Not Alone

I'm blown away by your comments from Tuesday's devotion and blog post. It's tough to write from a vulnerable place, holding your breath and wondering if anybody else in the world feels the same.

Satan has one great lie to keep Christians in sin and woundedness. All he has to say is, "You are alone." That simple phrase keeps use isolated with our hurts unadressed by God and unhealed or unforgiven.

When God's girls join together, we're unstopable. Let's commit to telling our stories so that others know that they're not alone. The kids at our church are telling their stories of struggle out loud, and amazing things are happening. Accountibility groups are forming, other kids are being inspired, and lots of real questions are coming out.

I'm not alone. I've got Jesus' love and all my sisters around me...so do you. Thanks for sharing!

Where Confidence Is

Wouldn't you know it? Rebuilt, my devotion that was published today, snuck up on me to haunt me with my own words!

Our devotions are submitted months ahead of time, and inevitably I'll be having a day when I need to be reminded of truth with my own words and with God's Word that has already been at work in me. It's only 7 am, and it's already one of those days.

It's still true that God has been at work in my rebuilding my wobbly confidence and filling me with a renewed confidence in Him. I see the benefits of that not only in my spiritual life but also in my marriage, parenting, friendships and work.

But sometimes those old tendencies creep back in, and they usually do their creeping in the dark. Literally. When I'm laying awake when the rest of my household is asleep, I know that the struggle continues.

This morning at 0'dark thirty, I picked up my book and tip-toed downstairs where God set me back on the path again. I read about Enoch who walked with the Lord. It was that one little phrase that set my heart back into its gentle rhythm. Walking with the Lord is all I'm called to do. One step at a time, my hand in His, following His pace and resting in His guidance. Running ahead to where I'm not called yet makes me trip and leaves me with bloody knees (instead of calloused knees). Lagging behind in past regrets and shame leaves me in isolation and insecurity.

Walking with God is where confidence is. In His grace and faithfulness, He stopped and let me catch up early this morning...my confidence restored.

Needed Heart Check

I had lunch with my friend and techie dudette Lisa Boyd this week, and that girl is a blessing on so many levels. Not only did she fix some of my more aggrevating computer issues with a few strokes on my laptop, she left me with something to think about for a while.

We were talking about ministry and the difficulties with fees, marketing and promotion. We had great back and forth for a while (she hates to have any body pay her for her genius, but you'd better if you get her info from my post!!) when finally she said, "Well, what I really look at is the heart."

Simple. And right to the heart of the matter if you'll excuse my cliche.

It's not only true for speakers, writers and people in vocational ministry, since we're ALL called into ministry, we all need continuous heart-checks to make sure our motivations stay pure.

There's the famous story of Samuel going to look for the new king of Israel to replace Saul, who had violated God's Word and will. He went to Jesse's house to look over his sons and was drawn to the oldest and tallest, but God said, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (I Samuel 16:7)

As God is want to do when He's trying to get my attention, He repeated Himself. After talking with Lisa, I was doing some heart-checking and thinking about how much navel gazing I do. Through John Piper's book Don't Waste You Life, He continued to speak to me about my heart and true heart-change. Piper insists that true heart and life-change comes from the correct focus--not on ourselves and our change but rather on God Himself.

He gives the example of looking out at the stars and feeling insignificant--"It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself. And he says it for us to learn and enjoy--namely, that he is infinitely great and powerful and wise and beautiful....The Point is not to nullify us but to glorify him."

Our hearts. The heart of the matter.

Lord, help me to focus my wandering, often self-focused heart directly on You. Let that focus glorify You in everything I do including letting people know about ministry. More of You, Jesus, less of me.

Book or Bytes?

If you've been reading my blog, you've probably picked up that I'm an avid reader. As long as I can remember, my place of choice is on the couch with a book. Even though I'm an extrovert and love people, I can tune you right out, my friend, if I have a book.

So here's a very important question that I desperately need your help with: Do you like books better, or do you have (or want) a Kindle (or any other book-like computer--I'm a little in the dark about options)?

Please, please let me know what you prefer and why. I'm thinking about my Christmas list. :)

I so love the feel, smell and weight of books that I'm not sure I can convert. Maybe you can convince me otherwise. For those of you that still love to hold a book, don't miss out on the 31% off all resources from Proverbs 31 Ministries. You can click here to get to our resource page. This sale only lasts through the week!

Stay

When I spoke in Peoria recently, I talked about friendships' essential components, and one of them is that we stay.

Stay through conflict.

Stay through struggles.

Stay through suffering.

Stay through uncomfortabelness (my spell check tells me that's not a word but you get it).

Stay through spiritual uneveness.

Mary Magdalene is such a beautiful example of this. Because of her great love for Jesus, she stayed.

She stayed after He set her free.

She stayed as He traveled.

She stayed through His torture.

She stayed at the cross.

She stayed at His burial.

She left only for Passover and returned AS SOON as it was over.

She stayed to pass on the news of His resurrection.

