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Monthly Memo: February and March 2013

What happened? It is already March, almost mid-March, and I feel like I was just singing Christmas songs! Anyone else feel this way?

Sigh.

Anyway, Happy March!

This monthly memo’s theme is Etsy. I really love Etsy for several reasons.

1. It gives people all around the world a way to create, sell, and hopefully profit from something they love to do.

2. I find some really cool items on there that often become some of my favorite things.

3. There is such a wide variety of styles, items, prices, and even supplies that I often find whatever I am looking for on there.

4. I can support other artists through Etsy in a very accessible and tangible way.

So I decided that this memo would feature some of my favorite shops on Etsy. This list is not going to be exhaustive, and I might accidentally leave someone wonderful out… However, please check out these great shops:

1. Nature’s Adornments Pottery Studio

2. Swear to Mod

3. Hi Butterfly

4. Lenny Mud (lots of funny stuff)

5. Dreamy Vintage

6. Lepun (LOVE this one!)

7. Bass Box Shop

8. Symmetrical Pottery

9. Fruitful Feet

And some real life friends’ shops:

3. kella rella

And of course my own shop is Golden Apples Designs if you care to take a gander.

So enjoy checking these out and look for upcoming posts about Lent and Easter. I really love this time of year!

What are your favorite Etsy shops?

Intentional Humility

Humility is one of the words that has been hanging out in my mind lately. I think it has to do a lot with my focus this year on joy and simplifying. True thanksgiving leads us to humility because we recognize that He is the Giver. This then leads to true joy because joy comes from experiencing the goodness and unfailing love of God. When we humble ourselves before Him, we are free to experience this.

“The quiet song of gratitude… lures humility out of the shadows because to receive a gift the knees must bend humble and the hand must lie vulnerably open and the will must bow to accept whatever the Giver chooses to give” (Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts).

What I am noticing lately, is that God is teaching me and walking me through this process of joy. It involves humility. It involves simplifying. It involves forgiveness (and much more)…

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV)

It takes intentionality to look to the Lord, surrendering my will, and asking Him to remove the pride and replace it continually with humility. What joy results! Oh, I want to learn this!

So what does humility look like? What does it mean?

Humble – not proud or arrogant, of low rank

Humility - modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc. (dictionary.com)

These definitions are similar to the Hebrew and Greek words we have translated to humble, as well.

In Philippians 2:1-11 we see a picture of humility as displayed by Christ.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 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: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV).

Even though Jesus is God, His very nature, He humbled Himself by taking on a significantly lower rank – human. This was in order to become the final sacrifice needed to bring about the forgiveness of sins (see Hebrews 7, specifically verse 27). He was the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God (see John 1). This of course brought about salvation for all those who will call on the name of Jesus, in repentance and faith, as their Lord and Savior.

Furthermore, as His follower, I am to have this same attitude. What destroys humility is selfish ambition, vain conceit, and considering myself and my interests over others.

I remember the song my Granny would sing from time to time:

“Oh Looord it’s haard to be humble…when you’re perfect in ev-er-y waay…”

While this is a silly song, and she meant it in fun, you can probably think of someone in your life who really thought they were perfect in every way. Most of us would be able to point out this blatant pride and resolve to not allow ourselves to become so arrogant. However perhaps we didn’t realize that in this resolution, we may actually be asserting ourselves pridefully.

I am not going to be that arrogant.

At least in my experience I have found that if I am making a statement like the one above there are two things happening. I am deciding to rely on myself (on my own effort or goodness), and I am comparing myself to someone else. Both of these are dangerous.

It reminds me of the story Jesus told in Luke 18:

“And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”’ (Luke 18:9-14 NASB)

It’s quite simple to spot these Pharisee moments in others, but I need the Lord to continue to show me these moments of pride that are hidden deep within my heart.

In what ways am I being selfish, conceited, or considering myself as more important than others? This doesn’t mean that I am not important. I do need to take care of myself, but what it really boils down to is the heart motive. I need the Lord’s guidance for this because He knows my heart even better than I do.

