New Year's reading

Okay - I've started this year off by reading two books simultaneously that are telling me to trust God more. I suppose that's something I still need to know so God decided to knock me over the head with it.  I'm reading Jen Hatmaker's 7: A Mutiny Against Excess, and William P. Young's book The Shack. Ever read either of those? NO SPOILERS! I'm not finished with them yet. Will be glad to blog about them more later (prepare yourself - when I talk about books I tend to get carried away...)but what a way to remember whose I am! Yay!  Go Princesses!

The Same Glory as Christ

I attended the Ted Dekker “Outlaw” tour event on Friday night. He said something that I hadn’t given much thought to:

In John 17:22, Jesus says “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one…”

Wow!  We have the same glory as Jesus? God has made us that special?  That floored me. 

Amazing love.  Amazing grace.

I'm Back!

I figured September would be a good time to get back in the swing of things. For the first time in YEARS I took a few months off. I joked that God gave me a sabbatical, but indeed He did! He gave me June and July and most of August off to write a novel! I am so excited about it!

But literally as soon as I typed "The End" I started getting calls to speak and do book signings. God has clearly taken me off my sabbatical and put me back to work! So it's gonna be a busy fall!

Helping Others is my theme for this month. Mostly, I'm focusing on my family. I've been so busy in the past doing this and that for volunteer work that I've once again let my own house slip. So I'm trying to get the kids more organized and take some of the work load off of my husband.

I've also experienced the help of others helping ME. I have a lot more to say about that, so will post that later, but sometimes we need to receive help instead of give it.

I'll be away from my desk for a few days....my sister-in-law passed away yesterday morning. She died with a smile on her face so we know she's with Jesus now. I have more to say on that too, when I've got the energy. Right now it's time to grieve and help where I can.

Blessings to you all.

It's Free!!!

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

My favorite thing about grace is that it’s free. Christ has already paid the price. All we have to do is accept the gift. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Makes me wonder why there are so many people who don’t want it. 

I’m rejoicing on this beautiful summer day for grace!  Are you?

Grace Isn't Just Somebody's Name

        With the end of the school year, we've been a bit flubbergusted (is that even a word?) with getting all the loose ends tied up before the actual "end" arrives. (I'm not talking about the Second Coming.)  Why are there so many parties and final projects and graduations and teachers' gifts and just STUFF this last week of school? I think we should have a week in April when we get to do the "last week of school" and then the following weeks could just be school work until the "end" arrives. That would give me a breather.
        Anyway, with all the STUFF, we've been a bit edgy. "GRACE AND MERCY" has been my mantra to my kids. (It's in capital letters because I am usually yelling it.) Grace and Mercy. When Dad forgets to give you hot lunch on your hot lunch day and Mom has to repack it in seconds while we're already late for school. GRACE. Or when Mom forgets to bring your violin to school after she promises (since you forgot it FIRST) so you have to be bored during music class. GRACE. How about the fact that you didn't have any clean LONG pants to wear this morning and it was only 42 degrees outside so you had to wear shorts and "just cover your legs with a blanket" in the car?
         And it's only Tuesday.
         Thank God for grace! I often talk about the grace God has for us, but what about the grace we should have for each other? The dictionary describes Christian grace as "the free and unmerited favor of God". I'd like to see some of that in this family this week. I know I'm not mom-of-the-year right now, but just love me. And I'll love you even though your socks don't match (I know...the other "mate" isn't washed) or the fact that you said you didn't have homework last night so you could go outside and play but, "discovered" that you did this morning and did it at breakfast.
         GRACE. That's my goal today (or this week). Grace.
         Join me?

God Opens Doors

All at once all the prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose.  Acts 16:26b

I had the privilege to go to Legoland, CA this past weekend with five amazing kids who had made it to the North American Championships with their robot.  Because they had poured hours and hours into their project, the robot had been scoring 630 points in practice. When they got to CA and used their one practice session allowed to them, the robot's color sensor wasn't happy with the stage lighting, and our robot became erratic.  The kids went right into problem solving mode - Can we shield the sensors? Reprogram the robot? - and they worked hours on solutions. They came up with three plans, but were unable to test them until the competition. For each round (there were three), they used a different plan, and the robot responded in various ways, but their final score was only 435.   The winning robot got 605.

What amazed me about these kids is they didn't give up and instead of looking at this is a failure, they turned it into a learning opportunity. While disappointed, they are already working on how they can improve their robot for next year.

Sometimes when failure strikes, it's hard for us to move forward and see the other paths. I think what these kids showed in their problem solving can be used in daily life situations. Don't quit, and just because one door closes, doesn't mean another hasn't opened. There are always other answers. Look around - not down.