I have trouble staying. When a church doesn't quite fit my desires, I want to leave. When a friend is going through a bad time because of choices I can't endorse, I want to leave. When God does things I can't understand, I want to leave.

Come Thou Fount is my favorite hymn, and I think it's because this verse resounds so loudly with me:

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.

I want to leave sometimes, but I long to learn to stay.

The Clock is Ticking--Bless a Girl Today

American women. We are so incredibly blessed. We are some of the most educated, most free women in the world. I don't know about you, but I often take that for granted.

There's a whole world of women out there who have never known such a life. Women in Afghanistan wear burkas so that they are neither seen nor heard. Women in Africa still suffer the agony of "female circumcision". Women everywhere work in the sex trade--some by choice but many because of deceit, fear and extreme poverty.

The cycle starts when they're girls.

I watched this moving video yesterday. Please watch and then hang with me.

Over-simplified. On one hand I was moved by this video, so I showed it to Barry, and we discussed it. We both agreed that no amount of education, money or aid will change the life of girls without the redemption of hearts by Jesus. We also agreed that we don't trust some of the organizations that created this compelling message.

But it moved my heart for girls.

As a woman, I have a responsibility to the next generation of women. How can I help? Although I don't trust the UN to solve the world's problems, there are some organizations that are doing amazing work.

Compassion is telling girls (and sweet boys) about the change that comes with Jesus as well as providing education, food and health care.

International Justice Mission is joining with local authorities to fight for justice for families around the world.

Children's Hope Chest is freeing children from the sex-trade and rescuing orphans internationally.

Samaritan's Purse's Christmas catalog lets us help people start to sustain themselves.

Locally, Hand of Hope helps women with unplanned pregnancies bring a new generation of girls (and don't forget boys!) into the world.

American women, let's use our freedom, respect, education and financial resources for something worthy. Bless a girl today.

All Things to the Good

I know the Bible is true. I believe it. Deep down.

But this morning was one of those proofs that God's Word never fails. It was a proof that builds my faith and makes me believe that anything is possible.

Anson, my oldest, was asked to give his testimony publicly tonight at an event called "Fields of Faith" that his high school's FCA is hosting. He's excited, and so am I. There's something about telling your Jesus story publicly that changes you. I know that it will be another step of growth for him.

Tears flooded my eyes as I read what he'd written to share. Anson realizes that he looks close to perfect. He's a godly, kind young man, but nobody is perfect. He's written his story in a very real and powerful way so that there's no doubt that we ALL need a Savior. He's been transparent so that God's power and glory is apparent.

Seeing God's truth lived out in my man-child raises the bar for me. He is going to share about a hard time that he went through a few years ago. It was hard for him and hard for his parents. During that time, I clung to Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This morning tears flooded my eyes as I realized that I am seeing the truth in that verse come to pass. God has used that hard time to give Anson a story of salvation beyond self-righteousness. He has given a story of His own grace, mercy and forgiveness. He has given Anson a story of how God's power overcomes sin.

And now Anson is telling the story to others. That's very good.

Quotables

I've been researching some quotes for an article that I'm working on, but while doing a little blog housekeeping the other day, I found a treasure-trove a thought-provoking quotes. They were in my P31 sister's blogs. Here are some of my favorites:

Whitney Capps: I don't want to offer a dissertation on the state of America. God is displeased I think, but rather than having me shake my head or wag my finger, the Lord of Hosts is asking me to see my personal rebellion. I am responsible. America is made up of millions of evangelicals who like the American dream more than we like our Heavenly mandate.

Zoe Elmore: All of this has given me a clear picture of just how evasive and penetrating smoke can be. Who knew a small fire could create such devastation? Well, girlfriends, if smoke (even unseen smoke) can create such devastation to our home... just think of what sin (especially hidden sin) does in our lives. Get where I'm going with this?

Think God might be talking to us about holiness?

Lynn Cowell: Her whole post on getting your teens to talk to you.

Make sure to check out these posts. I'll probably give you a few more as the week goes on. Let's just say that I'm on a quest for wisdom, and Proverbs tells me that I'll grow wise if I walk with the wise!

I've also been enjoying another series of blogs that are doing 31 days of posts on change. I got to meet The Nester and her sister Emily (Chatting at the Sky) at She Speaks in two successive years. They're both irresistibly cute and amazingly talented women. Check out these blogs:
(When I copied these blogs, it didn't copy the hyper link, I've added the link to The Nester where you can start your search. But definitely don't miss Chatting at the Sky--love her)

31 Days to a Less Messy Nest from The Nester

:: 31 Days to Stress-Free Entertaining from Sandy at The Reluctant Entertainer
:: 31 Days to a Better Photo from Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians
:: 31 Days to More with Less from Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
:: 31 Days of Autumn Bliss from Melissa at The Inspired Room
:: 31 Days of Living Simply from Emily at Remodeling This Life
:: 31 Days to an Inspired Table from Kendra at My First Kitchen
:: 31 Days of Grace from Emily at Chatting at the Sky

What Do I Bring to the Party?

