Why I Plan to Eat Mor Chikin!

Before I start getting e-mails and comments that “God loves everyone” and “it’s not our place to judge” let me make a few clear statements.  God does love everyone and only God has the right to judge anyone – I’ll agree with that much.  However, if you are supporting gays/homosexuality and/or living that lifestyle yourself, then I’m not judging you.  You have made that statement and there’s no room left for “careful consideration in forming an opinion” which is what judging means.  So I’m not judging you but I am disagreeing with you and your lifestyle.  And yes God (and I) loves you even in your sinful state just as I am loved in mine. 

However, God’s love is only part of the story.  While society may say that it’s a freedom of choice God says otherwise.  He did NOT create anyone to love the same sex in that way.  Each and every time the Bible mentions marriage it is between a husband and a wife.   

It was meant to be that way when God first formed man: 

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24). 

It was meant to be that way under grace:

Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife.  And they twain shall be one flesh; so they are no more twain, but one flesh.”  (Mark 10:6-8) 

It was meant to be that way in the new church.  Paul speaks of how unrighteous, unnatural, and wicked (Paul’s divinely inspired words not mine) homosexuality is:

“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them order to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”  (Rom. 1:27-29)

So before sending an e-mail or posting a comment I simply ask that you listen not to what society says or even I say but search God’s Word and His will for your life for He will never lead you astray.

I could quote several more scriptures on the sanctity of marriage but that’s not the purpose of this blog post.  My blog is all about priorities and keeping life simple the way God created it to be and this morning I had one of those “wake up and smell what’s really going on” moments. I was having my morning devotion when my husband came out to tell me that he had just seen on the news where Gay Rights groups were boycotting Chic-Fil-A and some of the larger cities were trying to keep them from opening up new restaurants because of the stand they’d taken against homosexuality.  (Note to self: Remember to ask Curt to NOT disrupt my morning peaceful time with statements that disturb me such as this!) 

So my actual purpose in writing this blog is to ask you (and myself) as Christians to consider the businesses that we are supporting and giving our money. 

There’s a vote coming up soon in our neighboring county for them to become wet.  The majority of the county is Christians.  I heard a preacher last week say that the only way it would pass is if Christians gave in and did not stand for what the Bible said. 

Maybe I’m completely naïve but I still feel that the majority of American are Christians.  However, we’re passive Christians and if we continue to sit and let others take a stand against what we believe in and do nothing then we certainly will not be the majority for much longer.  NOW is the time to take a stand.

That may mean some changes in our lifestyles.  That may mean going a little further to another restaurant, gas station, retail store, etc.  That may mean giving up some of the foods or products we love.  That may mean paying a little more out of our pocket.  However, I personally feel it’s sacrifices we can’t afford NOT to make. 

I’m proud of the stand Chic-Fil-A, Kirk Cameron and others are making.  Not just against this issue but against others too.  It’s not just a lifestyle I want for myself but for my children and grandchildren also.  The only way they’re going to have the choice to stand is if I make the choice to stand now. 

So inclusion, I say “Eat Mor Chikin”!  Mike Huckabee has declared August 1st Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day but I say eat there as much as you can! 

Where will you be eating or should I say – Who will you be supporting this weekend and in the weeks to come?

He Restores My Soul Even When I Least Expect It

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:3-4

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First of all, yes I am still alive although there have been moments I've wondered myself.  And I now interrupt this blog hiatus to share a little from my Good Morning Girls group and how God works in my life everyday!

We've been studying Proverbs 31 and I've had mixed feelings about it.

Just to be honest there are mornings I've woken up with a terrible attitude dreading opening my Bible to see what area I'm totally slacking in now.

Then there have been those mornings I've realized what it's all about-not me but Him.  I can't do it but He can.  He didn't create me to be perfect but to trust in Him to work through me for in my weaknesses He shines even brighter. Which leads me to today...


I woke up this morning grabbed my Bible, GMG notebook and cup of coffee and headed to the porch.  I was the first one to post on our GMG Facebook page and here's a shortened version of my post:

Good morning girls! Great scripture this morning!!   I got so much out of the first 4 words "He restoreth my soul".   I thought about my friend Brittni and how she does such a good job at restoring old furniture.   She finds pieces that others no longer want and some even consider trash and cleans them up, adds a fresh coat of paint, new fixtures and then they are as good as new. Some may have even been used for a different purpose than intended (like a dresser for an entertainment stand) but it works and works well. 



I'm thankful that when I feel "all used up", that I've given all I have to give, and don't know anything else to do or how I can go any further (especially when striving to be the Proverbs 31... woman) I know where to get restored!  Sometimes it's a good cleaning up, sometimes it's a fresh look/different perspective and sometimes it's just strength to carry on but whatever I need-He's it!   

 Thought I'd share some notes on these two verses from a Bible study on Psalm 23:

 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake"

 Often when sheep eat the grass they are very lazy and will just lie around causing a gas to form in their stomach and blows them up to a point it can even come up in their throat and suffocate them. The shepherd must get the sheep up and moving to restore their life. Often when we get lazy or discouraged we must depend on God "restore our soul" and get us moving in the right direction. 

