Times are Changin'

My blog is changin'....Not exactly sure how, yet. To the few and faithful followers...stay tuned.

WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO GIVE UP?

That particular Sunday morning began like any other; the same routine. My husband and I were getting ready for church while our kids ate their breakfast. I stood in front of my mirror ready to put on my jewelry for a final touch before heading out the door.

I'm not much of a girlie girl, choosing not to spend the money, or the time, and not having the fashion sense to get dolled up. But, my red cross necklace was an infrequent splurge and made me feel pretty. In front of my mirror with necklace in both hands ready to clasp behind my neck, I heard God speak to my heart and ask me to give away my necklace. I paused. I sighed. I looked at my reflection with one eye brow cocked wondering what God was doing. I returned the necklace to its place, told God we would talk about this later, and went to church without my special girlie adornment.

My conversation with God in the car sounded something like this: "God, it's my favorite necklace. And you know I don't have that many anyway. It's the only piece of jewelry that matches my red blouse."

I would like to say I immediately obeyed, but I argued with God for two weeks while he patiently waited for me to surrender. A missionary friend traveling to Peru requested jewelry donations as gifts for the Pastor's wives. So, I donated my favorite red cross necklace to an unknown Peruvian 'princess' whom God wanted to bless.

Another seemingly ordinary Sunday arrived. Again, I stood in front of my mirror adding final touches before leaving for church. With an earring in one hand and the back in the other, I started to put them into my ears...then God stopped me. It seems I conveniently forgot my prized necklace had matching earrings. Again, I reasoned with God, "Whoever, gets my necklace probably doesn't have pierced ears and won't be able to wear these."

This time, I surrendered more quickly, and with less of a fight, and donated the matching earrings to my missionary friend.

What is God asking you to give up? This time for me, it was a prided necklace. But, maybe He is asking you to give up an unhealthy friendship, or sugary sweets, or a television show. God is asking us to surrender someone or something because He loves us and wants to enrichen our lives, not because He wants to take things away. When we surrender, God will usher in something better.

I purchased another necklace, but this time I thanked God for letting me borrow it until He asks me to give it away.

Today, hear His voice, obey, then trust God.

God Bless,
Theresa

RESIST TEMPTING FOODS

I am not a born and bred Southern girl, but I have been adopted as one after living in Georgia for 13 years. Not only that, but I have just spent an entire weekend in North Carolina with 600 other women at the She Speaks conference. Being in the company of so many Southern women, amid sweet tea and humidity, I became more in touch with my own inner Southern woman. So for the purposes of this post, y'all, I will ooze southern drawl.

What does all this have to do with resisting tempting foods? It all started with the Krispy Kreme chocolate covered donut on Sunday morning. With hormone imbalance and nervous energy, those donuts were calling my name y'all. After all, I had been a good girl for most of the weekend. I left food on my plate at every meal (sorry mama!), I didn't eat late at night, and I had made good food choices over the past three days of travel. So, one donut wasn't gonna hurt, and I deserved it after a long weekend improving myself at a conference.

Then...on the drive home we stopped for lunch. The menu boasted a yummy picture of peach cobbler. PEACH COBBLER, Y'ALL! I would be a good girl and order a salad for lunch, so I could save tummy room for yummy peach cobbler. PEACH COBBLER Y'ALL! This was a special occasion, and I can't remember the last time I ate peach cobbler.

The cobbler tasted good, but not great. Did you know...have you learned yet, the picture is never as good as the real food? A few years ago, I watched a food photo shoot and learned their tricks to make the food look so delicious. The picture is a fake, y'all. And, so were all my justifications for having that big bowl of peach cobbler.

What is real are the feelings of guilt and remorse on Monday morning. What is real is the one pound I'm fixin' to lose this week during exercise. Can I enjoy a treat on occasion? Yes, but this was not one of those times and my continual justifications should have been my clue. Stopping Sunday morning with the donut would have qualified as enjoying an occasional treat without guilt. But, I over indulged on the cobbler.

To resist tempting foods:
Know your boundaries (look away and walk away). This takes time and practice.
Recognize self-talk justifications convincing you of deserving a treat.
Use scripture to battle temptation.

Now, I press on. Come with me. We can do this together. This week, choose food wisely, study scripture, and resist tempting situations. Comment and share your victories and defeats.

