What Would Your Cardboard Testimony Look Like?

Okay, guys. This video clip takes eight minutes to watch, but I PROMISE it is worth every single second. I found it through a great site called Guidance For Victory. It will bring tears to your eyes and humble you. I hope you'll take time to watch it.

Thankful Thursday

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. —Psalm 9:1

Every summer I have a burning desire to clean out all of the closets and drawers in my house. As I was doing so I ran across a prayer journal from four years ago where I recorded a list of answered prayers. It was pretty amazing to read back through the list and remember what was going on at that time in my life. This inspired me to start "Thankful Thursday" to count the blessings in my life. On Thursdays, I'll be posting things that I'm thankful for, blessings in my life, and prayers that have been answered. I'd like to hear from you each week as well.

1. Time with family. Over the past week I've been able to spend lots of time with family. We took a family vacation to the beach with my mom and stepdad, and I was able to spend time with Korey and Klaire. I've also spent some time with my dad, my stepmom, and extended family eating (of course). In addition, my sister came and spent the night with us this week as well. I really enjoy spending time with family.

2. A daughter that sings praises to the Lord. You know not a day goes by that Klaire doesn't sing some song about Jesus. Now, most of them are made up songs, but it just amazes me that she chooses to sing about Jesus.

3. Great neighbors. Our neighbors are like family. I have had three HUGE shrubs in my flower beds that have been driving me crazy for quite some time, and last night my husband was outside getting ready to try to get them out of the beds for me. Two of our neighbors came right over and joined in and helped him get them up. Now, this wasn't an easy task. It took a 4-wheel drive truck to yank them up, but they pulled them up and hauled them off. They're great. The good thing about that though is, it is a reciprocal relationship because Korey helped the neighbor fix his lawnmower yesterday too.

4. Butterflies and caterpillars. Kids really make you notice the small things in life don't they? We've had lots of catepillars on our porch lately, and we've been counting butterflies every day. I've been amazed at the number that we've seen every day. They're so pretty.

5. The decision to start this blog. It really has made me pick up my Bible every single day. :) Well, let me confess ... the migraine on Tuesday did keep me down, but I've been much more consistent this week. Thank you, Lord.

6. Rain. I haven't forgotten how dry it was last summer.

7. Cool weather the past couple of evenings so we've been able to get some yard work done.

8. The fact that Klaire slept through the night. It's been a while since she hasn't woke me up to talk to me at least two to three times so I'm pretty happy about that!

9. Co-workers that I can talk through things that are "fuzzy" to me with.

10. My restored marriage. Those that know me know that this has truly taken a miracle. Hardly a day goes by that I don't realize what a MIRACLE it truly is, I can remember praying asking God how there could possibly be any other way than divorce. However, God had other plans for my life, and I'm so thankful that He did.


There Psalms are full are full of verses reminding us to give thanks to the Lord for the blessings that He bestows upon our lives. What are you thankful for today?

How Do You React When Someone Is Late and They Make You Wait?

I really enjoy the icebreakers that our Sunday School lessons start off with each week which include a series of questions to lead into the lesson topic. (Contagious Community: Living Beyond Yourself by Life Connections)

1. Which of the following did you have the hardest time waiting for when you were growing up?

• Christmas
• Summer vacation
• When you would be able to drive
• When you could move out of the house
• Your birthday
• Puberty
• Other ________
  

2. Which of the following do you have the hardest time waiting for now?

• Opening day of baseball season
• The next episode of your favorite TV show
• Christmas
• Payday
• The weekend
• Your vacation
• Opening day of hunting season
• The big sale at your favorite store
• The next time you'll be able to see a certain someone
• Other ______

3. How well do you deal will it when people are late and they make you wait?

• It stresses me out- I think of all I have to do.
• It's great - it gives me a chance to relax.
• I blame myself- figuring I remembered wrong.
• It relieves my guilt- for all the times I am late.
• I feel devalued- I am not important enough for them to respect my time.
• I am patient with them- I know all the things that can come up.
• Other _______

Growing up I couldn't wait to turn 16 to get those driver's license. There was just something about that sense of independence that came along with being able to drive myself around. Now, as an educator, I really enjoy the short breaks that we get throughout the school year. I enjoy summer too, but I could really handle just a week or two and dive right back in. :)

The third question really stopped me right in my tracks. It brought my self-centeredness right to the forefront of my mind. I am totally Type A, but that really is no excuse. It truly irritates me to no end for folks to be really late. I really am sitting there thinking of all of the things on MY to do list. ME, ME, ME. Ephesians 4:2-4 tells us to "ALWAYS be humble and gentle. Be PATIENT with each other making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourself united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."

