HAVE A LAUGH ON ME

It's the weekend!!!Time to relax, spend time with family and friends and yes...LAUGH!!!

HAVE A GOOD LAUGH TODAY!!!

JUICEBOXES AND JESUS - DEVO #1

I love to write and the Lord placed an idea on my heart. It's called "Juicebox and Jesus" - devos for young moms. So here is #1.


JUICEBOX AND JESUS

It's amazing how things have changed since my childen were small. The strollers are more stylish, the diaper bags look like designer purses and even the bottles are more sleek and stylish. But one thing stays the same...the juicebox. In every young mother's purse between her wallet and extra bib is a juicebox. It seems that every young preschooler can get an unquenchable thirst anyplace and anytime. To avoid a public tantrum and possible dehydration, moms are always prepared with the all important juicebox and miniature straw. It contains just the right amount to soothe their precious thirst. What quenches your thirst? Not your physical thirst...but your spiritual thirst? When Jesus encountered the woman at the well he promised her "living water." He promised her something (Him)that would quench her thirst forever. If I am truly thirsty...a little juicebox will not quench my adult thirst. It may provide temporary relief ...but I will be thirsty again. I want to experience what Jesus offered the Samaritan women...I don't want a small little portion of Him...I want all of Him. To receive that...I need to give Him all of me. So moms tomorrow when you are preparing for your day...don't forget your juicebox and your Jesus.

POWER OF WORDS

Today in staff meeting we talked about the power of our words. Words can build one up and words can tear one down. It is so important that we are always on the side of "building up." In this time of economic crisis...it is important to remember that a kind word costs nothing a compliment is free and a prayer for someone is priceless.

On a side note...I don't think I have laughed as hard as I did today while working. It was a great day of ministry and truly feeling blessed to be part of a team that loves the Lord and laughter.

ONE PROUD MOM

This weekend I was straightening my son's room. Yes...I know he is old enough to clean his room...but I like to do it myself sometimes.

I was so excited by what I saw. Beside his bed...beside his video games, trading cards and candy...was his Bible and quiet time papers. Yes...at the age of 10...he is having a regular quiet time. He was encouraged to do this by the wonderful teachers at our new church. They offer creative incentives to help the children make having a quiet time with the Lord a habit.

I could not wait to tell the teachers the next day and to encourage them to keep doing what they are doing. I was so thrilled when my son came to me and asked where his church papers were. I would clean his room every day..for the rest of his life...if he promises to keep spending time with the Lord.

Would you like for your child to develop this habit? If so...visit the elementary school program here...cleaning their room is optional.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Unless you live under a rock or in a cave you cannot ignore all the excitement surrounding the inauguration. Last night I was watching the news and I kept hearing the words "hope" and "change". I heard the words "passion" and "excitement". I closed my eyes for a minute and visualized that they were describing Jesus and not Obama. I agree that it is time for a change, it is time for our country to feel hopeful, we need to follow a leader with passion and we need to feel excited about our future...but...this cannot come from a man...this has to come from God. We are the vessel that God uses to preach "hope" to demonstrate "passion" to provoke "change" and to have a contagious "excitement." He is God...He is the one that deserves our worship and our praise...He is the one that can truly heal our world.

My prayer for today is "God...work through your people. Let them see the things in this world that are temporal and remind us of what is eternal."

GOD SPOKE TO ME AT A BASKETBALL GAME

Today has been a great day. I am beginning to get caught up on household duties and had a chance to go and watch Alex play basketball. Sometimes this isn't always a pleasant experience. Why? Wally and another gentleman do a GREAT job coaching...but there seems to be a father who believes he needs to coach from the sidelines. We have all seen this type of parent. In fact one of the leagues actually sends home a contract that parents have to sign regarding this exact situation.

Every time I go to the game I am so distracted by him. He yells at his son, becomes obviously frustrated and really upsets me when he begins to yell at the other players. Sometimes it is negative and sometimes positive.

Today's game was no different. He began pacing the sidelines and I was thinking about a strategy on how to approach him. First I thought I would go up and quietly ask him not to coach my son. Secondly I thought I would use a positive approach and encourage him to sign up to be an official coach next year. Then I believe it was God who put the next thought in my mind...pray for him. What! I am angry with him....and you want me to pray for him. So I began to pray silently. I prayed that he knew this great man named Jesus. I prayed that he would be the husband and father that God wants him to be. I prayed that God would calm his heart and that he would begin to encourge the boys.

Things soon changed...he began to go up to the players on the bench and offer high fives and that-a-boys. My heart changed as well. I was no longer upset...I was encouraged. I am not even sure of what the score was...I just know that today was a big win in another way.

GO TEAM!!!!

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AS A PARENT?

The other day in church our Pastor told a story about a very special game. A team who was vey accustomed to winning was playing a team that had not experienced a great season. The parents on the winning team made a decision to do something very special...they decided to cheer for the team that was "losing." They began to cheer for them which took the team by surprise. In the end...they did not win...but they felt like winners. What a great testimony. It was no longer about the score on the scoreboard...but the attitude of the heart.

For some reason this story reminded me of my athletic experience. Let's begin by saying it was a very short season for me. My first attempt at sports was girls basketball in elementary school. I was so nervous and excited the first time I got the ball that I scored two points...for the other team. Okay so maybe basketball wasn't my sport. The other team loved me though. I then moved on to cheerleading. There is one very important thing a cheerleader needs to know...rules of the game. I was a cheerleader for basketball and soon realized no one on the squad knew the game. My dad would sit in the stands and tell us when to cheer "go defense" or "go offense." He would tell us when to cheer "score two points" or "rebound." One time he couldn't make it to the game and we were in big trouble.


That is such a beautiful example of a parent's role. We need to be our kid's biggest cheerleader. We need to sometimes sit in the stands and tell them which way to go and we need to be there when they feel like they have failed and scored a point for the other team.

Red and yellow black and blue

This week I was teaching kindergarten. I was assigned the task of teaching kindergarten children why we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. We talked about how God loves everyone...no matter the color of their skin. Remember the song:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

We talked about the different skin colors of people and one little boy reminded me that God even loves the blue children.


I asked who was blue. He replied "you know when you are playing and you bump your leg and it turns blue...He loves them too."

Yes He does!!!

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

That is the thought that continues to go through my head. He is so good. He is so faithful!!

I have been wanting to get back into church ministry for sometime now. In the past 2 years...several opportunities presented themselves. I said no to a few and a few said no to me. Through this journey I began to question if there was a different direction He wanted for my life. I kept praying, speaking, following up on opportunites and yes...substitute teaching.

I recently took another chance and applied for a postion. Long story short...perfect timing (His timimg) great church, fun, friendly and creative staff, great leadership and ...a job offer.

Tomorrow...a new and exciting journey begins. I will be the Early Childhood Coordinator for Hudson Community Chapel.




This is a part-time position and works out perfectly with my family and speaking. I am soooooooo excited. Ideas are bouncing through my head and that energizes me.

I hope you are experiencing His faithfulness...His love...and His perfect timing.

GIRL MATTERS

I have been working on organizing a seminar for girls 4th-6th grade. It's called GIRL MATTERS...because girls matter. I picked the title because I am so saddened by the things that seem to "matter" to girls. Being popular, being skinny, being liked, being picked, etc. I can so remember what it was like to be a young girl struggling with the above issues. I can actually remember being a woman and stuggling with a few as well. What matters to me?

My relationship with Christ
My family
My friends
Being kind to a stranger
things that have eternal value

I am thinking about doing a series on my blog on "girl matters".

What matters to you ladies?