Expansion

New life. 

Jesus. The empty tomb.

What does it all mean?

It means that I have a Savior.

A Savior that would have just saved ME if that's all that wanted Him. 

He is mighty to save though and that means more that just me gets to enjoy that salvation. 

Family.

My husband. My two kids. My mom. My sisters. Gar. 

The promise of expansion. 

New faces. New lives intertwined. New hopes. New relationships. More children. 

I used to fear changes in life. I was so comfortable with the way it was. 

But as I get older I realize how vitally important expansion is. In our homes. Our friendships. Our churches. 

It means new life. And that takes on different forms. But with new life comes new blessings. 

Yes disappointment and hurts often come too but we would miss the blessings if we didn't endure them. 

Grateful. Waiting. Anticipating. Pondering. Grateful. 

Organization

Don't put it down, put it away!

Today -

Outside my window: I see cars passing, passing, passing.

I am thinking: That sometimes it's hard for people to break out of destructive/hurtful thought patterns and see the good in people.

I am thankful for: My family. The ones I live with, the ones I live by, and my grandparents that don't live close by but I love very much.

From the kitchen: Left overs tonight.....Tuesdays are work and then wrestling. Oh, I forgot today is cooking day with Nana so I'll have a yummy treat later! :-)

I am creating: A legacy for my children to pass on to their children. (Too deep - I know.) :-)

I am reading: Way too many books at one time. :-) The Successful Family by Creflo and Taffy Dollar; Preparing to be a Helpmeet by Debi Pearl; How to Get and Stay Organized by.....can't remember; A Place for Peace by Amy Claptham.

I am hoping: That I will trust God with ALL the details as much as my heart says I should. My head always gets in the way.

I am hearing: Quiet.

Around the house: It's a reminder of the lovely dinner/evening that my hubby planned and prepared for the kids and I last night.

Tomorrow holds: Joyful hearts, big smiles, lots of schoolwork, a few bills to be paid, doctors appointment, church.

Ladies Bible Study

Two years ago, I felt the Lord leading me/desiring me to have a Ladies Bible Study for my neighborhood. It was totally out of my comfort zone. Which most people that know me would probably find odd because I'm very outgoing and tend to not have any difficulty talking to people or leading groups. However, the fear of the unknown and talking to ladies that I don't know at all....in my home....about Jesus.....and the things of Him was a different story. It was honestly more about the inviting than the Bible Study.

Well, I have known that God wanted me to do it, but I continued to make excuses about how busy I am, how it would interfere with family time, how it was an added stresser that I simply didn't need. But they were all just....excuses! So last night I hosted my first neighborhood Ladies Bible Study. The kids and I passed out 50 invitations to all the homes on our street. I was still slightly embarrassed to invite people, and I'm not really sure why???? It's almost like I don't want to be an imposition to them but I know that many woman are hurting and need a Savior.

A fear of my thoughts were:

• Well, I'll get several "churched" ladies who just want to see my house/visit/etc.
• What if my immediate neighbors come...the ones who only see me in my pajamas while taking out the trash....and then it's just more of an intimate relationship than "Hi, how are you?" Do I have time/energy for that?
• How do I prepare because I don't want to be too "in your face" with Jesus and Scripture yet I also want them to go away having received an invitation to know Him and understand more about Him. 
• I didn't want to hurt school time cleaning all day in preparation. I wanted keep my day fairly similar yet still get all I needed done. 
• I didn't want to be stressed when Josh got home from work and ask him to help clean anything or not prepare a good dinner. 

Here was what happened:

• By the grace of God, I did not get stressed about getting ready or cleaning at all. And that is totally a God thing!
• Both kids had a early morning dentist appointment. Plus we took Auntie lunch at college and then had an orthodontics appointment at 1:30 PM. This was all a recipe for disaster if I had been functioning in MY strength. 
• Although there were LOTS of added "things" the kids still got all their school work done even though we had to go later into the evening. 
• I worked diligently throughout the day to do a little here and a little there so as to not have a large load of cleaning at the last minute. It worked! I was again reminded that MY ATTITUDE determines so much of the tone of the home and our day. Thank you Lord for your help.
• Josh got home and had a moment of anxiety as I thought about having to cook dinner...which created a mess that I didn't want to have in my clean kitchen. But then I remembered that my FAMILY is my priority. It all worked out. We ate, I did the dinner dishes, made a batch of brownies, got the kids in bed, lit the candles....and waited and prayed. 
• No one showed up. I was a bit disappointed because I really feel God wanted me to do it. Then I thought "If I had personally invited more instead of just passing out flyers to most perhaps they would have come." But I'm not going to be discouraged. I'll pass out more flyers this week and try to personally invite more. 
• I had originally not wanted my friends to come because I want it to be for my neighborhood, but since everything was ready I posted on FB that if any friends wanted to come and two ladies came that have never been to my home. 