God Bless

MY DAILY GPS - Why Morning Prayer is Important

How do you travel to unfamiliar locations? Some people use a GPS like Garmin and others use a map search engine like Google maps. If you are old-school, you refer to an atlas. It would be silly to get in your car and start driving without clear directions to your new destination. This would leave you wandering aimlessly with little chance of arriving where you intended.

If you are a parent of a young child, Dora the Explorer's familiar question sings in your head, "Who do we ask when we don't know which way to go?" That's right, the map!

Each day is unchartered territory unless you are stuck in the movie Ground Hog Day. Without clear direction, our days often lack focus leaving us wandering aimlessly unable to be fully productive. I recently felt this way when the afternoon rolled around and I had gotten little accomplished - me and my children had eaten breakfast, gotten dressed and I checked my email. Some days, it's acceptable to be foot loose and fancy free, but this was not one of those days. I had a list to cross off, deadlines to meet, and no time to waste.

As I stood outside watching my kids play, I asked myself, "How did the day get away from me?" Then I realized, I had started my day without consulting my map - God.
Psalm 5:3 says:
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Seeking God upon waking helps my day run more smooth, makes me more productive, and gives me peace that God is in control and what doesn't get accomplished, wasn't meant to be. If you aren't a morning person (like me), make your prayer simple and sweet. Longer conversations with God and reading the Bible can wait until we are fully awake.

If you have a habit of starting your day without God, this week I encourage you to surrender your day as soon as you roll out of bed when your feet hit the ground, while you are brushing your teeth, or during your shower. Thank God for your new day, praise Him for who He is and what He does, then wait in expectation until you arrive at the end of your day to count your blessings.
God Bless,
Theresa

How to Overcome Overeating

While reading Eating Well magazine, I noticed an interesting article relating to my last post about food addiction and overeating. David A. Kessler, M.D., author of The End of Overeating, explains the reasons behind the American diet, how the food industry manipulates our senses and choices about food, and how to break free from the vicious cycle of unhealthy eating. I have not read the book, only the article and watched a video on Amazon.com, but it appears to clinically and scientifically illuminate and expose the reason we are compelled to eat the way we do. This book, however, seems to ignore the spiritual element, but his research and findings make it even more clear to me how the enemy uses food against us.

A three-pronged approach to battling food issues is most effective. First, it’s important to be knowledgeable of the physical body, understand the way your body processes food, and how food companies can manipulate your desire for food. Dr. Kessler’s book seems to effectively tackle these realities in his book.

Second, changing your mindset and your behavior is crucial to overcome food issues. Change your mindset by letting food be your slave rather than you being a slave to food. Does food occupy your thoughts? Are you constantly drawn to unhealthy snacks and sweets? Food is your fuel, not your friend. Behavior modification is necessary to either, remove you from a tempting situation, or change your habits and hang-ups with food. For instance, stay out of the junk and snack food aisle at the grocery store. Will not buying a bag of chips really kill you? By the way, warn your children changes are coming to your household. This lowers the amount of confrontation with whining children.

Finally, and most importantly, is prayer. God wants you to have a healthy relationship with food. He is your biggest cheerleader. Trust Him to help you by finding scripture on which to meditate that counteracts the darts of the devil. Jesus, tempted by Satan with food, used His Word to battle, so how much more so will we be tempted and overcome in this same regard. Food is not the answer to our crummy day; Jesus provides us comfort through his word, through the listening ear and reassuring voice of a friend, or through a therapeutic hobby, for instance. My favorite scripture is John 4:34, “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Find a scripture, which speaks to your need, and use it when the enemy tempts you.

Be proactive and take charge of your eating with three simple, but challenging tasks:

1.. Be aware what you choose to eat and why you choose to eat and pay attention to hunger cues. Are you eating when you are hungry, sad, excited, etc.

2. Keep away from tempting situations for now. Stay out of the sweet or baking, or snack food aisle at the grocery store, for example.

3. Find a scripture and meditate on it daily, especially in tempting situations.

Share with me your stories of triumph or tragedy related to food. I love to hear from you.

God Bless,

Theresa Anderson

Honestly Theresa - Proverbs 31 Ministries

For those of you not familiar with Proverbs 31 Ministries, let me introduce you. They have an awesome online daily devotion and today's devotion inspired me to leave a comment. Read today's devotion titled Honestly by Lysa Terkeurst, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and fearless leader to many great ladies on the Proverbs 31 team. I discovered these women to be gracious and giving with the servant heart of Jesus. Please visit their website and today's devotion by clicking here.
I have also copied my comment below which gives a glimpse of my own tale of honestly, related to Lysa's devotion.