God's Wisdom

This says it all:

Faithful Abandon!

An opportunity arose last week which I absolutely didn't have the funds for, although I knew I should do it.  "I can't afford that," was my instant response.  My heart told me different, though. So Monday morning I prayed about it and then opened my quiet time Bible study and the words that jumped out at me were "Why do you say 'I can't afford this or that when your Heavenly Father has all the riches of the world at your disposal?" Wow - that really spoke to me!  Oh me of little faith! So I said "Yes, I'll do it" and I've set up some fund-raising and am excitedly waiting the opportunity!  What a fun chance to watch God work!
       I know that in general I have to be sensible in my expenses and frugal with my budget, but there are times when I can throw all caution to the wind and let my awesome God shower me with blessings.  What a sense of excitement and freedom when I abandon myself to His will!

Valentine's Day Thoughts

  Most people equate Valentine's day with romance, but in fact St. Valentine was a priest who gave up his life for his belief, siding with Christian martyrs and finally being executed for his faith.  Not much is reliably known of him, but legend has it he healed his jailer's daughter of blindness and before his execution left her a note signed "From your Valentine".
    This week as I think of my Valentines, or the loves in my life, I want to remember to thank God for how richly I am blessed with them. I want to make sure they (friends, family) know how much I love them.
    And I want to remember St.Valentine, and all the other Christian martyrs past and present, who have died for their faith.

Wealthy Beyond Measure

   My 7-year-old son made me a cross out of Legos, and set it on my desk.
   "It's to remind you of Jesus," he said. "You can look at it and remember that he loves you."
    The Lego cross sits next to a jar of dried flowers. The flowers are from the various arrangements I received when my babies were born. When the arrangements dried out I kept a few of each to remind me of those special first few days with each of my boys.
     The cross sits on top of a wooden box, hand-painted by my mother. I use it to keep office supplies and small treasures in. Every time I use it I think of her.

      All I have to do is look at that little vignette on my desk, or look around my home, and I know how rich I already am. If I forget that, my little Lego cross can remind me that my life was paid for by a price.
      God has given me great riches.  Thank you, Jesus.

Ramblings and Updates

Just a bunch of rambling....
     First off, after clearing eight garbage bags of clothes out of my closet, my friend and I were finally ready to convert my one closet into my home work space!  I'll put photos on my Facebook page.  Check it out!  I am so excited about it!!
       This isn't really on topic either (for this month's theme) but I posted about a month ago that I was inviting some neighbor's over for a Bible Study.  We met and it was awesome!  We had a great time and I think it's going to be fun making some new friends.  We are a mix - some strong Christians, some just curious, and a self-proclaimed agnostic, so it should prove to be a great ground for discussion.  Plus, it's fun to get together with my neighbors, who I would otherwise not see!
         On to other topics, I am thinking ahead for December's Princess challenge, Respecting the King. What a great way to remember the true meaning of the season.  I'm going to focus on ways to put Jesus back into Christmas in my own life.  I'll keep you posted. What are some of your ideas?

Princessing....

It seems I get carried away with the princess thing in the summer.   I've been hanging out at the beach, writing fiction, playing with the kids, and basically NOT posting to my blog!  When my mom called the other day my husband (my earthly prince) was cooking dinner and I was on the porch swing, reading.  "I'll tell the princess you want to talk to her," he said.  Hmmm.
     In all truth, I am the carpool queen and have been driving various kids to various events, cooking (most) of the dinners, and worn myself plum out.  But it has been fun to slack off of work a little bit (except for my clients - you I haven't slacked on!) and be a princess.  So all of this to say why I haven't posted more on Mary M.  Working on it.....at the beach. :-)

God Made You and He Don't Make Junk

            You are uniquely you.  God created you the way He wanted you to be, and had plans for you long before your parents ever gave a thought to having children.

            Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;  Jeremiah 1:5

            Isn’t that exciting?  God likes you the way you were born.  Eye color, hair color, talents, personality -  He designed you that way.  It’s up to us what we do with what He gave us.

            Remember, you are fully equipped to be the woman God wants you to be.

Uniquely You

When I was in middle school, I was given the assignment in health class to write a short essay about what I would want to change about myself.  I was quite happy with myself the way I was, and couldn't think of anything to write.  Even at that age, I realized the teacher's assignment was detrimental to our self-image.  I told her I was okay with my body the way it was and my friends should be too.
    "Really?"  she seemed shocked.  "You wouldn't make your  hips smaller, or change your hair color?  There has to be something you aren't happy with."
     She seemed angry.  And was she trying to tell me my hips were too big?
     I don't remember how I finished the assignment, but her words have stuck with me all these years.  Fortunately, I've realized that God created me the way He did for a reason.  He knew who I was before I was even in the womb.  I have had a fun time this year writing the chapter on beauty for the Princess book, and have discovered a lot of verses in the Bible about how awesome God thinks we are, just as He created us!  I wish I had been able to share these verses with my teacher back then!

