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Women Encouraging Women to Follow Christ
What Are You Wearing?
I've always been somewhat 'Fashion-Challenged'.
But, pu-leese! Could someone not have told me how this would one day come back to haunt me? I hate to confess, but this was not a one-time apparition. Knee-highs. I had about seven pairs and loved to wear them with my tennies and shorts. Oh-yeah. I was stylin'.
I liked comfort. Seriously, my favorite outfit was this one. Bib overalls and cowboy shirt. I also created the not-so- fashionable 'layered look' of oversized t-shirt on top of longsleeved blouses. Uh-huh. The really cute layered look the young things do today? Me - Not so much. Then there was my absolute favorite - the one my mother called my 'ugly shirt' - but we won't go down that rabbit trail.
 Hair and make-up were not my strong suits, either. I thought as I got older I would get more fashion sense.  I was wrong. {Warning: do not try at home. Humiliation could result. These pictures are professional and were not photo-shopped.}
It seemed even when I managed to clean myself up I didn't know how to behave.
I'm so thankful God doesn't look at the outward appearance, but at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). That He tells us not to worry about what we wear because our life is more than food or clothing (Matt. 6:25).
I want to be arrayed in a beautiful white garment (Rev. 2:5). So I think I'll put on love (Col 3:14) and tender mercies (Col 3:112). I'll put on righteousness (Eph 6:14) and holiness (Eph 4:24). Because when I put on Christ (Rom 13:14) I'm a new woman (2 Cor 4:17) with a new name (Is 62:2-4).
Hephzibah - "My delight is in her"
All for Him Missy
Labels: Missy
Failing Well!
This past weekend, I was watching my son play the video game Guitar Hero III. He had just bought it the day before and was eagerly trying to 'beat' the game. Now, in order to do this, he had to successfully complete a great number of songs. One in particular seemed to be giving him more of a challenge than he wanted. At least, that is what I discerned from his cries of defeat...borderline deafening!
I calmly encouraged him to keep trying while simultaneously suggesting that it might be time for a 'game break'. (That, incidentally, is a euphemism for "if you don't settle down, you will put that game away for the rest of your life"). The more he tried, the more determined he became. He actually did settle down and into what seemed to be an intentional strategic approach to achieving 'victory'.
I began to relish this journey he was taking from the agony of defeat to, hopefully, the thrill of victory. Of course, as a mom, I was hoping victory would come really fast! Honestly, I didn't even know what to look for to know if he had won or not. (Most of these games are so confusing to me, and I am kind of in awe of his abilities to do them at all). I needn't have worried about that. When he finally did win, the whoops and hollers of that much awaited victory could not be ignored or misunderstood. When he won, he immediately turned toward me. Oh, to hear his sweet voice and to see his glowing face in that moment...priceless! I was so glad I could experience it with him. I rejoiced with him and then said, "Don't those failed tries make your victory feel even sweeter?!" At first, no...he didn't think so, but then...yes, he admitted that the failures did make his victory feel even bigger.
Now, I know this story simply involves a video game...nothing major. But I truly loved the teachable moment I had with my son. More than that, I loved watching his journey. What I saw happening was a young teen who was feeling such defeat, but who refused to give up because he was determined to win. In his journey of determination, his anger turned to a new resolve...that of a more quiet perseverance. This finally led to victory. To be able to talk about the importance of that victorious journey rather than the actual 'win' over that song was so meaningful to me.
This is not the first time my son and I have used his video game frustrations to carve out a metaphor for victorious journeys in life - journeys from failure to victory - journeys that truly help us to know that it is the failures that cause the victories to taste even sweeter.
I find myself reminded by my son's experiences to not let the fear of failure keep me from taking the journey of quiet perseverance. It is in these journeys that God is able to show me that His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses. (2 Cor. 12:9) If I truly want to experience God doing a BIG victory in me and through me, then I have to be willing to fail BIG rather than to not try at all! Not trying is quite possibly the biggest defeat.