Lysa,
Thank you for your honesty, transparency and courage to post your own spiritual and physical struggles. For several years, I experienced the roller coaster weight problems and spiritual convictions associated with food addiction. There, I said it - addiction. Some food, like ooyey, gooyey brownies and warm chocolate chip cookies call my name and compel me to eat them, until they are gone. I'm going to eat them anyway, why not get it over with a little quicker.

Today, by the Grace of God, I am back on track. However, with every meal, I need to make a decision and when wise choices prevail, I praise the Lord. Yesterday, my children and I ate at Moe's (welcome to Moe's!). My daughter ordered a kid's meal which came with a cookie. My son, who didn't get the kid's meal, was not happy and cried big tears to guilt his sister into sharing. After hearing his repeated pleas for that cookie, I decided to let my daughter enjoy her cookie all by herself while my son and I watched. Cruel, some would say, but I told my son - who also derives much pleasure from food at 7 years old - it is good for our character to resist the urge to eat every sweet which looks good. I am happy to say, my son and I both survived without eating the cookie and my daughter enjoyed the entire portion.

Another recent victory came when a plate of chips were placed smack dab in front of my face during an entire meal with friends. I, without guilt, enjoyed 3 or 4 chips then was able to say, "no more and you wimpy chips have no power over me!"

I will revel in the victories my Good Lord gives me until I stand on top of a mountain of victories and look down upon the valley of chips, brownies, and donuts which I willingly denied through the power of Christ!
God Bless You Lysa,
Theresa Anderson

Father not Forsaken

In your youth, did your father ever refuse you a night out with your friends? Did he deny you a slumber party or night at the movies or say no to summer camp because he wanted you to stay home for a change?

My parents weren’t like that, but I knew other parents who were. My mother and father both worked long hours to support our large family. As the youngest of eleven children and mostly unsupervised, I would often come and go as I pleased without asking permission or saying where I would be. In one regard, I loved the freedom, yet I yearned unknowingly for boundaries. In some small section of my soul, a lack of boundaries equated to a lack of love.

I recall as a young girl, one afternoon after school I phoned a friend to spend the night and she said she would call me back after asking her parents. When she returned my call, I remember vividly her response on the other end of the phone. She said, “I can’t come over, my dad wants me to stay home tonight.”

My heart sank and her words hit me in the gut. I wasn’t upset she could not come over; I was upset her parents wanted her to stay home and my parents never did - or so it seemed. Not knowing how it feels to be wanted, I walked outside pouting with my head hung low, kicked the gravel beneath my feet and grumbled to myself, “I wish my parents wanted me to stay home.”

As an adult with a different perspective, I know my parents loved me. They were a hard-working duo with a lot on their plate and doing their best to raise eleven children. However, as a young girl growing up, their lack of involvement in my life led me to habitual bad judgment with poor choices.

Today, as a mom myself, I know how fragile parenting can be. We are all imperfect parents relying on God and his wisdom daily to help our children eventually become healthy, responsible God-fearing men and women of God.

God’s Word says in Psalm 27:10, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” God is our Father and the only perfect parent. He will catch us when our parents fail and He will catch our children when we fail.

When was the last time you told your child you love them, gave them a big hug and let them know you are proud of them? When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with your child? Do you know their friends or their friend’s parents? When was the last time you spent quality time having fun with your kids?

This week, I encourage you to become re-acquainted with your children. Tell them to stay home for a change because you want to spend time with them. They may not appreciate it today, next month, or the next time you tell them no. But, their heart will expand and your relationship will too.

God Bless,
Theresa

Moral Discovered

If you didn't have a chance to read my last post, please do. Because, I found my moral for my story: I am a pitiful excuse for a savior. I liberated the moth only to destroy it in the end. Any person who looks to me or anytime we look to another human for rescue, we will surely be disappointed. We are too imperfect and prone to sin; we need the One who is perfect to save us.

Jesus - He never fails us, but is Faithful. He never disappoints, but exceeds our every expectation. If you do not know Jesus, I invite you to meet the man of your dreams. I invite you to discover a love that is perfect and never failing.