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” (Psalm 25:9 NIV)

Think of the people in your life who have taught you what humility looks like. The people who come to my mind are people who have refreshed me deeply. Wouldn’t it be awesome to refresh others in the same way?

Sometimes we have to learn this lesson the hard way. But thanks be to God for teaching us this no matter what it takes!

Learning to Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB)

I’ve been learning a lesson lately. Okay, well it’s been a lesson for a few years now. I’m learning.

I can be a very ambitious and driven person, but my expectations can be unrealistic. Often these expectations lead to frustration, disappointment, and sometimes even discontent and despair. This ambitiousness can be great. I get a lot of things done. However, I have to watch myself and am asking the Lord to continually help me realize I’m on a slippery slope while I am still at the top of it. That way I can, by His grace, get off of said slope before I slide all the way to the bottom.

And I’ve seen growth here. This last year has especially been a year of great growth, and I praise the Lord for this. He’s calling me to simplify. I don’t have to try and accomplish every idea that comes to me right away. Perhaps some of these ideas will be for later. It’s a matter of discernment that can only be realized through prayer. I’m learning.

Agh, but I get so impatient! I want things to come together. I wonder what I should do. I grow restless. I grow irritated. I grow frustrated.

Simplify. I hear this call to scale back. Maybe this is all too much. Maybe there is still a more simple way. What if I didn’t care about crossing off everything on my to-do list? I’m learning this.

It’s taken years, but I am learning this.

The Hebrew word for still from Psalm 46:10 means to relax, to sink down, to let drop. The Hebrew word for know here involves knowing by experience and to recognize.

When I chill out and recognize that He is God (and I am not), He is exalted. I can exalt Him because I know that He is in control, He is good, and He’s faithful and true. All of the details are not overwhelming when placed in His loving hands. I have seen this time and time again. He keeps showing me, and I’m so thankful.

When I stop striving and pressing and forcing things to go the way my ambitions would prefer, I am able to again recognize Him as God and move forward again in His joy and peace. He can be trusted, I remember.

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

He can be trusted with it all. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll go to bed at a decent time.

Freedom For The Not Forgotten

From The A21 Campaign

In the middle of studying Leviticus my thoughts somehow lead me to the women and children who feel alone, who are mostly alone.

No one to care for them. No one to remember them.

I can’t remember how my thoughts brought me here, but I stay anyway.

I think of the poor children who are abused. The ones sold, traded, violated, abandoned. The emotions they know are so much deeper, more painful, than I’ve ever known.

God rescue them. You care!

I look out the window and see wind blowing fuchsia plants around, and I think of their frail bodies, frail spirits being tossed about carelessly by those who see them only as products. They are seen only as a means to a profit. But not by You, Lord. You see. You are the God who sees. You love them. You care about them. Please help them know that.

My eyes shift, and I see the organic snacks for my little ones between me and the window. I think of how well my children are provided for compared to so many others. Sure, we aren’t rich by the world’s standards, but we always have what we really need. My children are taken care of well.

They also have love though. So much love.

So many other children are forsaken by parents and other care-givers, absent ones and present ones.

Why?

Why!

I remember the district in Thailand where women, men, and children are slaves. Hundreds of thousands are bought and sold. They are trapped. Almost all of them got there after being lured by a simple promise. It was a promise of something better than what they had. That promise was a lie. Now they were beaten down with that lie. Many of them without hope. I praise You, Lord, for the light in the darkness. The people who were reaching in to make a difference there. The ones who are making a difference all over the world and in this country. Showing the way to hope.

I think of Fantine and Cosette from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

I remember the loved ones who have themselves been treated this way.

It breaks my heart open.

Here I sit, at a table in a nation where even our poor are rich in comparison to much of the world, but they still are poor. This mistreatment reaches beyond cultures. It is not at all only in other places. It is here. It is close to home.

I think of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

I think of Les Miserables again. I remember how God can profoundly use one person to make a difference. That difference has a ripple effect, and I thank God for ripples.

The wind stills. The storm calms. There is indeed hope. God, show them Your unconditional love for them. Show them Your truth. Your hope. Rescue them. Show them Your grace and comfort. Only You can change this filthy industry here and abroad. I know there are women and children around me who feel the weight of its sin.

