When I Grow Up...

When I grow up, I want to own my very own chocolate shop. No, make that a book store with a fireplace and a Starbuck’s AND a chocolate shop – all under one roof! Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Actually, my husband and I happened across a similar place on our way back from vacation years ago before the kids were born. I remember standing with my nose pressed to the glass (because it was closed) dreaming of owning such a wonderful place, such a refuge for fellow book lovers.

It had a welcoming fireplace, overstuffed leather couches and chairs surrounding a chunky, rustic coffee table, and a big beautiful area rug spread over dark wood floors. I’ve dreamed about it ever since, and imagined the opportunity to welcome those who share my passion for the cozy and the quiet; a place where I could create an environment pleasing to all 5 senses for others to enjoy.

I’d pipe in soft, soothing piano and guitar music. The heavenly aroma of coffee and chocolate truffles would mingle with scented candles. Various coffees and teas would warm and comfort the soul, comfy pillows and throws would spill over the furniture and the fireplace would wrap up my guests in the perfect calming ambiance.

Aahhh….

I believe there’s a reason God allows us to remember our dreams, even when they seem impossible to attain. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That tells me that there’s still so much more the Lord wants for me if I would learn to live with my eyes open to his direction. He is our hope for the future and the One in charge of our dreams. Most of the limitations and barriers that stand in the way of attaining our goals have been created by us. They’re nonexistent to the Lord. He sees beyond all the “what ifs,” and “I can’t do that because…”

He’s God! All things ARE possible through him.

So, what is your big super-sized dream today? Do you believe it’s already yours to have despite the barriers? Have you prayed about it?

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and

unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

With the Lord on your side, you’ve been given the license to fast forward over all the common roadblocks like lack of confidence, lack of finances in an uncertain economy, and fear of failure. Our God is SO much bigger than all that!

God isn’t focused on your stumbling blocks, so why should you be?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish." (Hebrews 12:1-3) NLT.

Spiritual House Cleaning

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) NIV

So, I’ve decided to stop procrastinating and tackle some serious fall house cleaning. But where to start? With me, it’s always the kitchen. I hit the sinks and fridge (including the inch of dust that accumulates on top), then move on to the floors, polish the counters, clean the ovens and cook top and vacuum the narrow little tracks and grooves in my windows.
Then it’s time for the ceiling fans and light fixtures, clean the carpets and rugs, and just give each room the mother-in-law treatment – I like to imagine someone like, oh I don’t know, perhaps the photographer from Romantic Homes magazine is on their way over to photograph the place, and I only have one day to prepare. Yikes!
But why should our homes get all the attention? Why not take an honest assessment of our spiritual health too? When you stop and think about it, what are some of the things that might be a little dingey or stand out as needing improvement in your life? I’m sure many of us could use a little spiritual clean-up; a little polishing and prioritizing.
We can start by taking a look at our relationships; how we interact with our loved ones. What about our finances? Our personal habits? How we choose to spend our free time? What about vices and personal struggles? Sure, it all sounds good, but much like tackling our fall house cleaning, spiritual cleaning can also be overwhelming and intimidating. So, why not apply the same rules of organization as we take a look at ourselves and our lives, and establish 3 basic “piles”. When assessing your spiritual health, ask yourself,

• What do I want to keep? You can stack hope and faith at the top of this pile and watch it grow!
• What do I want to throw away? This is the stuff you want to give to God, never to be seen or heard from again. Be happy to see it leave because it has only proved to hold you back and weigh you down.
• What do I want to donate or pass on to someone else? This pile will be all the things that you have experienced and you know would be of benefit to others; not just things like love, compassion and forgiveness, but answers to prayer and situations where you witnesses the hand of God.

Heavenly Father,
Help me to see the things in myself that you want me to see. Speak to my heart and show me what I need to clean up, where I need to improve so that I may live a life pleasing to you. Thank you for allowing the U-turns in life, and for giving us, your children, the opportunity to repent and change for the better. And thank you for loving us through it all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22) NIV

Enjoy the New Season

Can you believe we’re already into October? Gotta admit, I’m pretty happy to wave good-bye to the summer and welcome the shifting breeze of fall; that wonderful time of year when we think twice about heading out the door in the morning without an umbrella or a sweater. (Never mind that I’m writing this today in 80 degree weather, but I can dream!) We keep a supply of wood handy by the fireplace, just in case. And we start scoping out Christmas presents, ornaments, new holiday recipes and build up our supply of baking essentials. I love to cook and bake, and I do a lot more of it as we approach the holidays.

To share my love of cooking with you all, I’ve included a Recipe of the Day feature from Taste of Home. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to try some of their fantastic temptations (or attend one of their Cooking Schools). Check their web site at http://www.tasteofhomeschools.com/ShowScheduleCombined.asp for their Cooking School schedule to see when they’ll be in your area.