I just couldn't do it. Since I personally know some of the precious women who wrote comments for the contest, I decided that I had to use the trusty random number selector to choose the winner. My sweet friend Tammy won Same Kind of Different as Me fair and square!:) Congratulations Tammy!! I'll have it to you real quick like.

Your comments made me reflect on what I look for in a friend. There's actually a list. I want friends who are :

Loyal

Good listeners

Funny

Wise

Truth-speakers

Jesus lovers

Idea machines

Quiet ponderers

Loud fun-creators

Story tellers...

You get the idea. No one person can be all those things, but they are attributes of my group of friends. What a huge blessing!

My question now becomes, what do I bring to the party? What attributes do I have or need to develop to be a better friend?

I'll share one area of weakness that God pointedly brought to my attention over the last 10 years. I have not been always been a faithful friend. The kind of friend who sticks with you through thick and thin.

I'm a terrific friend in the thick times but not so much in the thin.

I don't like confrontation and difficulties make me uncomfortable, so I slowly disappear. Not in a way that creates conflict. That would be too messy, and I like things clean. But definitely in a way that I'm positive has created hurt in some that I've abandoned.

That's an ugly confession, isn't it? God has confronted me with this, and I've repented and have resolved to change. I'm committing to love through the sticky things no matter what. In some of my friend's lives, I might have been the only unconditional Jesus-love that they were receiving, but I left. He never does. No matter what.

Jesus, make me a friend like you.

I Just Have to Share!

Because I love the book Same Kind of Different as Me so much, I have to share a copy.

It's a story of an unlikely friendship between a homeless man and a wealthy art dealer. That sentence over-simplifies the plot unbelievably, though. It's also about unexpected blessings, healing on lots of levels, where true riches lay, the value of each life and each day... It's rich, ya'll. I'm telling you that you have to read it.

I'm going to give you a couple little excerpts to glimpse how their friendship began and then the contest:

Denver (the homeless man): "I didn't want him by me. I didn't want nobody by me. I wanted to be by myself. So I got up and burned off. That was just my way...Then I edged over to Mr. Tuesday and apologized. He said that was okay. Then I said maybe we could have some coffee at the mission. Lord-a-mercy, did that open up a can a' worms."

Ron (rich art dealer): "By the time he'd finished his breakfast, my hair had grown an inch! I sensed he wasn't through talking, but I wasn't sure what else to say. Finally, he asked me a pointed question: "What you want from me?"

A direct hit, I thought, and decided to give him a completely unvarnished answer: 'I just want to be your friend.'"

Denver's eventual answer to the question of being Ron's friend is a turning point and the highlight of the whole book in my humble opinion, so I won't ruin it. You'll just have to read it for yourself!

So here's the deal for the contest. Leave a comment and tell me the main elements that you look for in a friendship or feel like you need in a friendship. In the interest of full disclosure, this contest isn't random. It will be based on what you share and prayer on my part. I can't wait to hear your hearts!

Highly Recommended!

What's a obsessive-reader-girl to do? She has a trip but no time to hit the library. There's unread non-fiction in the house, but she loves a story for down time in airports and hotel rooms.

This weekend Moms in the Light in Peoria, IL took care of my dire problem. :) I tell you that those girls spoiled me absolutely rotten. It was positively daunting to come home and wash underwear again! They gave me a princess syndrome in two days flat.

In a goody bag of thoughtful gifts, they included The Same Kind of Different as Me. I got this jewel on Friday night, and I'm reporting this morning that I couldn't put it down. I'm done and ready to reread it.

There are so few books that I reread, because there are always so many more on my running list. The Same Kind of Different as Me is going on my very short re-read list.

For those of you that haven't read it, it's one of the most powerful stories of friendship and the power of unconditional love that I've ever read. You've got to have a copy---so on Wednesday I'm going to include another of my favorite excerpts and give away a copy for those that comment. Make sure to come back even if you have a copy. You may win one to give as a Christmas present!

Here's today's excerpt (this leads in to telling how Ron and his wife Debbie came into a relationship with Jesus:

"As it turned out, we had actually been labeled "lost," "nonbelieving," and "unsaved," possibly because we had no fish stickers on our cars. (Which reminds me of one friend who, though newly "born again," retained the bad habit of flipping off other drivers while barreling down the road in her Suburban. Even with her newfound religion, she couldn't control her middle finger, but according to her husband, the Holy Ghost prompted her to scrape the fish off her bumper until her finger got saved.)"

This made me laugh and laugh (out loud--on the plane--scary), but OUCH!! It's the kind of real, down-t0-earth look at faith mixed with humor that the book is chock full of.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

This morning I get to indulge what my grandma called my "wander lust" and head to Peoria, IL. If you're in the area, I'm speaking to Moms in the Light tomorrow morning, and I'd love to meet you.

I'm trying to pack in a carry on these days since the airlines have gotten so persnickity and are charging for checking bags. When I'm traveling for personal reasons, I'm pretty good at packing light. For some reason, though, when I'm traveling to speak, I want to pack the biggest bag possible with everything you can think of. Not good.

Are you a light packer or everything and the kitchen sink packer?