2 Samuel 22:31-33
God's way is perfect.
All the Lord's promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.

God Bless you!
Theresa

Rescue Gone Awry!

After telling every sordid detail of my story to my husband, he said, "That's funny, you need to use that story sometime."
I replied emphatically, "That is not funny; it's disheartening. Why did I go to all the trouble for nothing?"
Adding fuel to the fire, my husband continued, "That will teach you to steal a spider's dinner."

This is what happened: earlier in the afternoon this same day, I found a monarch moth caught in a spiderweb on a window in my garage. My rescue heart leaped to free the frantically flapping winged insect from the evil grips of a spider who already had too much to eat - obvious by the looks of his messy web littered with remnants from several previous meals.

I freed the moth from the sticky jaws of death and with amazing patience I often lack, held him between my fingers as I removed the remaining strings of silk from his fragile limbs.

With curiosity, my children watched over my shoulder as I performed this delicate procedure asking questions such as, "What are you doing, mommy?" and "Will it bite, mommy?"

I laid the newly liberated moth onto the sidewalk to recover from the shock of his experience and promptly forgot about him until sundown. Curious if he survived to fly away, I returned to the sidewalk and discovered the answer when I heard the 'crunch' sound under my shoe. EW! Ironically, my little buddy had met his demise by the foot of the one who saved him - ME!.

The moral of this story? I don't know, but I always like to have one. My husband would say, "Don't steal a spider's food." What do you say? Send your comments with your moral to my story.
Blessings to you and may your attempts of rescue be more successful than my own :)
Theresa

Mothers Poem

Someone emailed this poem to me and it relates so well to my last post, I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Enjoy!

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Fitting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last weeks mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I see then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile

To Mothers of Toddlers

Do you count it a good day when you are able to take a hot shower undisturbed or eat an adult breakfast, rather than share the same smashed bananas you are serving your child? Household chores are never-ending with increasing piles of dirty laundry and a sink eternally full of dirty dishes. When our days are focused on satisfying the needs of our family, we have little time devoted to God in prayer, reading the bible, or quiet time. Therefore, we need to be heavenly minded inviting God into every moment of our day.

Especially, at this stage of life when our children are younger, we need to diligently seek Him. God is our source of joy when mundane tasks of home and motherhood try to steal our joy and cause us to lose focus of our greatest task – to love God with every fiber of our being becoming a godly wife and mother. God is our source of wisdom when challenges arise with our children or spouse and He supplies divine solutions to conquer our problems. Therefore, we must embrace our season of life and pursue Him taking advantage of every moment expecting to see evidence of Him. Can you experience Jesus in the midst of your mundane? Can Jesus be found in your piles of laundry? Yes, I have seen Him there. He reminds me of His sacrifice on the cross which washed us clean of our sins yesterday, today and forever. Can Jesus be found while mopping the floor? Yes, He revealed himself transforming my chore into a chorus of praise. Can Jesus be found while changing a dirty diaper? I haven’t seen Him there yet, but I wait in expectation according to Psalm 5:3

If you are the mother of young children or a busy woman in any role – wife, sister, or daughter of aged parent – who finds God time difficult to acquire, God has a promise for you. Those of us who seek Him will find Him (Prov. 8:17, Matt. 7:7). He is not hiding; He is not bashful; He does not play hard-to-get. Search for Him with all your heart and anticipate His extraordinary arrival in your ordinary day. You will not be disappointed because He is faithful and true.
Now it’s your turn to tell me how our extraordinary God has revealed Himself in your ordinary day. Do Tell!
Happy Mother's Day

