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Sufficient Courage

January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last week I wrote a post sharing the fact that I am sometimes unable to do or say what God is asking me to do and oddly this used to not be an issue for me.  But I have been plagued by this desire to hide, rather than allow my light to shine. I am consistently finding myself paralyzed by fear and though intellectually and spiritually I know that is a wrong attitude…I still seem to go there.

Yesterday God through a brick at me.

In the form of the sermon at church and the music we sang during our praise and worship time.  I mean really…did the Pastor read my blog and build his sermon around my post last week?

Suffice it to say I am now spending time intently studying Philippians 1:12-30 as it so directly is related to the battle I have been in for the past several months.

I do want to be courageous and speak the words God has given me to speak, understanding that in doing so I will encourage others to speak of His goodness and truth.  I need not concern myself with others, or their motives, I need only speak and realize that as long as Christ is shared I should rejoice.  I need to in no way think I am unworthy to speak, or be ashamed – it is Him speaking through me.  I will let the joy that surges through me be evidenced as Christ’s joy and not hold back for fear of offending or calling attention to myself.  It is not me, it is Him through me.   I will stand firm for the gospel and not be frightened by what anyone thinks of me.  I will believe, I accept what has been granted unto me for Christ’s sake regardless of the suffering.  I will boldly glorify God with my life.

I will not believe the enemy and his lies, I will trust God.  My joy influences people for the Father and joy is the enemy of the evil one…I will not allow the evil one to steel my joy.  I will persevere, I know the truth about how to have joy and I will share it and no longer be silenced.

Joy is the intense fulfillment of carrying out God’s’ intention for me.  I know what His intention for me is and I will joyfully speak and bring Him glory!

It is all about Him and I have sufficient courage to obey!

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You Don’t Matter Lie

January 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

Safely tucked away in my familiar surroundings of home I thrive, as God and I stroll along peacefully together. Comfortable, quiet, easily heard. When my home is filled with family, friends and laughter, that too is a reflection of God’s love for me, therefore I am at ease.

It’s when I leave the sanctuary of my home that the doubts always come, the pressing in on my formerly perceived clear calling from the Lord. It is as if all the blooming that occurs as I bask in His presence instantly wilts when I face the world.

Childhood insecurities, work environment remembrances, fear of pharasitical judgement…all result in my confidence lying crumpled in a heap. The bashful ten year old girl emerges and the thoughts that my voice does not matter paralyzes me. What He whispers in my heart that surges through me as life giving truth that must be boldly shared…becomes a fuzzy remembrance.

“Not me.”

Why do I allow the world to so easily cloud and stop short, even stunt, the growth that the sonshine nurtures?

I yearn for the power to break free and boldly, without fear…obey.

God is able.

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Multi-Generational Mom Gathering

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last week I was scurrying around trying to wrangle a large group and keep them engaged and entertained…it was hard work, but well worth it when I saw how much fun they were having and how well they were connecting.

Nope, it was not a group of kids…it was a group of moms! Amazingly, even though MomLife Today was founded in 2008 this was the first time we had all gathered together to meet and dream about our individual ministries and the ministry of MomLife Today.

I hope you will join me over at MomLife Today, where I share the profound effect it hand on me to meet these amazing moms.

It is truly amazing that I met so many of these moms on line and that God uses social media for His purposes!

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Rest, Relaxation and Roaring To Go

January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ahhhh…my time away from social media was glorious.

Which may seem just wrong from someone entrenched in social media.

But it’s not.

It is honesty from one who is determined not to be ruled by it or dependent upon it for my self worth.

There are a few changes on the horizon and some amazing relationships God is growing.

I am delightedly grateful for whatever 2012 holds and looking to the One who guides my steps for EVERY baby step or giant step He directs…even the social media one’s.

It is ALL His you know…every bit of it.

 

 

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Words of Wonder

December 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

To my writing friends out there…do you ever go back and read something you have written and wonder, “Did I really write that?”

It seems to happen to me more and more. Maybe it is because I am becoming flighty – but I do believe it is something more than that.

It reminds me of my prayers…how I can get so lost in times of prayer that I wander to what the Holy Spirit wants me to pray and stray from my agenda. That’s sweetness.

That same sweetness can and does occur in my writing.

Which makes it all the more daunting when there are times I feel there are not words teetering to spill out of me … so I avoid the key pad altogether. Not wanting to write drivel. For that would be a waste of time for the reader. And time is your most precious commodity, especially for those you love you most. Far be it from me to take you from them…for drivel.

Much like the prayer must begin before the divine can take over…so too must the fingers attempt humble beginnings across a key pad – trusting that helpfulness and encouragement will eventually flow.

And at times, those words of wonder appear. Those words that really do not come from this simple girl.

Other times…not so much.

 

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Thank You Much

November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I am overwhelmed with gratitude to each of you who have voted for my book cover choices for Be The Mom!

