Holidays and Family

With the Holidays around the corner comes time with family. I love that the Holidays bring family together, especially when they live distances apart, and it is the only time throughout the year that you get to see certain family members. As wonderful as the Holidays are ,it doesn't come without tension,disappointment and stress. We have the best intentions , we have high expectations of everything going perfectly as planned with everyone smiling and getting along as though not a care in the world exists. But in reality we all know that this is not possible. Since Adam and Eve we have lived in a fallen world where sin lives within each and every one of us. As hard as we try, because of this sin, not even the best of families are exempt from things going array. I personally believe that family gatherings and holidays are Gods way of building character within each of us if we allow it! They are a gentle reminder that no mater how much you love your family they will fail you. Plans will fail, hurt feelings arise and expectations are shattered. Does this mean we are to dread the time with family and Holidays in general. Most definitely not! I can honestly tell you though, that I was at a place where I did until the Lord revealed a great truth to me. It was not audible but I knew it was for me. " As long as we live in a fallen and imperfect world with imperfect people forgiveness must be forefront on your heart or you will be miserable and live in a state of disappointment always especially around the holidays." Since the Lord revealed this truth to me I have had such freedom and joy during this time of year. Yes it still hurts and there are floods of emotions when family members say and do things that don't go as planned, but remember they are not our plans to begin with, they are the Lords if we have given them to Him in the first place. When we give our loved ones and plans to Him there is a sweet release that He is in control and all things will work for our good. Remember high expectations of others is always a dangerous thing.
None of us are above sin ,and where people exist so does hurt and disappointment, even with those we love the most. I guess the message I am trying to get across is "Commit your ways unto the Lord and your plans will be established" Pray and remain in an attitude of forgiveness of those around you, most importantly your family. As wives and mothers we must remember that we set the tone , so it is crucial that we seek the Lord daily and respond in Christlike character during these times. Our children will follow our example. Remember what comes out of the mouth is an indicator of what is in the heart! Look forward to this time of year, embrace it ,plan and prepare fun activities with family, make the effort to seek restoration in broken relationships. This is God's design and will ,that we love, forgive and receive one another, faults and all because HE so loved and forgave and receives us just as we are! Have a Blessed Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Grace so Amazing

Well I have been absent for awhile and I apologize. As you all know we go through many different seasons in our lives. I have been in a "Menopausal season". Well to say the least it is not an easy road. I have my up days and down days but for the most part it is an emotional roller coaster for me. I keep wanting to just get through it and just be over it altogether. The Lord continues to remind me that His grace is sufficient each day. He has showed me that like any season of life we need to embrace it and allow Him to do His refining work in our life through whatever it is we are going through. I must say that it is not as easy as it sounds. Only by His grace am I able to trust Him in every area of my life so why should this be any different.
I want to encourage you my sister in the Lord that whatever season of life you are in, the Lord is with you. Christ understands all and will provide the grace we need.
May we desire only, in all ,to be more and more conformed to His image! This is the GOAL!

Blessed are thou, O child of God, who sufferest
And canst not understand
The reason for thy pain, yet gladly leavest
Thy life in His blest Hand.
Yea, blessed art thou whose faith is "not offended"
By trials unexplained,
By mysteries unsolved,past understanding,
Until the GOAL is gained!

By Freda Hanbury Allen

Twenty One Years and Here We go Again

I always have mixed emotions this time of year. I love summertime and the freedom and great spontaneous times together. My husband is now beginning his 26th year in the public school system and I am starting my 21st year as a homeschool mom. We are for the most part always ready to get back into routine when the time comes. Being a homeschooling mom I have to switch into teacher mode which I have always looked forward too. I love being the primary influence in my children's lives and their education. I have always loved learning with them and being able to keep everything they learn Christ centered. It is a privilege and I would never trade a minute of it. I have come to realize what a small part "BOOK KNOWLEDGE" is in the training of our children. I have always enjoyed being able to be spontaneous as we learn daily life application and then being able to go to Gods word and see what He has to say to us that day.
I truly believe building character and beauty from within each child has to be a daily on purpose priority for us as mothers. It takes planning and time to nurture our children in the way God intended. What an awesome "JOB" we have. Never feel as a Mom that your task is menial or demeaning. You have the greatest "JOB" in the world , the opportunity to mold the next generation for the kingdom of GOD. Don't ever take it lightly and don't let well meaning plans or hobbies or other jobs take the place of our most important "JOB" , training Gods future solders for the kingdom of God. What a calling! Glory to God for this temporary earthy journey we are in . Help us Lord to stay focused on eternity for the sake of our CHILDREN!