One of the things I really want to make absolute certain of this year is to truly enjoy the season. The stress of last year’s holiday season sort of robbed me of the Christmas spirit. Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went and I spent New Year’s Day feeling very cheated, but I only had myself to blame. Once again, I’d let myself get too caught up in the hurry, the gotta-dos, the donning of my Super-Mom cape to even enjoy the holidays. I never really “got into” the Christmas spirit, and believe me, I tried. I brought out the Christmas DVDs and CDs about mid-October but I still couldn’t find that satisfying warm-fuzzy feeling.

In preparation for a more relaxing time ahead, I’ve already said “no” to a few things that would compromise my time in the coming months, and already I feel better. It’s a wonderful word – no. It’s liberating. Freeing. Keeps me in charge of my brain cells and the family a little happier when Mom isn’t so stressed out.

So, I plan to linger a little longer over a good book or magazine article on those chilly afternoons. I’ll admire the changing leaves and approaching clouds with awe and appreciation. And when my daughter suggests we bake something yummy on a Saturday afternoon, I’ll try to remember how precious few those moments are becoming and take her up on her offer.

I hope to embrace the new season with a heart open to spontaneous opportunities, to capture precious moments with pen and paper but also to breathe deeply the gift of yet another passing year and abundant hope for the one to come.

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mark 6:31) ESV

It's a Son-In-Your-Eyes Sunday!

Good Morning to you.

Is the Son in your eyes today?

Thank the Lord for another beautiful Sunday! I am so excited to get to church and worship the Lord! Whatever you’ve been through this week, and whatever you anticipate for the week ahead, bring it with you and leave it at the cross. Nothing is too big for our God!

"Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness".

I Chron 16:27-29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0yLRX4d2M

"How Great Is Our God!"

A Heart-of-Thanks Thursday

I love how every instruction of life is given in the scriptures. We’re told how to turn from evil, how to love our husbands and wives, and how to raise our children. We’re even told how to pray, how to be fishers of men, how to spend our days, how to sow seeds and reap the

harvest, and we’re given the freedom to praise God with a joyful noise!

Within these same scriptures, we’re lifted, loved, blessed, encouraged, comforted and strengthened. We’re given the firm foundation, the solid rock – we’re offered the gift of salvation.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

⁴ for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools ^[a] despise wisdom and discipline.

(Proverbs 1-7)

Is Your Joy Contagious?

Stepping up on my soapbox for a minute…

After a recent conversation with a fellow Christian, I hung up the phone realizing one important thing: joy is only contagious if you can somehow manage to maintain it when you’re around those who clearly aren’t joyful! Wouldn’t you agree?

The world may be falling down, crumbling all around us, but those who truly live in the light of the Lord don’t allow their faith to crumble along with it (of course, there are those exceptional circumstances, but I'm talking about the basic stuff of life). I have to think of all the time God has invested in me. He’s heard and answered my every prayer. He’s taken me by the hand and walked with me through the fire. He’s dried my tears, and he’s opened my eyes each morning to hope and opportunity. I owe it to him to live out what I profess, to stand defiantly against the enemy’s attempt to drag me down with those whose praise is mumbled, buried beneath layers of negativity. As a Christian, I’ve invested years strengthening my faith, my prayer life and my walk with the Lord. If I can’t even stand firm on that faith around other “Christians,” what kind of testimony am I to the non-believer? Pray it like you mean it, and then live it out. Don’t let the enemy steal your joy and the passion from within that you and the Lord have worked so hard together to create – use it for God’s glory!

Lord Jesus,

Help me to hold on to the joy of knowing you. Help me to remember, as I interact with others, that I am yours and you are mine. Your promises, your Word and your Truth will never fade or weaken with time, but prove to only strengthen in your people. Help me to respond in love to those whose joy has been diluted and weakened by the struggles of life that they may draw closer to you with renewed faith and trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22) NIV

It's a New Day!

Good morning to you! So glad you have a minute to join me.

Today is a brand new day! Despite what’s forecasted, it’s not a bad day or a good day – it’s an awesome day! It’s a clean slate and yet one more opportunity to either draw closer to the One who’s speaking our name or to trudge our way down the rutted road of our own will. We have the choice today, you and I. We’ve been invited by the Creator of Heaven and Earth to choose the Way the Truth and the Life, and to pave today’s path with prayer, thanksgiving and hope. Join me as I turn this day over to Jesus, not just with my words, but with my whole heart! I pray you’ll do the same.

“With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.”

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight

in your decrees; I will not neglect your word…”

(Psalm 119:13-16) NIV