happy birthday Taylor!

Taylor is 14 today.  It is hard to believe it has been 14 years!  I am so proud of him. Here are some of the things I appreciate the most about Taylor:

He is one of the most self-motivated people I know.

He has always been a leader, but recently, he has become more of a quiet leader.  People follow him, and he definitely influences the people around him.

He has become more of a caring person.  I notice him developing a true concern for others.

He can make very funny faces.  My face won't do stuff like that.

Taylor is very very clean.  He takes a ton of showers.

He has an uncanny sense of rhythm and can play the drums quite well.

The boy can dance.  I don't know where he got that from.

He loves God and has a desire to follow Him.

He makes me laugh a lot, and he still hugs me in public!

He loves the game of baseball so much it almost hurts.

Happy Birthday to you my son, and my friend!  ---and I am glad you got your braces off!!

You look maaavalous!

shammah in the bean field

I read the coolest story.  It only spans two verses in the Bible (2 Samuel 23:11-12) so there are not a lot of details.  This is it:  "One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils.  The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines.  So the Lord brought about a great victory."  

Ever feel like Shammah?  Alone in a bean field.  Where did everyone go? You know what I like about this guy?  He was faithful.  He hung in there.  Stayed true.  Did what he came to do.  Are you doing something right now that is the right thing to do but you feel like everyone left you?  When we are tempted to bail for the sake of fear or failure, we can remember Shammah.  Somehow God showed up and turned things around and "brought about a great victory."

crazy in the OT

I just finished reading 1 and 2nd  Samuel.  I have to tell you that I have had very mixed emotions.  These Old Testament people were crazy!  Killing and more killing, concubines, wars, grudges, oaths, emotions flying.  This culture was UNLIKE anything I have ever known, and yet this kind of life-style was ALL that they ever knew. 

 How did God bless David in the midst of all of this savage brutality?  I have come to realize that God is a God that transcends cultures.  He chooses to use people in situations that I cannot relate to.  At the end of the book, David gives this amazing tribute to God for saving him and making him so successful.  I think there are several reasons that God used David and called him a "man after God's own heart."   First of all, DAVID was crazy enough to RECKLESSLY BELIEVE GOD and had amazing COURAGE to do whatever was necessary. Secondly, David knew how to praise God in detail, giving God all of the credit.  And finally, God had flat out chosen him--God made a covenant with David. 

 In the middle of the world we live in--a world that some might call "crazy"-- what would make God call us a "people after His own heart?"  First of all, He has already chosen us and promised if we would consecrate ourselves (set ourselves apart for Him) that He would do amazing things among us.   If we would RECKLESSLY BELIEVE GOD and give him all the credit, we would see Him do more than we could ever imagine!  I think God might just like a little CRAZY.

Japanese food yum yum!

The boys are out for winter break and so I took them to Atami Japanese Steakhouse for lunch!  The food is wonderful, and they have a $5.95 lunch menu for the hibachi grill where they cook the food in front of you.  The boys had Mahi Mahi and I had chicken.  Healthy and delicious!

how to pray for your husband part 2

There are times when our husbands are tempted to feel hopeless about a situation that may be out of their control--a bad economy, a job situation, a wayward child, an illness or a relationship.  We can pray that God will give them HOPE.  He says, "I am the God of HOPE." (Rom 15:13)   "I am your provider; put your HOPE in me and wait for me." (Lamentations 3:24) 

If our husbands are trapped by habits or circumstances we can pray for FREEDOM.  ("Where my Spirit is, you will find freedom." 2Cor. 3:17)

And what better prayer can we pray other than asking God to help our husbands understand and experience how much GOD LOVES HIM.  Then, he will experience FULLNESS OF LIFE!!

"May you experience the love of Christ, thought it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:19

Be yourself

I saw a great little quote last week.  It said, "BE YOURSELF.  EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN."  This is true if you are a parent, a student, a grandparent, a friend, or a church planter's wife.  None of us have gone this way before, and sometimes we don't know how we are supposed to act or what we are supposed to do.  Be yourself.  Don't copy anyone else.  It's great to get good ideas from other people, but you have so much to offer!  God put something on your plate because He knows He made you with everything it takes to be successful in what you have to do.   

early valentines

We went out for valentines early!   We wanted a casual place and good food, so we chose Jim N Nick's.  We had a great time--but the best part was the chocolate pie--oh my gosh!  It was worth every single calorie.  They make their pies from scratch every morning, and the waitress told us that they have to get rid of them each night because they make new ones.  I think I should apply to work at Jim N Nick's so I can help them "get rid" of their "old" pies!  

how to pray for your husband

In 2Samuel 17, some men are conspiring to kill King David.  Verse 2 says, "I will catch up to him while he is weary and discouraged."  I think there is another enemy that waits for our husbands when they are weary and discouraged.  It is our privilege to cover them in prayer.  In the next few days, I am going to list specific things that we can ask God for as we pray for our husbands. HIS MIND.  That he would love God with all of his mind. (Mark 12:30) That he would not be confused, anxious or deceived but that God's peace would guard his heart and mind. (Philippians 4:6,7) That he would not be fearful but confident (Psalm 27:1) so that he can do what he is created to do. (Isaiah 41:10) HIS PROTECTION.  Psalm 18:2 is painted on the wall above our kitchen table.  It says, "the Lord is my rock, my fortress and my... shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold."  We can pray that God would keep our husbands from sickness, accidents, accusations and evil, as the apple of His eye and under the shadow of His mighty wings. (Psalm 17:8)