Bring healing.

Cleanse them.

Make them new.

Breathe life.

What is my part in the difference making, Lord?

Does this strike a chord in your heart? There are organizations who are working with those precious ones who have been trafficked here and abroad. Here is a list of just a few:

The A21 Campaign

She’s Worth It

Partners International Women

Wellspring Living

International Justice Mission

What is your part?

Monthly Memo: January 2013

Photo Credit

Welp, January is almost over. How is your new year, so far?

I am actually super excited about February because of some fun things we have planned as a family. Not only is Valentines’ Day in February, but also Lent begins on February 13 (Easter is March 31 this year)! I love the season of Lent just as much as I love the season of Advent, if not more. Preparing for Easter through Lent is such a wonderful way to seek the Lord and allow Him to reveal His truth and transform hearts. For the first few years of my Christian life I often felt like Easter just “came and went” too quickly for me to really take notice, but since we began to really be intentional during Lent, we have felt so ready and excited when Easter comes.

How does one “be intentional” during Lent?

I’ll tell you in a minute. But first…

Our February Dare:

I am also excited about February because of Valentines’ Day. I originally had the idea to do something meaningful for people in our lives and sometimes even strangers everyday leading up to Valentines’ Day. However, just the other day I had an even better idea (Thank You, Lord)! A month or two ago I found out about these Joy Prayer Cards over at Not Consumed. Of course, my focus this year is JOY, and I really want to be intentional in teaching our children to pray, really pray. So when I saw these cards, I was excited. I’m going to laminate them to keep them safe from whatever could possibly ruin them (baby saliva, spilled drinks, messy hands…)

There are twenty-eight cards, and of course twenty-eight days in February. So we are going to focus on one prayer card each day and then do something meaningful for the person or group represented on the card each day (little things). I am SO excited about this for myself and for the kids because I really believe God will work in our hearts and in the hearts of those we pray for and interact with during the month of February. Of course, you can go through these prayer cards anytime and over and over again, but February is going to be a great start for us. I encourage you to join us in this! No, I dare you!

What a neat way to love others. Pray for them. Then reach out to them. Every day of the month.

Speaking of Dares:

I can honestly say that reading the book One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp, has changed my life. I have rarely said that about any book (other than the Bible, which remains at the top of the list). It is that good, but also the Lord has really used it to speak volumes of truth to my heart and start me on a path of deeper gratitude and greater joy. I am not even done reading the book, yet!

At Ann’s blog, A Holy Experience, she has posted a really pretty and really helpful way to count your blessings and thank the Lord for them. It’s called a Joy Dare, and there is a printable for you to help you each day. There are even giveaways involved. I am going to get journals for the children and encourage them to do this, too. What a fun way to cultivate the habit of giving thanks each day of the year!

It’s not too late to join this dare either. Don’t let, “Oh but I already missed January” stop you. Just start up with whatever day today is.

And Now For Lent:

I’m sure I will be posting more about Lent, but I wanted to at least share a couple of resources that are available for Lent.

For the last couple of years we have been going through the book The Lenten Tree, by Dean Lambert Smith. I really like the way this book offers devotions for children and a portion for adults to go a little deeper in study on the same day. Plus there is a symbol for each day that we made ornaments for and hang up each day throughout Lent. Although we have enjoyed this book, I am also open to suggestions you may have for a similar type of book. I find myself feeling that I need to occasionally change some of the wording as I read to make it more doctrinally clear. Other than that, I think it is a great tool for family Lent devotions.

Also, I just found out about a new resource from Family Life. It is called Messiah Mystery Lent Kit, and it looks really cool. I would like to get this for our family, as well. I think my kids would love it, and I am already hearing great things about it.

Many people in the Christian community “give up” something for Lent each year. Usually this ranges from a certain type of food to television to Facebook. However I have found that just giving something up is not really the point. I can give up desserts for Lent, but am I adding anything in their place? Am I seeking the Lord in prayer more during Lent? Am I really looking at maybe how much giving up desserts (for example) is a challenge and decide that perhaps changes both physically and spiritually need to take place? Will I rely on the Lord for those changes or try to “fix” myself on my own?