None of us are perfect, so as Christians we are called to accept each other in spite of our faults. For some folks, running late is just part of who they are ... do you know folks like that? How did you fare in the test?

Kids Ought to Come With Manuals, Right?

She doesn't look hard to handle, does she? Seriously, she is so cute, and she acts so grown up. But, boy does she give me a run for my money! As I was getting dressed for church yesterday morning I whispered a quick prayer that the morning would run smoothly because Satan just has a way of slipping into our home on Sunday mornings. All was going well until it was time to get Klaire dressed. Of course, she was busy playing, and she didn't want to stop to get dressed. After telling her several times to come over and to let me put her dress on, I started to get agitated with her. Of course, the cycle began, I told her over and over to be still, stand up, stand still, and on and on. Then, as I tried to put her hair up and put her bow in she kept moving around and I had to start over. Korey threatened a spanking a couple of times until he finally declared that she would indeed receive a spanking AFTER CHURCH.

At that point, her face fell, she immediately began pleading her case as she always does when she knows that she's in too deep. My heart sank. Because I'm an educator I know that young children need discipline immediately in order for it to be effective. On top of that, Klaire is a worry wart. I seriously wouldn't doubt it if she has an ulcer by the time she starts kindergarten. I mean, what three year old jerks her head around toward the television every day when she realizes that the weather is on and says, "Mama, is there gonna be a funderstorm today?" She is deathly afraid of thunder and lightning. I went to Korey and told him that I thought that he should spank her BEFORE we left for church instead of three hours later. He disagreed. So, we left for church with Klaire whining that she didn't want a spanking, Korey upset with me because I questioned his parenting skills, and me upset with Korey because he didn't agree with me. Boy does Satan figure out how to weasel his way in. Hhmph!

Just after Sunday School Korey and I briefly discussed our difference of opinion about the situation again, and he declared that he just wouldn't spank Klaire at all. Wrong decision. Now, I do know enough to know that you have to keep your word when it comes to discipline, but why does parenting have to be so hard? Oddly enough, when the pastor began to preach yesterday his sermon was entitled, "Ten Things to Teach Your Children." I knew we were in for an interesting ride. One of his key points during the message was to expect obedience from your children and to always keep your word when it comes to discipline. On the way home from church Klaire said, "What did ya'll learn in Bible School today?" I thought, "Oh little one, you don't even want to know!" Guess what happened when we got home? You got it! Klaire got her spanking ... and she did live. It probably hurt my heart much more that it hurt her bottom. :)

Lately I've felt like I spend a whole lot time reprimanding Klaire, but I realize that toddlers require lots of boundaries. During these times I recite Proverbs 22:6 in my mind which reminds me to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." When I have to spank her, I will recite Proverbs 24:13 in my mind which reminds me of the promise that tells us that if "we spare the rod we will spoil the child." I decided to spend my quiet time today looking for other promises regarding discipline so here are a few that I thought I'd share with you.

"If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don't love them; if you love your children you will be prompt to discipline them." Proverbs 13:24 (NLT)

"Discipline your children while there is hope. If you don't you will ruin their lives." Proverbs 19:18 (NLT)

"Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right." Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)

"To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child." (NLT)

"Discipline your children, and they will give you happiness and peace of mind." Proverbs 29:17 (NLT)


The Bible has a lot to tell us about the importance of discipline. With a toddler it is easy to feel that all that you do is nag, correct, and redirect. Proverbs 29:15 reminds us that this will eventually lead to self-discipline. Whew! Discipline isn't easy, but it is necessary. It is an act of love! What promises have you been reminded of lately that you needed to hear?

Pressing Toward the Goal

When I decided that I would create a blog of my own I pondered various topics that I might blog about including my eating habits, coaching teachers at my school in order to enhance my own job performance, exercising, and my spiritual walk. I asked myself, "Which of these is the MOST important? Which affects eternity? Hands down the answer was easy... my spiritual walk. So, here I am starting this journey to hold myself accountable. I've started this journey many times before and failed, but I'm hoping that this form of journaling will help keep me on track.

As I was searching for scripture today to encourage me, I came across Philippians 3:12-14 that says, " I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

It is easy to feel defeated and that we could never please God with the lives that we lead here on earth. When I think of all of the years that I've wasted having inconsistent daily quiet times, I wonder how God could possibly still be patient with me. These verses remind us though not to dwell on things of the past, but to look forward the future. Are you dwelling on things of the past or are you focusing on what lies ahead? I hope that these verses will encourage you to look forward to what God has in store for you.