Peace is Priceless

A good friend called to share her anxieties about the current economic crisis personally affecting her family. I listened intently as she described the emotional and financial struggles they are encountering; listen is all I can do. I can not make her difficult situation disappear or help her in any tangible, dramatic way. Any words of advice or comfort I offer would be lacking also. Therefore, I listen. At the end of our conversation she said, “Just pray God will give me peace.” I responded, “Peace is priceless, isn’t it.”
She wasn’t asking me to intercede for God to deliver her family out from under their uncomfortable and painful situation. She requested something far more courageous and valuable; she desired peace.
Have you ever experienced the peace which exceeds understanding as described by Paul in Phillipians 4:6-8? In these verses, Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything as we present our prayers and petitions to God. Then, the peace which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Jesus.
I have witnessed God, in His Goodness, clothe people who are in the midst of crisis with unexplainable peace. I experienced this supernatural peace when my daughter, at two years old, became very ill. During the crisis, I acknowledged cause for concern considering her symptoms and blood tests, yet peace remained. I agreed there could be unhealthy future consequences following a persistent and long term high fever, yet peace remained. Well-meaning people offered the temptation to panic by focusing on and reminding me of the negative reports, yet peace remained. Peace ruled in our hearts and minds despite our circumstance.
Peace is also necessary every day in seemingly small matters, especially in relationships, where tempers or pride can flare. How do we acquire peace?
1. Peace is a gift offered by a right relationship with God through Jesus. In Psalm 23, David gives us a foreshadowing image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for our soul. Verse 2 of Psalm 23 says, “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” You must surrender your soul to Jesus as your Savior and trust in Him daily to receive peace.
2. We must also surrender our worries and burdens to Him leaving them in His hands. Often, we give a problem to Jesus then assume control of it all over again. Leave your burden with Him and trust He will work on your behalf.
3. We also must actively pursue peace. A rush of peace can come over us during troubled and painful times. However, on a daily basis we push towards peace and run away from temptations to become anxious. Replace thoughts of worry with the truth of God’s Word. Search His Word to find what God says about your situation.
I pray you will experience that peace which is priceless. If you do not know the One who gives the gift of peace, I pray you will hear and say yes when Jesus calls your name and eternally invites you into the Kingdom of God.
I encourage you this week to focus on actively pursuing peace using the 3 steps above. If you have stories of your own where God has graced you with peace in a crisis or during an ordinary day, please share those comments with us.
God bless you this week and peace be with you.

A GOOD WASHING

Don’t you love the look and feel of your vehicle after it has been freshly washed? I recently gave my van a good washing after several weeks of exposure to the outside elements had left it grimy and covered with pollen. The inside littered with forgotten or unwanted scraps of paper. The seats sprinkled with crumbs from snacks and the carpet covered with dirt from the bottom of shoes. It was long overdue for a thorough cleaning inside and out.
After being exposed to the elements of this world, do you ever feel like a good cleaning? Our souls and heart can become a trash dump from the environment which surrounds us. For instance, television shows can leave images in our mind and affect our thoughts. Songs we listen to and sing along with cause us to meditate upon questionable lyrics. Troubling conversations with others can affect our mood throughout the day.
Are you skeptical these situations affect you in a negative way? With the struggling economy, I have been watching the news more than usual. Reports can be contradicting depending on the channel you watch and tuning in consistently can become depressing. We need to be aware of the issues in our world without clinging to the gloom anchors and analysts forecast. God’s Word is the truth to which we should cling. Matthew 6:22 tells us the eye is the lamp to the body and if the eyes are good, the body is full of light. Therefore, let us fill our eyes and thoughts and words with goodness inspired by time spent with God, not inspired by societal influences.
This week, be aware of the outlets which influence you. How much time do you spend watching television with negative images and concepts? Do the songs you sing carry positive lyrics? Is your conversation wholesome and encouraging? While you become aware of the surrounding environment which influences you, I encourage you to spend time with God and His Word. Let your soul and mind receive a good washing in His presence and feel your spirits soar with a renewed hope and outlook as the grime from negative influences is washed away.
God Bless you this week!