Lent is a time for contemplation and prayer in light of Christ’s death and resurrection. In giving something up for Lent, I also want to add more time in prayer and more time studying the Bible and more time reaching out to others with the love of Christ. Through loving and serving with joy and thanksgiving I can further make room for the Lord to prepare me for the celebration of Easter.

Family Life also has Resurrection Eggs, which were a big hit at our house last year. They are wonderful for the twelve days leading up to Easter. We also read through Benjamin’s Box, by Melody Carlson, at the same time.

What about you? I would love to hear your Valentines’ Day ideas and Lent traditions new or old.

This the song in my head as I type (Click here and have a listen). What an wonderful time of year! What a mighty God we serve!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

Intentional New Year Goal #3: Simplify

From UpwardOverTheMtn on Etsy

We used to live in a very small home, and I consistently had to go through things and purge in order to make sure we didn’t have a cluttered home. There was little storage, so we either used what we had and had a place for it, or it went to someone else’s home. This put me in a regular mindset of simplicity, at least in this area of my life.

Once we moved, my husband and I were determined to continue that mindset. One way we would do it was by not filling up every closet, drawer, and cabinet. It was okay if there were empty ones. Thankfully we were successful in this and have continued to be, even after adding another child to our family since then.

I still find myself going through all of our things every few months and getting rid of more and more. I give some away, sell some, and sometimes use some to make new things instead. Lately I have found myself wanting to do this again, but this time really scale down even more.

The reason? I find myself wanting to simplify more and more. What clothes do I really need? How many shoes? How many toys do my kids need? How many stuffed animals? I know these are just things, and I certainly don’t think there is anything wrong with having things. However I don’t want us our lives to be either defined by them or weighed down by them. It’s okay to keep things we really like. I don’t see anything wrong with that, as long as our perspective is in line with Truth.

I find it’s super easy to get bogged down in the “What do I wear today?” conversation with myself when I have kind of a lot of clothes. In fact, I feel that many of the clothes I have are getting too young for me. I don’t feel old, and I don’t think my age bracket should become boring in the wardrobe department, but… I don’t know… I guess I want a simple wardrobe that still expresses my fun and creative personality without driving me crazy?

The clothing issue is really just one example of ways I have been wanting to simplify in a not-common-in-American-culture kind of way. I also have been sorting through commitments, ambitions, desires, and the nooks and crannies of my heart and my home. What does the Lord really want for me to do? What am I adding unnecessarily? What do I really want? What does that look like? How can I be sure to put the Lord, my husband, and my children at the top of my list always? How can I take better soul care of myself?

As a result, I have been striving to keep my to-do lists shorter and try to enjoy life even when I don’t get to cross off the things on my daily lists. This is a struggle at times. I am so task-oriented. But I love the Lord. I love my husband. I love my children. And I love this life He has given me. I don’t want to major on the minors and let my many ideas and ambitions frustrate me and steal my joy.

After all, this year joy is my focus.

Enter the book I am reading with my small group…

Have you ever read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster? It is a really good book. In fact it’s been around for decades. It’s one of those books that I will read many times I hope. There is just so much to mull over throughout those pages. There is a chapter about simplicity, and as I started reading I found these words:

“Simplicity is freedom. Duplicity is bondage. Simplicity brings joy and balance. Duplicity brings anxiety and fear…The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style.”

I found this interesting. I want joy. I instead at times go with anxiety and fear. Although one definition of duplicity deals with deceitfulness and dishonesty I can see how that still applies. When we trust in stuff or even just in ourselves, even though we are at times double-minded, we can’t have joy and balance. Eventually this path will only lead us to anxiety and fear because a double-minded man is unstable (see James 1:8). What does duplicity look like in a life? Where am I double-minded? Where am I saying or thinking I’m living one way, but actually am still operating very differently?

I love Richard Foster’s list of outward expressions of simplicity, from Celebration of Discipline:

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.

2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

3. Develop a habit of giving things away.

4. Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry.