 "he leadeth me"-If a sheep wandered from the fold the shepherd left the fold and would find it. When he did he would break one of it's legs and carry it back so he would not stray again. Once back in the fold, the shepherd would bandage the leg and carefully watch over the sheep until he recovered. God does the same with us. Even when we stray and don't follow his leadership he disciplines us yet still continues to watch over and care for us.

 "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me."

 The shepherd used the rod for protection to fight off bear, wolves, etc and the staff for comfort and pulling the sheep back into the fold.

About 5 minutes after I posted I received a notification that our leader, Abby, had posted. Here's the beginning of her post:

Good morning girls! I hope I read the right verses! I read Proverbs 24:3-4....

The next thing I do is pull back out my GMG notebook and checked what I'd read.  It clearly said Proverbs 24:3-4 not Psalms 23:3-4.  How could I have been that off?  This was my comment under Abby's:

Ok-you were right!! I was totally on the wrong scripture and didn't even realize it until I read your post! I would apologize but I guess the Lord knew what I needed this morning! :)

And Abby's:

I needed what you said too! I like it when He takes over! :)

I'm thankful God's still in control even when we think we have it all planned out. He knows exactly what we need and will restore us even when we least expect it!


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Summer Book Club Starts Today!!

Today I will be starting the Ministry of Motherhood book study!  I'm very excited about this study provided by Good Morning Girls!

Click here for the free reading plan and other documents to download.  My plan (time permitting) is to blog about this book study once a week. 

If you're not a Mom or not interested in this particular study.  Then you can also check out Good Morning Girls for their current study on Proverbs 31 which also starts today!  You can download a free study guide and a free e-book, Proverbs 31:One Virtue at a Time.  I've already done this study once but will be doing it again with my Good Morning Girls Group.  I could definitely use a refresher on the Proverbs 31 woman!

I'm looking forward to these summer studies and growing as a woman, wife and Mom.  Hope you will be joining me!  I'm also REALLY looking forward to some "face to face" meetings so if you are then leave me a comment and let me know :)

May Resolutions

Yes, I realize the month of May is almost half over but things have been just a little busy around our house and blogging hasn't exactly been a priority!  However, things are starting to get back to a sense of normalcy around our house and I feel the need to be productive so here are my May Resolutions:

1.  Begin hosting a summer book club. I'm planning on starting a summer book club on Ministry of Motherhood starting Monday, May 14.  We'll be using alot of resources from Good Morning Girls. I'm hoping every other Saturday I'll be able to open up our home to Moms for fellowship and a few minutes to discuss the book.  I'm really looking forward to being able to encourage each other and build friendships! I'll also be blogging about it as time permits!

2.  Work on getting some of this "baby weight" off!  I'm planning on starting back next week walking for a week or two.  Then I hope to start back on the Couch to 5k plan.  I did this awhile after having our first baby and that's how I got most of the weight off.  Hopefully, it'll all come off this time!  This will be an ongoing goal for the next few months!

Only two resolutions but I'm keeping it simple!  I hope you're all having a great month! Any new goals/resolutions you've set?

Announcing a Summer Book Club and My First Giveaway!!

I'm stepping out on faith here and going to do something a little different this summer and I've very excited about it!! I want to do a book study that Good Morning Girls did last summer but open it up to more than just my GMG group since several of you have asked about our group.  I'm still working out some of the details but here's what I've got so far:

WHO:  Anyone, but especially Moms. 

WHAT:  We'll be studying The Ministry of Motherhood by
Sally Clarkson.  You can purchase it from Sally's website or from Amazon.  Or if you prefer the Kindle version then here.  You will need to purchase the book but a study guide (including a reading plan with scripture, SOAP sheets, and other print outs) and videos are provided free through Good Morning Girls. 

What is the book Ministry of Motherhood about?
(taken from the inside flap of the book)

A mother’s day is packed with a multitude of tasks that require energy and time: preparing meals, washing clothes, straightening and cleaning the house, and caring for children. These jobs all are necessary and crucially important. But in the dailyness of providing for a child’s physical, emotional and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurturing and training can be overlooked.

Rather than letting the demands of life determine your parenting priorities, you can focus your energy on what matters most. In this encouraging and empowering book you’ll learn how to:

• make life’s mundane and nitty-gritty moments work for you and not against you
• incorporate character-building as a natural part of life
• teach your child in the same way Jesus taught the disciples
• pass on crucial gifts that will serve your family for a lifetime

Using biblical wisdom and practical teachings, Sally Clarkson shows how you can make a lasting difference in your child’s life by following the pattern Christ set with his own disciples- a model that will inspire and equip you to intentionally embrace the rewarding, desperately needed, and immeasurably valuable Ministry of Motherhood.

