened to me decades ago when I accepted Christ as my Savior at a Vacation Bible School.)

Watch Hell's Best Kept Secret at Way of The Master and they discuss this as well.

Women of Faith

I will not be able to make this years Women Of Faith conference, if you possibly can - DO! It is a great time! I highly recommend this year's pre-conference - with my favorite, Patsy Clairmont. I have been sure to put next year's conference on my 2007 schedule, I want to be sure I can go. I won't be going to the one closest to me, in Charlotte, NC (for some reason it is always the weekend before Halloween, which happens to be my birthday). But, that is OK, because at the Atlanta and the Washington, DC conference Beth Moore is doing the pre-conference, what an awesome weekend it will be! Make your plans, and don't delay. Tickets do sell out and hotels book up!
For information visit: Women of Faith

Also visit: www.bethmoore.org

Spontaneous

I was reading a blog today that posed the question - "why do you lose your spontaneity when you get married"? It's my experience it's not the getting married part - it's the having kids situation that puts an end to spontaneity. I have three kids, and no spontaneity (unless you consider a last minute announcement that we're going to the pool Saturday morning, or we're having those cinnamon rolls out of the can for breakfast instead of fronzen pancakes, or I - surprise! pull into the movie theater parking lot for a special movie night.) Was it a fair or worthy trade? YES, YES, YES! Their spontaneous kisses, hugs, laughs, one-liners - all make up for the loss of freedom, spontaneity, sleep, etc.
I wanna be fun and interesting and spontaneous, even if sometimes my kids are the only ones who think I am!

Boston Market

I'm listening to Rush Limbaugh promote on a commercial Bostom Market. However, last time I ate there I noticed that they got a "B" on their recent health inspection (I had already gotten my food). Sorry Rush, as quality a guy I think you are, doubt you'd ever actually eat at a BM. And personally, if you won't eat there - I wouldn't promote it! Perhaps you should talk to Sean Hannity - he promotes Ruth Chris Steakhouse - bet they never got a "B".

Deep Thoughts

I wanna have deep and interesting thoughts. But how? I mean, you can't force them can you? Is it my fault that my mind thinks about the things it does. I feel ditzy and shallow sometimes. I'm not an uneducated person, I graduated from college. Any suggestions on how to think deeper, naturally?

First Book Club Meeting

Well, I went to my first book club meeting, we read "Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bon's". I enjoyed the book and enjoyed the meeting. I was invited by my sister-in-law, who is 10 years younger than me - and all the girls there were around her age. They were also the type I never got to hang around with when I was in high school/college - the really cute and popular girls. Guess this is my chance!

This month me will be reading "Snow Falling on Cedars". I read a couple pages so far, seems deep and serious. Not typically the type of book I read, but I wanna be well read, so I'll endure. Let me know if you have read it!

Don't quite get it . . . .

Many of the bloggers I read and respect seem to show admiration and respect for former President Jimmy Carter. I don't get it though. I know I was young when he was president - but didn't we have like 20% interest rates, gas lines, misery factors, etc. when he was in office? That he goes around now, bashing the US and President Bush just makes it so I can not respect him. Same would be true if former President Bush went around bashing Carter or Clinton. It's not nice. And, I wanna be nice and respectful, even if I disagree.

http://www.nationalreview.com/impromptus/impromptus050302.asp

Project Complete!

Finished to redecorating on the bedroom. HWH gets home Wednesday, I hope he likes it! The green is not quite the shade it looked to be on that little card. Not what I had wanted, but it works ok. I really like the new room! Hope he does too!

I went again for the 5th time to the church we are considering. I really like the preaching, the Sunday School, the people. It's looking like a keeper and I'm getting excited! I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us on this journey.

Watched a movie this weekend - "Inside Man". Shouldn't have. The language was terrible! Why do that have to put such language in an interesting film? I've got to be more careful in my selection!

Tomorrow night is the first meeting of a book club I've been invited to join! I've always wanted to be a part of a book club! Now, tonight I have only about 100 more pages to finish the book!!!

David Crowder Band - Wholly Yours From the album A Collision
You are holy, holy, holy
All Heaven cries, holy, holy God
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to be holy like You are

I wanna be holy, like He is

Surprise For HWH

My Hardworking Husband (HWH) is going on his annual motorcycle trip this Tuesday. He and a few other guys each year go for about a week to a different part of the country and just ride and view the scenery. I stay home with the 3 kids. I get my girl's vacation time in smaller bits throughout the year.
I have decided this year to redo our bedroom while HWH is gone. When I first starting planning this I was excited. Keep in mind, he is usually the one that does all our painting/decorating, etc. He is the artistic one, I have NEVER painted a room, my eye for color/decoration is not the best. I am having my sister help me with the painting, she helped me pick out a sofa for the "sitting area" of the bedroom.
Please pray that:
1 - I get it all done in the 8 days he is gone
2 - That it turns out looking good
3 - That he likes it
4 - That he is not mad that I did this without consulting him
When I started planning, I honestly never considered he could get mad - but the idea has popped up. It's just he's been working so hard on relandscaping the yard this summer, and we are working on pretty much redoing every room in our house - I just wanted to surprise him with this. I think he'll like it. It may not be what he would of done, but I think he'll appreciate my effort and be relieved that there's one less room for him to do.
I just wanna be as good a wife to him as he is a husband to me. I have a long way to go!

I Also Wannabe

I also want to be a writer. I want to write contemporary Christian novels. I know I have a gift for writing, the problem is that I don't feel I'm the most creative type of person. I have ideas, but to actually think up a plot . . . .
I've been researching writing, it sounds so technical, the steps of moving your characters through conflict, point of view, etc. Perhaps I should leave it to the professionals. I feel like the Lord told me about a year ago he wanted me to try this, I've tried to ignore it and not do it, but I haven't had peace. Plus, I am generally the type of person that when 9pm comes, and I've gotten the kids in bed, dishwasher loaded, clothes put away, that I just want to veg-out and read or watch TV. I seriously lack self discipline to make myself "work" at the end of a long day.

I've been meditating this week on this verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:13 -15 (The Message)
Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

Not Inspired Yet

I want to be a blogger . . . .

I want to start a blog, really I do. It's the "in" thing. I love reading other peoples blogs. My favorites are

http://auny.blogspot.com/
http://www.brockgill.com/blog/
http://marklee.typepad.com/
http://octagus.typepad.com/steph/
http://www.10ft2ft.com/
http://randyelrod.typepad.com/
http://www.faithchick.com/
http://www.markdroberts.com/#feb1306
http://www.aaronshust.com


Just to name a few. But, I honestly don't have anything to write about.

I could write about how while I was gone on vacation the pastor at my church resigned. Big Surprise. I love my church. It's the first church I've ever been a member of. I've made my first "adult" friend (all my others are leftovers from middle/high school) at this church. Now, she may be leaving the church. Very sad, I am. Don't know why the pastor resigned, sounds like he was kind of pushed out. I just don't get it. Sometimes I just want to whop some people upside the head and tell them to "Love Jesus More" - if we just kept our hearts and eyes on Jesus, and love Him more and follow his example of Love - then we as Christians would be much better off. Like I said, I could write about that, but nah, not going to do it.

Anyways, until I figure out what to write - I'll just keep thinking . . . .

Thoughts of a Wannabe Blogger

Welcome

Thoughts of a Wannabe

What do I wanna be?

I want to be a faithful servant to God.

I want to glorify Christ in all that I do, say, and think.

I want to be a good wife.

I want to be a good mother.

I want to be a perfect house keeper.

But how?

That's what this blog will explore, along with my varied ramblings . . . . .