Female Fridays
I absolutely LOVE the TV show, “The Dog Whisperer!” The star of the show, Cesar Millan, believes that a stable pack of calm, submissive dogs can have a powerful influence over another dog that is unstable (fearful, aggressive, insecure, etc.) Even with his years of experience and all of his training techniques, he knows there are some instances when the training is best left to …well, the dogs! Viewers are able to see the beauty of a pack that is lead by a strong, stable pack leader, as well as the disastrous results that can occur when a weak pack [...]
Thirsty Thursdays
She just showed up on our back porch one day. I thought she was beautiful, but she was scary to my girls. We didn’t approach her, but just watched her through the window. She was just hanging out, and quite frankly, she was in our way. My husband didn’t even notice her, and walked right through the temporary home she had made for herself. What she did next, I found to be truly inspiring. While we were asleep, all through the night, she worked. The next morning there it stood, more magnificent, more intricate, and more creative than the day [...]
Thirsty Thursdays
I can’t get my mind off of it now. A few days ago I read again the account of when Moses saw the burning bush, you know the one that was burning but would not burn out. Moses was curious, but completely unaware that he had actually stumbled into the very Presence of God. The thought came to mind, “Moses, HOLY was in your face!” Exodus 3:3-6 (Msg) gives me the impression that had God not spoken out loud, Moses may have paused, but then just walked on by. “Moses said, ‘What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! [...]
Female Fridays
I am a slow burn. My family of origin had a very firm, but unspoken rule: don’t show anger. I literally can not remember more than one time when either of my parents unleashed anger in a public manner. So, I learned to do a slow burn, meaning I smiled sweetly on the outside, while my stomach churned on the inside and my face went from pink to fire-red. In other words, I wasn’t allowed – no, rather it was expected that in the event I might get “all worked up” over something, there was actually no place to [...]
Thirsty Thursdays
If you had to declare one word that would define your hope for 2013, what word would you choose? This question was presented to me a few years ago. Being a “lover of words” I jumped at the challenge. What do you think of the word, “Thankful?” No matter what the year brings, you choose to be thankful, even if hard times come? (1 Thes. 5:18) I mentioned this challenge to a friend recently, and she said the first word to come to mind was, “Repair,” because 2012 was a year packed with much grief and loss. “Transform” is an [...]
Female Fridays
Christmas is all about gifts, but not gifts you put under your Christmas tree. The kind I’m referring to are in the Christmas story in the Bible. The first gift was from Mary. God sent an angel to tell her she would have a son that would reign forever. What would her parents say? What would Joseph say? Who would ever believe her? Did she have any idea that one day she would stand at the foot of a cross and look up at her precious baby suffering for a world that could have cared less? Mary’s response to the [...]
Wedded Wednesdays
Do you have a list? No, not a shopping list, but a list of qualities you would like to have in a husband? Maybe you’ve never actually written them down on a piece of paper but the list runs through your head? What quality would top your list? If you’ve never been married, maybe your list would consist of characteristics you have dreamed of since you were very young. If you have been married before, maybe your list has changed and now consists of qualities you didn’t see before or ones that are the opposite of what you have already [...]
Female Fridays
I am an over-committer. I say yes to everything. I say yes to anything. I say yes if it sounds fun. I say yes if it sounds boring. I say yes if I am bored. I say yes if my calendar is packed. I say yes if I think I am capable. I say yes if I think there is some shred of hope I could figure it out. And this week I hit my wall. I’ve hit my max. This morning while trying to get it all done, I had to swing back by our house to pick up something [...]
Thirsty Thursdays
We started building our home this summer. Visions danced in my head of Christmas morning. No sugarplums — just a decorated mantle, fire burning, lights shimmering and the kids waking up in their newly-decorated rooms with their matching pajamas. Oh, fantasyland! Then, reality hit. We were over-budget and had to make adjustments, which caused a delay. We are now scheduled to move in January. God had a better plan. I’ve never thought of myself as a materialistic person. I usually only shop during a sale or with a coupon. I am perfectly happy driving a dented minivan with lots of [...]
Female Fridays
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to speak kindness over others, but faced with just yourself you come up with nothing? Last week I went in for what I call my oil change with my counselor. I’m not in a season where I need intense and regular counseling, but I like going every so often just to check in. Mainly because she is one of the wisest, godliest women I have ever met and I love getting her insight on my life. After a while of chatting she got this smile, the kind that makes you feel like [...]
