Intentional Love

I was recently reminded of a time two dear friends, Paul and Tammy, and I made our way to a little Greek restaurant in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego.  Paul and I were students at Horizon School of Evangelism and sweet Tammy had been raised in the Lord and literally "oozed" His love on everyone she met.  We choose the restaurant because the owner, a fascinating and highly intelligent man, was also a guest speaker at our school. He shared (in a contentious but memorable way) how the Lord wrote the Gospel story in the constellations.

All of us zealous for the Lord, ordered our food and immediately began talking about the scriptures.
Within a few minutes, a complete stranger who over heard our conversation invited himself to sit with us at our table.  It turns out that he, a devout atheist, was one of the plaintiffs suing the city of San Diego for having a cross on Mt. Soledad.  He began needling and challenging and trying to cast doubt in our conversation.  Covered in that "first-love grace," we were completely unscathed and quite determined to help him know the truth.  The conversation went back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth 90 minutes after the restaurant was closed!  The owner, who was well aware of the atheist's agenda, watched from the kitchen somewhat amused.  It seems we were not the first to fall into this man's trap!

At one point in the conversation, my sweet friend Tammy welled up with tears.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, she pressed right into the man's space and cried out,  "I just feel so sad for you!  My heart is broken for you! You really don't know how much Jesus loves you!"

Silence... palpable vulnerability... confusion ... softening... then the wall went back up.

This man was rocked!... at least for a minute... by genuine love.  He was awkward, squirmy and confused when he came in close contact with the thought someone truly cared about him.

I'd like to say this heady man got on his knees and asked Jesus to be his Savior right then and there.
That's not what happened. He did, for a minute though, consider at a heart level the idea of LOVE. There was a definite chink in the armor!

This is such a powerful reminder to me that it is "His kindness that leads us to repentance" and that "of the gifts, the greatest is LOVE."  Love is a powerful offensive weapon and I daresay underused.  Let's make 2015 the year we use LOVE intentionally and valiantly, taking ground for the King!

"Hope" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

This is the verse that I wrote on our kitchen’s chalkboard for this month.

To be honest, I found this cute print on Pinterest and it was easily copied to my chalkboard.

This verse has continued to be a great reminder in this New Year.

The dictionary’s definition of HOPE is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Moms, how often do you have hope?

I know that every night before I fall asleep I HOPE my children will sleep in past 6:30.

As I prepare their breakfast I HOPE that they eat it and that is last longer than 15 minutes, before the inevitable question “May I have a snack?”

I HOPE that they play well, share their toys, and love each other throughout the day.

I HOPE that they have compassion for others. I HOPE that they choose joy.

I could go on and on….and I’m sure you could too. 

I believe that I will always HOPE the best for them, isn’t that what moms do?

But you know what is GREATER than our hope as moms? 

The HOPE that is found in Jesus.

The word HOPE is found in the bible over 120 times…must be important!

In the Bible, HOPE is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true.

Hope is synonymous with Salvation and the many blessings with it.

Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Today, rest in the fact that He is our one and only HOPE…no matter how easy or hard your days are.

Go ahead and write this promise in your journal, or your bathroom mirror, or your own chalkboard.

Storms of Life

Mark 4:35-41

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” ³⁶ So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. ³⁷ A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
⁴¹ And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”


As I was spending quiet time with Jesus this morning, HE reminded me these important facts about storms in our life...
1. They will come
2. They can be fierce, but He is present even when HE is quiet.
3. They test and show our faith.
4. They are not forever and will be calmed in God's perfect time.


We all experience storms as we journey along life here on earth.  Some long. Some short. Being a mom sure is hard. Countless lessons I have learned in these short 7 years of my life since having kids. Some storms I would gladly love to pass on experiencing, but God has purpose in each season, time, moment in my life...and yours too!

When the storm has swept by, 

the wicked are gone,

but the righteous stand firm forever. 

- Proverbs 10:25

What is a storm you are experiencing right now?

Have you told Jesus about it? 

Allow Him to calm the storm, quiet your fears, and remind you of Truth today.

Love this....

Sea Sick

        Standing at the door with our carpool waiting in the driveway our youngest was faced with the quandary.  I had told her she needed to feed the dog before she left for school.  She was determined to honor my request and hold up her ride.

         As Greg walked in and saw her dropping her books and lunch bag, he questioned what was going on.  She explained the dilemma she was experiencing. As any wonderful knight and shinning armor would offer,

her dad replied, “Go on to your ride and I’ll feed the dog.”

         As if he had said nothing she continued to put down her belongings, he again said, “Sweetheart go on out to the car and I’ll feed the dog.”  I realized she wouldn’t hear him without some explanation.

         I explained, “Your daddy has overridden my request and he will take care of feeding the dog.”  With the “I can’t believe you are saying that expression on her face” she gathered her things, tossed that long blonde hair and off she went.