It was a really nice evening. We talked and I shared on ATTITUDE and read a lot of Scriptures from Philippians chapter 2 and 4. Although it is a lot of work to prepare for, it also feels so good to open my home to others. I know that hospitality is an area that I lack in. I enjoy having people over but I also have some anxiety about making sure everything is perfect when they come. I'm trying to release that (yet still make things very nice:-). Next week we'll be looking at Ephesians and loving others!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5

Ladies Evening Notes

I can't believe that two years have already passed since this picture! 

Wow, it's a reminder at how time flies and the things I do matter!

• We are not called to RAISE children to maturity; we are called to TRAIN them to be godly.
• Being a wife is highly regarded by God.
• How am I making Josh look better?
• Happy wives are submissive.
• If you rebel against your husband, you are poisoning your own life.
• I Kings 17:17 - Do I LOVE being the Queen of my home?
• It's ALL about the attitude!
• Taking dominion and subduing means to do the same things over and over and over again with the knowledge that good things will eventually come. It's not just about today!
• Blessings ALWAYS follow obedience!
• My home is my ministry to the world.
• Always put my first fruits into my home and family then my other ministries will fall into place. 
• Make a daily choice to hear no other voice louder than my husbands voice!!!!
• Weigh my actions on an ETERNAL scale. Is what I'm doing going to have eternal value? If not, why am I doing it?
• how do I help my kids find their callings? By modeling my calling WELL!
• I want to know soooo strongly that there is mothing more important thatn pouring my life into, taking fabulous care of, and loving Josh, Javon, and Reagan!
• Understand (without being prideful) that I am irreplaceable to my kingdom (home!).

1. Does my home reflect total devotion to God first - Josh second? Compliment Josh ever day. Lack of appreciation is often the cause of divorce.
2. Be the mistress of my home. - The household chores are my responsibility given by God; if Josh helps - be grateful. Do not demand or expect. 
3. TRAIN my children WELL! It's my God's given responsibility to do everything within my power to train my children to love and serve Jesus. Think about tomorrow when training J & R; not just today. Ephesians 6:4 Treat Josh with the same unconditional love that the kids and I share! Untrained children will become a shame to us. 
4. It is my job to raise ROYAL children; kids that will one day be ready to rule their kingdom for Jesus. What I do today matters for tomorrow!
5. Nurturing - Am I giving my best or my left overs to my family? Kindness! Nurturing takes planning and effort! Encourage Josh, J & R EVERY DAY! I Timothy 4:6 
6. Does my HOME nourish ME and my family? Surround myself with things that make me smile. Do the same for my family!
7. Rule my kitchen. Plan meals and enjoy cooking them! Make it special. PLAN! Have happy family dinners. This is my job. My responsibility! Everything else will function better if I have meals under control! Do not give my family leftover, frustrated me at dinner time. Give them my best. This means being prepared and happy to serve them!
8. Welcome strangers....God has called me to be hospitable! 
9. God has given me AUTHORITY to create ORDER in my home and family. 
10. Are the things that I'm doing going to matter for eternity? If not, it's time to reevaluate! Am I easily distracted by non-eternal stuff?
11. God gives us CALLINGS not jobs!

I had a lovely evening with my mom at this event. You can find more on mothering and being a wife at www.eternalencouragement.com.

Disappointment

It seems as if the past few weeks I have faced 

disappointment that has been troubling to me....

not because it was big or important or even very noteworthy, 

but rather the mere fact that I was troubled. 

I shed tears. 

Came back to wondering why I was so upset about this seemingly 

non-important issue. 

After a few tears, whining to my husband, 

and then praying that God would help me to determine the true

source of my frustration/disappointment,

I came to this conclusion. 

I am not often disappointed in life when things happen that I have no control over.

I seem to be very steady and logical and well-thought out.

However....

when it is something that I possibly could have adjusted or changed 

or my disappointment was solely the result of a decision that I had complete control over I 

get very upset....upset at myself. 

Upset at myself

for not being

smarter,

wiser, 

more planned,

more prepared,

more ....whatever.

I have been pondering this over the past two weeks as things 

have come my way - 

things that perhaps I have some control over the outcome. 

And then those things that I have no control over....

like the way people respond to things I have done with a totally pure heart. 

I'm working through this. 

Slowly.

Surely.

Steadily.

With God's help.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: 

He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; 

he gently leads those that have young."

-Isaiah 40:11

I am so grateful for the Lord's leading. 

I fail so often on my own. 

I plan.

I re-plan.

I think I've got it all figured out....

then I am grossly made aware that I don't have it all figured out.

That my life is truly selfish.

That for all the good things I do,

I am still a sinful, selfish, undeserving person

who needs the redeeming love of my Savior! 

That taking up my cross and following Him

is a DAILY task. 

One that is not dependent on mood or circumstance,

sun or rain.

Yesterday was a day filled with "willing" myself to remain

positive even though I wanted to cry.

Even though, because of a decision I had made,

my day wasn't going so well.

After a few words with the Lord and some time laying quietly, 

I was reminded that peace comes from the Lord but that we must 

"rest in it". 

Help me Lord to not allow my emotions to dictate my mood.....

Thank you!