ANGER MANAGEMENT

In our last blog, we likened Moses as a prophetic picture of Jesus. Moses acted as Savior to the Israelites saving them from destruction as a result of their wicked ways. But first, he acted as deliverer to lead them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and up to but not into the promised land. Today, I want to focus on the contrast between Moses and Jesus.
What kept Moses out of the promised land? The action which led to his exclusion from the promised land is described in Numbers chapter 20. In verse 8, God instructs Moses to speak to the rock and it will pour out water. Oh yes, Moses speaks; not to the rock, but with an attitude to the people before he strikes the rock twice with his staff. In verse 12, God is forced to deliver the bad news; Moses and Aaron will not have the honor of leading the Israelites into the promised land, nor the pleasure of abiding there themselves.
Moses had a previous experience with a rock in Exodus 17:6. At Horeb, God tells Moses to strike the rock to produce water. Therefore, could Moses have made an honest mistake when he disobeyed God by striking rather than speaking to the rock this time? After all, Moses was in the habit of striking his staff to produce results. Remember when he struck the water of the Nile to produce the plague of blood and earlier in his journey, he threw down his staff so it would transform into a snake before Pharaoh.
I feel bad for Moses and want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He had come so far and dealt with so much, only to be forbidden access to the land of promise. He was only allowed to gaze upon it. Doesn’t your heart break for Moses?
I can only guess the condition of Moses’ heart at that moment of his downfall, but God knows. Did God know Moses, in his anger, would sin if he struck the rock this time? Moses had already displayed his anger in Exodus 2:12 when he killed an Egyptian who mistreated an Israelite slave. Moses also displays anger when he throws the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. I believe God, in his mercy, was trying to prevent Moses from sinning again. Therefore, he was asking Moses to temper and control his rage against the Israelites by speaking to the rock so as not to strike in anger.
Jesus seemingly displayed anger when he toppled tables and drove out money changers from the temple where the gentiles worshiped. The temple intended for worship had become a smelly, loud marketplace for sacrificial animals. Jesus was restoring sanctity and John 2:17 (NIV) refers to this emotion as zeal because we know Jesus was without sin. Ephesians 4:26 tells us to not sin in our anger and Proverbs 29:22 says, “an angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.”
Moses disobeyed God, but I believe anger caused him to disobey and kept him out of the promised land. Later, Moses pleads with the Israelites to obey all the commands because he knows the consequences of disobedience. I have had my share of temper tantrums which have come with consequences, not blessings. Giving full vent to anger can keep us wandering in a wilderness of shame and guilt with loved ones receiving our wrath. There is no promise in the land of anger.
What sin is keeping you from your land of promise? Maybe anger is not a temptation for you. Is it gossip? Is it manipulation or control or overeating? Trust and obey God in your weakness so you can cross over into the promised land.
Blessings,
Theresa Anderson

MOSES IS AMAZING!

Moses is amazing! If you are not familiar with his story, I encourage you to meet this amazing man over many cups of coffee and several days. If you are familiar with his story, read it with fresh eyes asking God for new revelation.

The more I learn about Moses, the more I see a prophetic picture of Jesus through him. The most important reason, Moses repeatedly interceded on behalf of the rebellious and ungrateful Israelites acting as their savior. Deuteronomy 9:25 is one instance where Moses describes how he intercedes to save them from destruction. Jesus acted as our intercessor while he lived with us on earth and continues to intercede at the right hand of the Father after love compelled him to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus saved us from eternal destruction separated from God forever.

Moses delivered the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage equipped with the authority and anointing of God. Jesus was sent to set the captive free and continues to deliver us from evil.

Along with similarities are differences between Moses and Jesus. Visit my blog to stay tuned for more. I can’t go today without saying, the most important difference between Moses and Jesus is: Moses is dead and Jesus is alive! Jesus loves you today and speaks to those who trust Him. If you have never met Jesus, I encourage you to many cups of coffee for the rest of your life with the man of your dreams and the one who died for you.

God Bless you!

WAITING ON A SEED

I love nature. The outdoors invigorates me. Digging in the garden, planting flowers or veggies, and general yard cleanup is great therapy for me. While reading a magazine to help prepare my yard for spring, I found a quote I adore. Henry David Thoreau penned these words: “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”
Mr. Thoreau was speaking of a seed in nature. As he said, he has great faith in a seed. Why? Rarely does a seed planted in soil disappoint or surprise. Seeds sprout in the toughest of conditions; sometimes in spite of their circumstance. Look around your outside world for evidence. Notice trees growing in a rocky cliff or weeds thriving in your lawn despite heroic efforts to eliminate them. Also, seeds produce their own kind. No surprises. Plant a tomato seed and yield a tomato harvest. Plant a sunflower seed and expect a sunflower. God planned it this way (Gen. 1:11).
This quote has become a great faithbuilder to me in the last couple weeks. I have been consistently doing the right thing in particular for several weeks with no apparent good result. Have you ever been there? Can you feel my pain? I have been planting seeds of persistence, determination, and discipline but have yet to see the fruit of my labor. However, I can rest in the assurance God provides for those who do the right thing. God’s word says in 2 Thess. 3:13, “…do not become weary or lose heart in doing right (but continue in well doing without weakening).” If seeds in nature rarely disappoint, how much more must seeds of the Spirit reap a harvest. If you are like me and keep doing the right thing but haven’t seen improvement yet; keep the faith! Take heart, have courage and rejoice when breakthrough comes. We have planted our seed; therefore, expect wonders.
Blessings,
Theresa