         With this experience so fresh on my mind I should have been better prepared for the day.  However, I found myself throughout my workday having “overrides” by my supervisors. Appeals made on my behalf. 

         These appeals tend to work toward our advantage many times, but it’s the mental shift, the reprograming of the plan that can be difficult.

         In telling Greg about my day he termed my experiences as being “sea sick.”  One minute I’m headed and leaning to the left and the next I’m headed and leaning to the right.

         So why record this on this blog sight about parenting?  I guess my day at work reminded me that its good to feel the emotion our children do.  Being able to empathize with them will make us much more conscientious of how we are parenting.  It also makes the word “exasperating” more understandable when we too, “know how it feels.”

         Parenting is not for the faint hearted.  It takes diligence and perseverance and thoughtfulness.  We need to watch out for the “seasick” expression that may be on our children’s faces and respond with understanding and patience.

Ephesians 6: 4 

"...Not to provoke or exasperate our children, rather bring them up with the discipline 

and instruction from the Lord."

A Remedy for Post Holiday Fatigue

Happy New Year, moms, mommys, mamas, mothers! I pray this blog finds you rested, energized, refreshed and ready to tackle 2015 with some prayed over goals for the new year and Jesus by your side.  If that's the case, there's no stopping you!


As for me, Christmas is still going on at our house!  Our tree is still up and I'm still wearing my Christmas penguin pajama pants and enjoying every last, lingering moment sitting in front of the tree (hee hee).  I love Christmas! Always have.  Each year, I intend to do less and enjoy more peaceful nights at home with the Lord, my family, and our tree.  Yet, despite my best efforts at reducing our activities each year, Christmas seems to come and go faster than the year before!  Maybe it's because I'm getting older or because our son is getting older, but the trend continues.  So, it seems, that some of my most restful, reflective moments in front of our tree happen after Christmas is over.   That's when I can hear His still small voice and tonight He is saying:


"Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light." - Matthew 11:28-30.

I was happy, but tired most of last month.  There's a lot that goes on in the last quarter of the year!  From the start of the school year and cold/flu season to fall festivals, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, our culture packs a lot into a few short months!  As moms, we will be tired, especially when we try to do and serve in our own strength.  When I don't spend daily, quality time with the Lord, I, and others, see more of me and less of  Him.  I become more selfish, I desire more recognition for all that I do and my mercy jars start to leak out of invisible holes.  I run on empty by the end of December because I haven't spent enough time with the Lord to be filled so that I can pour His love and mercy out on others.  Every time I try to keep on going and neglect daily, quality time with the Lord to get a few more things done, He reminds me of the error of my ways! Gently, of course, because He is a gentleman.  He reminds me of His love for me and that His mercy jars don't have any holes.  They never leak.  Isn't that amazing? 


Here's a proposed remedy for post holiday fatigue:


1)  Spend daily, quality time with the Lord this week. Receive grace and give grace.
2)  Rest.
3) While you still remember the season, take a few notes in your phone about what you will do again next year and what you will skip or do differently to create more "silent and holy nights." The best suggestion I heard this year was to sit down with your husband early in the season (think Dec 1 or even Nov 30!) and have each of you identify those 2-3 things you definitely want to do and those you don't.  Then schedule them.  You could do this as a family, too. Pray, be selective, prioritize those activities that highlight the coming of our savior, and know that you may have to let some things go. We can't do it all, moms, but we can do all that He wills us to in His strength. 


Let's pray.  Dear God, thank you for a beautiful season celebrating the birth of your son, our savior.  Thank you for the best gift our world has ever known.  For those of us who ran hard and fast, give us your rest, renew us, refresh us, remind us of your grace, love and simple truths.  Give us the wisdom in 2015 to know when to say yes and when to say no.  In all things, may we grow in you, Jesus.  May we better reflect your life, love and sacrifice.  In your mighty name we pray, Amen.


Happy New Year, sweet sisters!

"My One Word for 2015" by Happy Home Fairy

http://happyhomefairy.com/2015/01/04/my-one-word-for-2015/

"He Makes All Things New" by Stacey Woodell Imbimbo

See, I am doing a new thing! 

Now it springs up; 

do you not perceive it?

 I am making a way in the wilderness 

and streams in the wasteland. 

- Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ NIV

There is nothing exciting about getting old, broken, paper ripped crayons out to color.

But, if you have a new box of crayons the excitement tends to go up a notch.

Maybe it’s the perfectly pointed, paper intact, piece of perfection that makes the art project more enjoyable.

I read something poignant this week:

Maybe your paper is torn and you don’t have it all together.

Maybe you don’t feel perfectly pointed to Jesus.

But none of that matters, you STILL have purpose.

YOU are a Mom.

Color your child in the love of Christ.

Color them fiercely with grace.

Color them boldly with prayer.

A new crayon has yet to color a picture.

But your crayon is already at work.