5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.

6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.

7. Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes.

8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech. (see Matthew 5:33-37) Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no.

9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.

10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God.

Now wait! Before you take this list and jump into legalism with both feet, this is not about a list of rules or more ways to complicate your life. I have found this list very helpful in evaluating different areas of my life, so that I can ask the Lord to help me realize ways that I could simplify more, for His glory. I hope it will help you with this, as well.

I have found, so far, that this has a lot to do with humility and thanksgiving.

“The humble live surprised. The humble live by joy.” (Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts)

Joyful. Simple. God-honoring. That is what I pray for this year.

Intentional New Year Goal #2: Joy

joy_sand I learned a lot last year. Some of those lessons I were not ones I volunteered to learn, and I still don’t like them. However, I am thankful for the Lord’s faithful, gentle, and loving instruction and comfort in those hard lessons. There is always so much more to learn.

Last week I received an email from Life Your Way, which is a really neat blog full of practical helps and insights for “intentional and creative living” (right up my alley!). The post in the email was about a movement called One Word 365, which is about choosing “One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.”

I have done this in the past, sort of, with words like discipline and diligence, but I felt a call to something deeper than words like these. These two words for me were still about doing and improving and accomplishing. What word would be for me this year? I need a word that is more about being and that permeates each area of my life in a transforming and God-glorifying way.

I thought about it for a couple of days asking the Lord for a word.

Then it came to me.

Over the last few months there have been a couple of themes I have noticed in sermons, prayer times, study, books I’ve been compelled to read, and conversations. I have been examining ways my heart has turned away from the Lord to modern-day idols, I have been focusing on grace-filled speech, and I have been reminded over and over again about gratitude and joy.

Joy!

Joy is my word for 2013. I want the Lord to cultivate joy in me that shines through thick layers of frustration, task-oriented ambition, hurt, anxiety, and fear. I pray that He will remind me to chose joy each day this year and therefore not only grow closer to Him, but also be a blessing to others. This sounds lovely.

For me, this focusing on joy will be aided through several resources (some of which will come as the year progresses, I’m sure). Here are some of those resources I have, so far.

1. Scripture! I mentioned my Bible reading plan in Goal #1′s post here. Also I will be continuing with the ladies at my church in a study from Precept International. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord encourages and speaks truth through His Word, the Bible. This brings joy when we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and change us through careful and prayerful reading and studying of Scripture each day.

2. Reading great books: One of my goals this year is to read a list of books on my own, a few with my husband, and some with my children. I have found that great books bring me joy. I am not really a fiction reader, however, I do intentionally have a few fiction books on my list to give it a try.

One of the books that I started reading last month is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I really didn’t expect to find what I found in this book. I was immediately drawn in and inspired, convicted, encouraged, and compelled by the message within. I can see why people love this book! I almost let a few reviews from people who didn’t care for the writing style stop me from reading it. I am so glad I didn’t. It is a very worthwhile read. I highly recommend it. I’m still reading it, and I find that I am thinking about joy more after each sitting.

A devotional I started working through each day came to me from Sally Clarkson at I Take Joy called, Taking Joy to Heart. You can get it as an ebook for free when you subscribe to her email list.

I am also reading Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster, with my husband and small group. This book is so incredibly rich. Wow. I know I will want to read it again and again. I am challenged by the truths contained within, and I know the more I draw near to the Lord, the more He will draw near to me and fill me with true Joy.

We are also reading Give Them Grace, by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. Actually we are only through the introduction, and already I think my parenting today was better than before we read it yesterday because of the things I thought about after reading – of course there is always much more growth still to be had. This is also going to be a rich, truthful, and resulting-in-more-joy kind of book. I am really excited to read it and asking the Lord to minister to us through it.

3. Intentional Prayer: At the end of the day, I can usually tell how much time I spent in prayer. If I have spent some good, real time in prayer, my attitude is better and my joy is much more apparent. If I failed to stop, cease striving, and spend some time talking with and listening to the Lord that day then it is pretty obvious to me when I finally do access the damage.