How amazing it is to me that so many would take the time to vote and share your thoughts with me! What I can tell you at this point is that the publishers are going back to the drawing board to come up with a combination of the two covers!

The editors and marketers were so gracious to hear my thoughts based on all your votes and comments and are working diligently to come up with an entirely new cover!

I sure hope you visit me again when the new cover is revealed – be sure and tell me what you think!

It was very strange for me this week to not place new posts on my site, but my desire was to get as many comments as possible on my book cover choice, so I wanted to keep that post at the top of my site. (And I did manage to keep busy doing other things!)

I look forward to sharing Life Out Loud with you again by getting back to some regular posting.

Again, thanks and many blessings to each of you!

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Book Cover Vote

October 28, 2011 By 101 Comments
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I need your help moms…vote…vote…vote!  (Dads can vote too!!!)

I have a big decision to make – choosing the cover for my new book “Be The Mom”!

Please let me know which cover you like the best, by voting for: “Blue Jeans” or “Bubbles” in the comments below.  This is so cool!!!   :0)

Thanks in advance for your help! (Somebody pinch me!)

 

 

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Wordless Fall

October 27, 2011 By 3 Comments

There are days, and even sometimes weeks, where the word well runs dry. Anyone who writes knows this parched-ness and most of us fear it.

For me, I sort of embrace it and recognize that during the times of dryness I am more involved in the real world and choose not to pull away. If you are a writer you know what I mean.

Sometimes the pull to bury my head in words is so strong that I can be neglectful of the other joy giving things in my life.

So the ebb and flow of wordsmithing ceases to panic me, I see it as simply a gentle nudge to spend my minutes pursuing other loves and heart delights. Especially now.

My teen son’s idea of fun may be a bit different than mine, but spending time with him does trump the pull of the keyboard – always has, always will!

When he’s at school and hubby’s at work…a bit more time and care taken with home warming decor and fluff. A few more lunch outings and quiet tea times. More lazy afternoons spent running my hands over the ever thickening winter coats on our horses Honey and Dot. A choice to linger on the back deck contemplating the artistic handy work of my Father in the delicate hues of a sunset and colorful changing leaves. The sky is somehow bluer, the grass somehow greener when the bright vibrant colors of fall act as a contrast.

Oh…and I also have this relationship thing with my warm and cozy kitchen when fall crisply settles into our little ranchette. When fall arrives the desire to bake overtakes me – the aroma of pumpkin flavored this and that sweetly assaults those who enter our home. Mouth watering now… and too, the things I like to simmer and stir up on my stove top and in the well worn crock pots – amazing soups and favorite tummy pleasing taste sensations.

Forgive my less than regular postings here lately…but as you can plainly read…fall beckons me to other delights.

And I giggle.

 

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Six Word Challenge

October 20, 2011 By 2 Comments
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This morning as I was turning the page in my Bible I zeroed in on six words and sat staring at the page. My mind filled with thoughts from my past…and my present.

I became somewhat mesmerized as I contemplated what I was peering down at.

I have long been amazed at how my Heavenly Father speaks to me and reveals Himself through His word. There are passages that I have been known to camp out on for quite some time as it seems a nuance is revealed fresh and new the more I contemplate.

Today…I waivered.

Stumbled.

And felt God had challenged me in a new way through His word.

I was looking at my NIV Life Application Bible.  I had turned to a page with one of those analysis of someone in the Bible.

The six words I was frozen by were

Strengths and accomplishments:

Weaknesses and mistakes:

However, I was not compelled to read the rest of the words adjoining those six words. I was locked into those six words only. And then I knew.

My challenge from the Lord…to reflect honestly about myself and place sentences after the colons.

This is something I did not (and still don’t) feel especially excited about doing. Ever so gently the thought floated through my scrambling brain that if what I do reflectively place on the, as yet unmarred, page is distressing to me … I have a lot of life yet to live. As God continues to mold this lump of clay.

Glimmer of excitement…the clay is in the hands of the potter.

Peace.

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Book Title Decided

October 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

I always knew the working title I had for my book would not remain the title as it didn’t really reveal what the book was truly about.

Well – Tyndale and Focus on the Family who are working together on my book project have agreed to the Title I suggested…with a bit of an add on in their subtitle.

Drum roll please…

The title of my book to be released in August of 2012 is…

Be The Mom

Subtitle:  Overcome Attitude Traps and Enjoy Your Kids

Woo hoo!!!

How could this even be happening – God is a BIG God!

Excuse me while I go dance in the kitchen like a crazy person!

And if you are reading this then I need a ginormous favor…would you head on over to Facebook and search “Be The Mom” and “Like” the page for me so I can have it as my very own – I need 25 peeps to do that!

This will ultimately be the place for moms who read the book {gasp} to congregate and ask questions, visit and all around encourage each other!

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