WHEN: May 14 - August 17

WHERE:  You can participate all online from the comfort of your own home by accessing the GMG blog and following along here or if you're local then send me a message or comment on this entry and we'll meet in person every other Saturday around 10:00 a.m. for an hour or two to discuss the book and just hang out!  Maybe a brunch, a tea, around the pool-some meetings with and without kids!  Depending on the number we have to participate I may set up our own group page on Facebook to make it easy to communicate.

WHY:  As I've become a Mom and especially a SAHM I've realized how isolating it can be. It's easy to get discouraged and feel that you are doing the same tasks again and again to no avail! So I want to create a group where we can learn more about what God intended Moms to do and encourage each other in our roles as Moms!To be encouraged and encourage other moms! 

Now for the giveaway!!!!

I'm giving away a copy of The Ministry of Motherhood to one lucky winner!!!  Simply leave a comment with something encouraging for other moms:  a quote, favorite scripture or what you love about being a mom and you'll be entered to win. You must comment here on the blog not on FB to be entered.   Just make sure and leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you.  I'll use random.org to choose a winner on Friday!

Contest for US residents only.

I'm looking forward to studying this book and hope you'll join me!!

The Cry of A Newborn Baby

The "newborns" at church yesterday

“Jesus  answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

Yesterday was one of those perfect days you’d want to relive over and over again!  First of all we were able to take our newborn to church for the first time and what a blessing that was.  It was a wonderful service!  During the service, as we sang the second or third song I couldn’t keep the tears from flowing:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

As I’d sat earlier in the week and wrote down the current and world events in her baby book, I admit it was a little depressing –to think not only the shape of our world right now but what it may be like in years to come if it continues on the same path.  However, as it said in the song because he lives there is hope!  By the end of the service, we were able to witness first hand some of that hope as a first grader we’d been praying for for some time made her way to the altar and accepted Christ as her Savior!

I thought about when “Sunshine” was born how the doctor took her and I was waiting to hear that first cry to let me know she was alright.  How sweet it was when this newborn came from the altar and we heard her say “I was saved.”   Nothing like hearing a newborn cry and knowing everything is alright! 

Then my older daughter asked what was going on as everyone was rejoicing.  I told her she had been saved.  She asked “Why?”  I said so now she can go to Heaven.  Her response was “She’s going right now?” J  I’m thankful for what she is witnessing and for our church that’s going to be raising her.  Yes, there is still hope!

A Heritage from God

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Psalm 127:3

Our precious baby girl was born a week ago today.  She truly is a gift sent straight from God to be in our lives.  I've thought about the above scripture a million times over the past week.  

Her•i•tage-(noun) property that can be inherited or passed down; a gift.

When you think about a heritage it is something usually of great value and meant to be passed down from generation to generation.  God knew her before we even thought about her (Jeremiah 1:5).  When I think about the fact that He looked down and saw fit to pass her down to us even for a season I feel so humbled.  However, He has also given us a responsibility and that is to teach her His word and His way so that it can be passed from generation to generation.  His plan from the beginning of time wasn't for us to build up a nice college fund for her or even to provide her with a huge house but to keep His Word on our hearts and teach it to her diligently.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

I think today's  "society" has underrated the role of motherhood today.  It's seen as a "second job" or something you do on the side.  However, to me it is the most important job I'll ever have and because of that it is a priority in my life.  The impact I have on my children is one of if not the only thing that will last an eternity.  What I teach and show them  will be carried on through them and through their children and so on.  What an impact Moms really make!

So while I look into those newborn eyes I know I'll make mistakes, but I'm thankful for the plan God has laid forth.  I'm thankful for his grace, mercy and forgiveness that will be there as I need it.  I'm thankful He chose me to be their Mom.  I'm thankful for those moments when "Miss Priss" is whining,"Sunshine" is crying, the dog is barking, phone is ringing, and someone is knocking at the door (yes, we've already had those) and He whispers sweet peace to me amidst all the chaos!  He lets me know that my "job" is the most important one I'll ever have and that since this is His plan He'll equip me with whatever I need!

So I just want to give a word of encouragement to all of you Moms out there!  You're doing a great work, day by day.  You're shaping a soul that will have an eternal impact!  You have been blessed with a heritage and that heritage will be passed from generation to generation.  God has placed this precious child in your hands to mold and shape.  I want to leave you with two of my favorite quotes from a book study I'm doing right now The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson: 

No matter what you do in other areas of your life, when you have a child it is a calling of God. A calling to use your intelligence and skills and your mind and your heart and your time in such a way you have the privilege of shaping children whose souls will last an eternity.

I have come to believe that being a mother encompasses all that is best within me.  To embrace the mission of motherhood requires that I understand God and his design for life and can relate deep theological issues to the everyday minutes of my life. It requires that I become a mature counselor, ready at any moment to make decisions judiciously.  It also requires that I develop skills in hospitality, nursing, intellectual prowess, diplomacy, leadership training, and more, and that I stretch my creativity to the max.

For more on this book study check out Mom Heart.

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