Prayer doesn’t have to be some fancy, schmancy endeavor. It’s just real communication between the Creator and the created through Jesus Christ who made a way for us to have this communication. Just being real with God, who knows my heart anyway, is so refreshing and peace-bringing. This too brings joy.

By being intentional and relying on the Giver of all joy for help, I pray that joy will become more of a fountain flowing out of me and onto others. I pray that I can exhibit true joy when I wake up in the morning, when I do simple and boring tasks, when my children need more discipline or are pulling at me from all different directions, and in every type of situation. Of course, this will be a continual learning process and a continual decision, as well. I won’t accomplish it completely in this life, but I do wish to grow more and more in joy. I also know I won’t be perfect. In fact, it will often be in those times I fail that I will learn more and grow more.

Joy. Joy. JOY!

“Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)

For more on the definition of joy (as opposed to happiness) and more, check out the post from the Fruit of the Spirit series here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

What word would you choose for this year?

No More Desperate Moms

As a mom of little ones I know how easily a mom can get overwhelmed and feel frustrated, inadequate, and maybe even alone. I have been there, and I have seen this happen is the lives of others before, and the result can be devastating. Why do moms get desperate?

It breaks my heart to hear moms talk about parenting in such a negative and exhausted way. So many blessings are being missed! It is hard. But there is hope. And there is help. Being a mother is so beautiful, so rewarding, so special… Why does society at large seem to have a stressed-out-worn-out view of motherhood?

Could it be that sometimes we aren’t real with others about our needs until we are so overwhelmed by them that it becomes obvious? Could it be that we need a mentor to walk alongside us? Could it be that we aren’t reaching out and becoming a part of communities of moms who encourage and strengthen each other? Could it be that too many older moms are not taking the initiative to reach out to younger moms?

There is such a need for the older generations and the younger generations to connect. We have so much to learn from each other!

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:3-5 NASB)

As a younger woman I say, “Please, older women, we need you!”

This is one reason why I am so excited about the book Desperate, by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson. The official launch of the book is today, and it is available anywhere books are sold (There are some fun giveaways, too).

A bit about the book:

“Desperate is for those who love their children to the depths of their souls but who have also curled up under their covers, fighting back tears, and begging God for help. It’s for those who have ever wondered what happened to all their ideals for what having children would be like. For those who have ever felt like all the “experts” have clearly never had a child like theirs. For those who have prayed for a mentor. For those who ever felt lost and alone in motherhood.

In Desperate you will find the story of one young mother’s honest account of the desperate feelings experienced in motherhood and one experienced mentor’s realistic and gentle exhortations that were forged in the trenches of raising her own four children.

It is our prayer that reading Desperate will leave you soul-filled, refreshed, and hopeful.”

I have actually prayed for a mentor for years!

I shared this with a friend my husband views as a mentor to him, and he asked me a question.

“Who are you mentoring?”

“What? No, I said I want a mentor for me.”

“Yes, and I do pray that the Lord will provide one for you,” he said, ”however, I will also pray that He will provide others for you to mentor, as well.”

I kinda hadn’t thought of that much before. Now I pray for both a mentor for me and another woman to pour into (as I continue to pour into my husband and children).

That is another reason I got so excited about this book! I really believe that this is more than just a book. Sarah and Sally have started a movement: No More Desperate Moms. Moms need to be encouraged, and I think this movement is an awesome way to do it!

Imagine the impact a movement like this will have on generations – present and future! Our children needs us. There is so much joy to be found here.

Wanna join this movement? Here’s the No More Desperate Moms Resolution.

Intentional New Year Goal #1: Chronological Bible Reading

bible open I love the new year. I love January almost as much as I love December. December I love because of Advent, Christmas, and closing out a year hopefully by assessing it and determining what to do the same and what to do differently the next year. January I love because of the freshness of a new chance. For me, the new year brings new potential, new hope, and new goals.

Last year I accomplished only two of my five resolutions. However, I am not discouraged because actually my goals did change a bit throughout the year. Plus I realized that at least one of these goals was a bit too ambitious (this has happened before), so maybe this year my goals will be more reachable. Funny enough, in my end of the year post in 2011, I gave some pointers for setting reachable goals. Always learning.