Gifts from Above

I need a new computer, and for months (okay, maybe years) have been wanting a laptop.  I'm a bit picky, so instead of purchasing a cheaper non-Apple version, I'm holding out for a Mac.  Probably why I haven't gotten one yet.  But my desktop computer (also a Mac) is a year 2000 and there are pink streaks across the screen, giving me the feeling that the monitor is going.  Also, it keeps telling me there are "errors" and shutting down.  Since I'm working on "Riches" I decided to pray me up a computer.  God knows I need one, right?  So I've been praying for my Apple laptop. 

Amazingly, God sent me a computer.  It's free.  It's a Mac.  But it's happens to be a 2003 desktop computer. Guess God didn't think I was ready for that laptop....

But hey, it works, so I am rejoicing!  Isn't it fun that one happened to come along when I needed one?  Thank you, Lord!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..."  James 1:17

Kingly Access

I was contemplating this whole princess-thing last night, and what I find most encouraging is that we have such open access to our King.  God WANTS to spend time with us - anytime, anywhere we seek Him.  We don't have to jump on our horse and seek passage into the castle:  instead, we can speak to Him right here where we are. I don't even have to get dressed in the morning or brush my teeth first! :-) 
          The Bible is full of scripture where God is encouraging us to come to Him. Our God is an awesome God and I feel blessed that I can enter into His holy presence, just as I am.

Almost Done!

Thank goodness this year of "Living Like A Princess" is almost over - it has nearly killed me!  From purple high-healed shoes to....okay, we won't go into it, but it ain't been easy.  This month is our last challenge.  Hang with me, girls!  We've got blessings in store!

Thankful

Today's topic isn't really on "self-control", but in way it is.  We do have control over our attitude, and we can usually find something to be thankful for, even if it's something small.

I am speaking in a few weeks at an advent service, and the topic I've been asked to talk about is our attitude.  How can our attitude affect our lives? 

            In light of the upcoming holiday season, with all of the stressors and emotions connected with it, I decided to take a good long look at my own attitude and where it's going.

            I certainly have a lot to be thankful for when I sit down to a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving.  But there is going to be an empty place at the table.  My grandma, who I've spent nearly every Thanksgiving with, won't be with us.  She's feasting at the table in Heaven this year.

            Her death has left a huge hole in our hearts.  Although she was ready to go when she passed away in April at the age of 91, we weren't ready to let her go.  I don't think you're ever ready to completely let go.   So my latest question has been how am I going to get through the holidays without her, and have an attitude of joy?

            Joy, as I have often said in my talks and writings, is different from happiness.  Joy is something that lies deep within us and that endures, even when our circumstances aren't happy.  Joy doesn't depend on your circumstances; instead, it can thrive despite your circumstances.

            Having joy in my heart doesn't mean I won't grieve.  It doesn't mean I'm going to put on a smile and a "happier than thou" attitude.  I won't fake my way through the day, or the weeks to come.  But through grief, I know deep down that while I may hurt now, there is hope.  I will see my grandma again.   I'll sit at the table with her some day, and feast.  Jesus is saving me a place.  And because of that, even though my heart is hurting, I am not filled with despair.

            God-willing, I will get up on Thanksgiving morning and watch the parade with my kids.  I'll prepare a few side dishes and take them to my parents, where we will sit down to a wonderful home-cooked meal.  When I see my grandma's place empty, I'll probably cry.  But at the same time, I'll be sitting across from my dad, who has been healed of cancer.  I'll be sitting next to my boys, who are the lights of my life. I will eat my mom's good home-cooked meal (prepared allergy-free, just for me) and toast my husband of 21 years.  I'll be able to look out the window at my very old, but very lively horse, and know that all is good.

            My grandma gave me memories.  She made me home-cooked meals.  She was the first to open up her farm to my horses, which became a big love of mine.  She taught me about family, and love, and life.  My grandma spent a lifetime loving me and nurturing me, and I would do her a disservice if I let my grief drown me.  Part of who I am and what I am, is because of her.

            So Nanny, in your honor, I'm all about attitude this November.  I'm going to rejoice and hug my family members, and eat a hearty meal.   I know you'll be smiling down at me.