GOOD OLE' GEORGE - PT 2

I have started feeling guilty giving poor ole’ George such a bad rap. After all, he was not responsible for putting his own face on the first $1 note in 1869. However, the symbolism still remains in tact. He is a founding father of this country and the first president. In the April 2009 American History magazine, an article by John Steele Gordon blames Thomas Jefferson for our banking system and our current financial crisis. Facts aside, let me get back to my point; legacy.
What is your legacy? What is your face plastered on for loved ones? We all have admirable qualities but focus on the qualities we are not proud of. While we are still living and breathing, what can we change about ourselves to leave a better legacy? Recently, I have noticed telling my children sorry for speaking unkind. I want to be a loving mother who speaks kindly. I want my children to exude love also; therefore I need to be a role model. I want to leave a legacy of love.

GOOD OLE' GEORGE - Part 1

His face is on the one dollar bill and it passes through our hands all the time. Do you know whose face it is? Of course, it’s George Washington. During these times of economic slowdown which require us to re-evaluate our expenditures, I have given good ole’ George more thought than usual.
I recently made a visit to the library to borrow a book. With call number in hand, I went to the shelf to search but the book was missing. However, another book nearby grabbed my attention. ‘Inventing a Nation’ by Gore Vidal; the title caught my eye and captured my interest. The idea of actually inventing a nation, intrigued me. To receive such a large vision and carry it to fruition sounds like a daunting, yet exciting venture. Despite the stack of unread books on my nightstand, I couldn’t resist and checked it out of the library.
Within the first few pages, I learned George Washington lived above his means with a lavish lifestyle neither his wife’s fortune nor his own could afford. I also learned he could be a generous man. He offered his service and expertise without pay until our country was successful and could reimburse his expenses. Being a famous figure, he often entertained other famous people with the finest food and drink.
By 1787, the states were broke and so was George Washington. This is the likeness and legacy we have plastered on America’s dollar bill. After the latest stimulus bill passed, I asked myself, “When will we learn?” When will we as a people and nation live within our means? When will we buy only what we can afford? When will we save for a rainy day? When will we save for retirement and leave some for our children?
Our country started out broke and over 200 years later, we still find ourselves broke. George Washington had many admirable qualities not to mention the most daunting task of inventing a nation. However, did he leave a legacy of poor financial stewardship for our country and those who followed him?

I WANT THE REAL ONE!

We were leaving the house; me, my four year old daughter, and my seven year old son.
The leaving-the-house ritual ensues. You might have one of your own. Ours looks like this. I bark orders that sound something like, “Quickly, get your shoes on! Don’t just stand there. Grab your coat, its cold outside.”
Yet, in the midst of the chaos time stands still as I watch my children respond to my orders. As my daughter looked for her shoes in the closet, I hear her say, “where are my croqs? “I don’t want those,” she says to her brother. “I want the real ones!”
You see, like every good thrifty mother, I purchased the knock off brand of imitation croqs for my children. Kids grow out of their shoes so fast. My wallet hurts at the prospect of paying high dollar for shoes that become too small before they are well used. Both of my children continued to ask me for Croqs despite having a perfectly good imitation. Once again, like every good thrifty mother I looked for Croqs that were on sale; I never found them on sale.
One day while my husband and I were Christmas shopping, my husband finds both a pink and blue pair of Croqs at full price. It is Christmas after all so we splurge on two pairs of full-priced Croq’s. You can imagine the delight on their faces when they unwrap their gift and open their shoe box on Christmas morning. Finally, the real deal! They never thought it would happen, but their Croq dream became a reality!
As I stood watching this scene with my daughter, I thought to myself, “We are wired for the real thing.” My daughter is four years old. She has no brand sense yet. I, with my thrifty nature have obviously not taught her about name brands. How does she know the difference between a Croq and its imitation and more importantly, why does she care?
We are wired for the real thing. No imitation will satisfy. The void in our souls can only be filled with God; the one true God. The bible says, you are God, there is no other. You are God, there is none like you.
I tried for many years to fill the void in my soul. I chased new age religions like Eckankar and I studied self improvement techniques from men such as Tony Robbins. These methods provide temporary relief. They are a band-aid on a wound that never heals. For years my soul cried out, “I don’t want those. I want the real one!”
I have found the real One in Jesus and because we are wired for the real thing, no imitation will do. Stop shopping for an imitation. No need to be thrifty, Jesus is a free gift.