So in no particular order, I will share each one of my goals (there are seven total) and a little bit about each one, as well. My prayer is that this will help others in setting reachable and worthwhile goals (whether they are like mine or not at all).

Goal #1: Read the Bible chornologically.

I really love the Bible. I also recognize my need to keep God’s truth in my mind and not fail to read at least a portion of the Bible every day. When I first became a follower of Christ, a friend told me that no matter what, she made sure she read Scripture every day. Even if it was just one verse, she would make sure that happened. I started doing that and realized that I understood the value that she explained to me in doing this.

Over the years of reading, studying, memorizing, and praying through Scripture, I was overwhelmed with the desire to start reading all of the Bible over the course of each year from now on.

Last year (even though for some reason I never added this to my official resolutions list), I read through the Bible by following the reading plan here called “One Year Readings.” It took me each day through a little of the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible), a little of the New Testament, a little of Psalms, and a verse or two in Proverbs in the order in which they are layed out from Genesis to Revelation. There are SO many reading plans out there. This is the one I chose for 2012.

For 2013 I would like to read through the Bible chronologically. Of course, I will still start out in Genesis, but you can check out the rest of the reading plan here under “Chronological Readings.”

I may use this one some, but I will be using the new Chronological Life Application Study Bible for most of my readings daily. This was a timely and much appreciated gift that I received about a month ago. It is available here for Kindle, as well. This study Bible only comes in the New Living Translation for now, but it will only be for my daily readings anyway – with a little studying. For studying more in depth, I will be using the New American Standard (NASB) and English Standard Version (ESV).

I am really looking forward to gaining new perspective through surveying the Bible chronologically this year. It will be especially fascinating through the historical books of Kings and Chronicles as well as the prophets.

Click here for a great article to read about reading through the Bible in a year. Some have even suggested reading it in two years instead of one. Look at the options, pray about it, and decide what would work best in helping you grow closer to the Lord throughout the year. It may take sacrifice, but it will be worth it if we truly seek Him while we read His Word.

Are you planning on following a Bible reading plan throughout 2013? I’d love to hear about it.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

2012 Playlist: Forgiveness

2012 Playlist DGA ***There are a handful of songs that have really ministered to me this year. I think these artists created excellent pieces of work that have the potential to impact many and speak truth into the lives of others. So, I thought it would be fun to share them as we wrap up 2012 in a few shorts weeks. You’ll notice a theme, I’m sure, since what songs ministered to me this year have a lot to do with the events of the year. Hopefully they will minister to you in some way, as well.***

This year, there have been many occassions to both give and receive forgiveness. Sometimes it’s been harder than ever for me. Sometimes I actually didn’t want to give it or ask for it. However, knowing how freeing it is to give and receive forgiveness, I continued on with the Lord’s help. Only He can truly help any of us forgive another.

Have a listen to Toby Mac’s song Forgiveness, featuring Lacrae…

Forgiving another doesn’t mean that we are excusing their actions or that we are saying that what they did was okay. It doesn’t deal with that part of the situation at all. What forgiveness does is take me off the hook and leave the person or group of people in the Lord’s hands. Then my job is to continue to pray for them and for my heart toward them. How do I feel when they are around or when I think about them?

It is a process.

After forgiving, I may not feel like things are better. They probably are not, although sometimes they may be resolved that quickly. However forgiveness is not a matter of emotion or feeling like I have forgiven someone. It’s a decision.

Asking for forgiveness is really not fun. However when I have messed up, I need to ask for forgiveness. There is so much freedom in forgiveness and so much peace in open communication.

The truth is if we don’t deal with forgiveness – whether we need to ask for it or give it – we’ll never really be able to move on and be at peace. It is a necessary part of life.

Forgiveness is important between me and other people, but it is even more important between me and the Lord. Receiving forgiveness from my sins when I decided to follow Jesus was the biggest and most imporant event in my life. After that decision, forgiving others is not only necessary, it is possible. Without the Lord’s strength, I don’t know how I would do it. Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me and for helping me forgive others.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13 NIV)