Im Back! "Summer Thoughts"

Well it just seems time is flying and before we know our summer is over. I feel like my life is changing fast and as I am getting older time is fleeting. We are having a great summer. I love Florida weather, even though I do complain about the heat, I truly love living in the sunshine state. We were just at the beach for a week, not long enough, I truly do think I could stay a month. I truly am a beach girl at heart! I just love sitting at the water with my umbrella chair ,the waves cresting over my feet and legs keeping me cool and a book in my hand. Looking at the ocean I am so reminded of the overwhelming vastness of our God! I always feel I can reflect on my life and talk to the Lord in a way like no other when I am there. I really think I could live on the beach and be very content. I would love to one day have a home on the beach if the Lord so wills. As for my husband he would prefer to be in the woods where he could hunt year round. I guess we will have to find a happy medium when that time comes. As we are still in the middle of our summer months I just want to encourage you to plan activities together with your children. It may be just pulling weeds at your church and then going out for ice cream, Blackberry picking, watching old family videos together. Whatever it is planning family time is essential in this day and time when we stay so busy. As Moms we are also the"activity directors" for our children. It is easy to let them sit in front of a tv or computer for entertainment ,but is it wise? Be proactive in making your summer a memorable one by sitting down with your children and planning things to do. I love games and puzzles and sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get family members to participate with me but when they do they are always glad and we laugh and have such fun together. These are also times where great conversations can take place, sharing and reconnecting with each other is so important in this day and time. So in closing don't let the summer get away from you without being intentional about planning family activities that will make your summer a memorable one! Have fun and be spontaneous!!

Birthday Blessings

Wow, another year has gone by which means I am another year older. The older I get the more I focus on Gods overflowing blessings in my life. I have a wonderful husband of 29 years. I have 5 incredible children, 2 awesome son -in-laws and 1 new son-in-law to be and last but not least my "practically perfect in every way grandson James"! What more can I ask for. My father always says "age is an attitude" ,oh how true that is. Of course when you get ready to get another year older you want to do things to stay young, so yes you guessed it I started a diet this week to eat healthier and yes ,I can afford to lose a few pounds. I also started exercising more. I even did an hour long beginners yoga dvd to stay limber and relaxed. LOL My daughter got a kick out of watching that! It is funny the things we do to try to stay younger and healthy and feeling good about ourselves. Who doesn't want to feel good? So yes ,it is ok to work on our physical being as long as we continue to work on our spiritual being as well. Each year it is important to re-evaluate our relationship with the Lord.
Are we as faithful in spending time with Him daily as we are to eat our next meal. Do we truly desire to grow into His likeness and image? What steps are we taking to do so. There is a scripture that talks about our physical body decaying ,but inwardly as we seek Him we are being renewed day by day. Yes, I do want a great big piece of Publix chocolate cake for my birthday but much more than that I want to be so in tune with the Lord that I hear His voice and see His face daily! I desire that my life reflect Him and bring Him glory each day. I truly want to be able to say " Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before".

" Lord, I need a Vacation"

Vacations or should I say "time of refreshment and renewal" are so important not only for yourself but also your family. I was one of those mothers who was rarely away from my children and always had a difficult time leaving them . I have always enjoyed motherhood and felt that being a wife and mother is the greatest and most rewarding calling there is. I never felt like my children were a burden or kept me from "fulfilling my dreams" You see being a wife and mother had always been my dream since I was a little girl "playing house". I wanted to be like my mom. I dreamed of growing up to be like her , she was my superhero, she always reflected an attitude of fulfillment and contentment in being a stay at home wife and mother. She knew that in order to be the wife and mother God called her to be she needed times of re-fueling. I cannot stress enough to you the importance of your children feeling that your "joy" is found in your relationship with Jesus Christ which in turn enables you to exude a joy and love in being their mother. Re-fueling enables you to live this in front of them day in and day out without "growing weary". No matter what happens in your life and family children need to feel that your greatest joy comes in serving them. Humility in admitting mistakes and putting their needs before yours is "truly serving" your family. I would often tell my children that they brought me so much joy and I thanked the Lord for giving them to me daily. Yes "life happened" and it wasn't always easy and we had ,like any family our difficult days, but I always reminded them of the blessing they were to their father and I ,and we couldn't ever imagine our lives without them. I know you are wondering what this all has to do with needing a vacation. Well in order to "not grow weary in well doing", it is important that you take time away from your children to be refreshed and renewed for this awesome calling on your life". I often remember telling my husband that it was amazing what just 24 hrs did for our marriage and relationships with our children. It gave me time to reflect and regroup and most importantly regain a fresh perspective and renewed commitment to loving and serving them. In closing I encourage you to thank the Lord daily for the privilege of being a wife and mother. Plan and take time ,even if it is just a few hours, asking the Lord to fill you with renewed energy and joy and contentment in your calling as a wife and mother.
I can honestly say that when you do this you will find that even the most mundane things like folding laundry and or changing dirty diapers will bring you joy and fulfillment. Don't ever think that being a mother is just "a job" but inturn know that it is a "privileged and esteemed high calling" on your life. God hand picked you to be the mother of your children, His greatest treasures have been entrusted into your care! Thank you Lord for entrusting me with 5 of your treasures. I am eternally grateful!
"Behold, Children are a heritage from the Lord." Psalm 127:3