Blessings,

Theresa

CHILL OUT!

Occasionally, I tell my son, "Chill out, dude." I am attempting to accomplish two things with this comment. One is to lighten up an intense moment. Second, I want to get my point across that it is time to end the drama.
Occassionally, I also need to listen to the instruction I give my son. God often shows me, through my son, the character improvements I need to make. For instance, if my son has trouble with obedience, interesting enough, I also have obedience issues. So it seems, this particular day, God taught me to chill out.
One morning as I backed out of the garage, I heard a noise. It wasn't a loud noise but an unfamiliar one. I noticed it but didn't think much of it. I arrived at my destination, got out of my car, stepped onto the curb, and noticed something out of the corner of my eye. When I turned to look, I noticed a tennis racket sticking out of the grill of my van. Yes, that's right, a tennis racket sticking straight out of my van like it had a tennis match on my short drive to the gym. I laughed out loud as I tugged on the tennis racket to dislodge it from the jaws of my van.
In the past, I might have rolled my eyes and grumbled some inaudible complaint about my kids leaving their toys out. As I thought about how the tennis racket could have gotten there, I remembered my husband pulled the van into the garage the previous evening. He evidently had pulled the van in too far and drove right into our children's sports box. In the past, I might have grumbled some inaudible complaint about the driving and parking incompetence of my husband. However, this time I got a good laugh at the expense of my husband. Bless his heart!
This event was a comical yet apparently insignificant moment in time. However, this was a breakthrough for me. I had officially chilled out! I had taken one of life's mishaps and enjoyed the humor of it rather than get cranky.
If such a breakthrough can happen to me, it can happen to you. What has God shown you that needs improving? Do you need to chill out or do you have other issues? God is in the restoration business and He can restore your humor, innocence, purity, health, reputation, joy, etc. Listen to Him, obey Him, and let Him restore your life.
Blessings,
Theresa

THE LIGHT OF MY WORLD

Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world." A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

She was officially my sister. My oldest sister in fact, but she was more like a second mother to me. She was also my friend, my confidante, and my counselor. Barbara lost a battle with cancer and I lost a sister 16 years ago. She was a light in my dark world. She embodied all the qualities I wanted to be but I wasn't conscious of it at that time; I just knew I liked her company. She was kind and gracious and I was critical and self-absorbed. She created a home for her family and I was lonely young woman looking for love in all the wrong places. She was a patient listener with a tamed tongue and I was a talkative complainer that had a habit of sticking my foot in my mouth. Honestly, she meant much more to me than I did to her. I imagine I was quite a nuisance for her!
Prior to her illness, I was a young working woman but couldn't make it on my own so I moved in with her and her family which included a husband and 3 young children. I didn't just move in; I was unoffically "adopted" and became a part of their family. I joined them for family dinners and family vacations and outings. Being a part of their family was a departure from growing up as a child in my own family. I was the youngest of eleven children and couldn't wait to leave the house. But with my sister's family, I couldn't wait to get home. My sister showed me a loving home.
I remember Barb's living room well even to this day. She loved antiques and they fit well in her country style colonial home. In the corner of her living room was a tall oak hutch with glass pane doors. Atop that hutch was a small lamp with a blue and beige checked shade. That lamp was always burning. She never turned it off and I never thought to ask why.
It was the Christmas season when life slipped slowly away from my sister. She became certain she would not see her children grow, she would not become a grandmother,nor would she travel in retirement with her husband. She wrote goodbye letters to family members not Christmas cards and she gave away her personal belongings rather than wrapped gifts. Her only wish was to live through one more Christmas with her family. I watched her husband carry her from the bed and gently place her on the couch that Christmas day. Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't want to die and she didn't want this to be her last Christmas. But on January 3rd she took her last breath. The light in my dark world was gone and the light in her living room was turned off.
A lamp continuously shines in my kitchen in honor of Barb and Jesus is now the light of my world. I pray I am the light of my home as Barb was in hers and His love continually shines through me for all to see.