Returning HOME

I just want to start off by saying that the heartbeat of where we are in this country starts at home. I count it a privilege to be a wife , mother and keeper of the home. Statistics strongly show that the decline of this nation started when mothers went into the work force. It saddens my heart when I see all the children left in the care of others day in and day out. We have sacrificed our homes and children for material gain. With all my heart I believe that money and the love of it have driven many mothers from their homes. My heart is heavy and I make no apologizes for my thoughts on this matter. Yes, I know there are exceptions and I don't at all question those since they are out of necessity to live ,but most cases are out of want.
God gives us children to love, nurture, train and teach primarily from the home. We are suffering as a nation because our children are not a priority. I pray daily for mothers to return home to their families not only in physical presence but in their hearts. The Lord desires nothing more than to see women of chaste character, discrete, keepers of the home, love their husbands and their children and earnestly seek to serve HIM. This is my heartbeat for the women of America,
A call to RETURN HOME!

Obama Health Care What can we do?

If you are not aware, within the next 10-15 days our current President and his administration are seeking to pass a Health Care bill that will be detrimental to our country.
Yes, we do need Health care revisions, but not to the degree they are pushing on the American people. Not only will our National debt sore to even more astronomical amounts but we as taxpayers will be helping to fund Abortion and abortion providers across the country. I don't know about you but this turns my stomach and I refuse to be apathetic and allow this to happen without a fight. Our pastor preached a great sermon on this issue and encouraged us to TAKE ACTION! First and foremost we need to PRAY like never before for this bill not to pass. Second we need to tell our friends. A great website for info on this issue to share is http://www.frc.org/ . This website is awesome and filled with great info to keep us informed on what is taking place on a national level in our country.This is definitely a website to save to your "favorites". Third we need to contact our elected officials and voice our feelings on this issue.! Once you get to the home page of http://www.frc.org/ scroll down to the bottom left and click on "Contact officials" , then by entering your zip code it will take you directly to your state officials. You can choose to email or send a letter to them right then. It is that easy. I urge you to go to http://www.frc.org/ and make your voice known!
We must not sit idle by and let this happen without a fight. As a citizen of this wonderful country called America, founded on Gods principles which includes the Sanctity of human life, we must take a stand for what it RIGHT! I urge you to PRAY and SPEAK UP! We can make a difference if we ACT QUICKLY! Psalm 107:2 "Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!"

True Love

As I reflect on this Valentines day I am reminded of what
"True Love"really is:

Love is Longsuffering
Love is kind
Love is not jealous
Love is not boastful
Love is not arrogant
Love is not rude
Love is not selfish
Love is not resentful
Love does not think evil of others
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things 1 Cor 13: 1-13


"For God so LOVED this world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will
not perish but have everlasting life" John 3 :16

Christs death on the cross for our sins is the upmost example of "True Love" Pass it ON!

Our Nations Unborn, Will you be a voice for them!

With all the devastation and horror that has happened in Haiti my heart is heavy. They are saying over 200,000 plus now killed from this horrific disaster! I heard on the news the other day that our natural disasters have doubled in the last 10 years. We are definitely in the last days. The Lord tells us in Matthew that they will become like a women in labor, closer and closer together and more painful. Thank you Jesus that we know the end of the story and as believers we know you are in total control and our eternal destiny is in your hands.
We just recognized "Sanctity of Life Sunday" " The 37th Anniversary of "Woe vs Wade", the decision that is now responsible for the killing of over 50 million babies in our country alone. Just to put this in perspective: As horrible as the deaths are in Haiti we as Americans are loosing the lives of around 125,000 unborn babies every 25 days! What can we do? We can be a voice for them by calling and supporting a bill to overturn legalized abortion in the state of Florida.
This bill birthed by Florida State Representative Charles VanZant needs our voice so that Florida can lead the way in saving the lives of our nations unborn. Will you be a voice for the voiceless?

Psalm 139: 14-15 " You knew me before I was formed in my mothers womb, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. marvelous are your works oh Lord."

IM BACK ! Radical Faith in 2010

Well, as we are embarking on a new year, how do you feel? Do you want to make changes or are you content to stay just as you are? Do you want a different job maybe or place of residence and or circle of friends? When I think of a new year I think of new goals and decisive life changes. Im not sure why it is these feelings surface except for the fact that "newness" in any form or fashion represents change. My personal feelings are a reflection of "What do I want my life to count for?" What changes do I need to make to more forward with the Lords plan for me. Am I available and flexible to CHANGE ? What I am saying is that with each passing year the things that were once so important to me become less important. My focus changes to building relationships , spending time with those I love and seeking out more ways of serving and furthering the cause of Christ. This is living out RADICAL FAITH! Trusting and living in a way that is not the norm. Standing up for our convictions in a way that rubs most of the world the wrong way. Living SET APART lives! I truly believe this is Gods call on our lives as we begin 2010. Are we willing to change our lifestyles, place of residence, circle of friends and or current jobs, in other words leave our comfort zones to further His kingdom? HERE AM I LORD SEND ME!