Thanks for reading,
Libby
Labels: Libby
Giving Thanks
Okay, so I have recently starting going to the gym (ugh) and have been pretty committed so far. What I've discovered is that I really can't get through a workout without having water. There's this skinny little thing (ugh) who I'm sure is a wonderful girl, but she's in there every day, running (ugh) at like 7 mph for an hour straight. No joke. And, no water for her. Not me. Twenty minutes of brisk walking and you'd think I had been out in the Sahara for a few days dying in the desert. Now, not only do I need this water, but I am very particular about what it comes in. I have tried multiple water bottles. No straws, nothing that I have to suck on to get water to come out, no twist tops - they just don't work. I have a cheap little one that the top pops up and I squeeze it and voila, water.
So I'm rushing around in the morning, trying to get my stuff together and planning to hit the gym after work. And I can't find my water bottle. I checked the car, the dishwasher, the gym bag, the cupboards, and no luck. And, for one of the few times in my life when I've been unable to find something, I'm actually relatively calm. (I seriously have broken down and cried over not being able to find something that was relocated a few minutes later). So I just decide that I don't have time to find it and I need to put on my shoes and head off to work. I open the closet, find my shoes out of the massive pile of footwear, and I just so happen to look up and see my beloved water bottle sitting on the shelf above the coats.
And, the cool thing was my reaction. Immediately the words "Thanks God!" came out of my mouth. Now, I'd love to tell you it's because I've got 1 Thessalonians 5:18 nailed down, where I truly "give thanks in all circumstances." Actually, it's the opposite. This idea of thankfulness has been on my mind lately, especially about being thankful in all circumstances. I've been trying to learn this in little pieces. I'm thankful for the obvious stuff. For friends, for family, for the big things I see God doing in my life. Not too hard. So I decided to try being thankful for the little things, what I would normally take for granted, and recognize them as things to be appreciative of. Like finding a close parking space when it's pouring down rain or seeing that chicken's on sale again at Kroger when my freezer's empty. And so by being intentional about telling God thanks for these little things in my life I thought it was so cool that on that morning, in the chaos and frustration of not being able to find a stupid water bottle that when I found it, my reaction was one of thanks. It's starting to come from the heart now, not from forcing myself to do it.
The next step of course is learning to be thankful for the tough stuff. For the things that make me cry or get me upset and for situations in life that don't go the way I think God should make them go. But the amazing part is that God can do this in my life. If my heart is willing and open to let Him work in my life, He can change me. After all, I was thankful for a water bottle.
EmilyLabels: Emily
Confessions of a Peace Lover...
http://www.crown.org/Tools/personality.aspx
I came upon this web-site several years ago. It has many wonderful tools, but the one I've had the most fun with is the personality assessment. I took one for myself, and then proceeded to take one for each member of my household (and when they took it for themselves it came as no surprise to see that the mama had them all figured out...well mostly=).
The funny thing for me was that the test results showed my personality as an "Encourager" something I never saw myself as and, consequently, had been praying for God to develop in my life. Seeing my strengths and struggles in black and white was such an eye-opener!
So what are you waiting for? Let me "encourage" you to take the test already! I'll wait...go...NOW!
There, that wasn't so hard was it?
As you read over your strengths -and struggles - are you assessing them in areas of your life? Mine said I "shy away from conflict"...hello...if you've read any of my previous blogs you'll know that was right on! But we aren't made aware of struggles so we can sit and stew in them. I honestly believe that God shines His light on these areas so we can acknowledge them, learn how to overcome them, and grow! Same with our strengths, it's not enough to possess them; we need to be good stewards of the gifts and abilities that God has placed in us.
Take a moment to review your list in regards to three areas of your life:
1. Personally - at home and in close relationships. 2. Professionally - think about the place you receive a paycheck from...are you working in your area of strength, are you getting to use your gifts? If not, I'll bet you don't like your job very much! 3. Ministry - where are you giving your time? Are you simply filling in a vacant spot or are you using the wonderful gifts that God has placed in you for the benefit of others?
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...Psalm 139:13-14a
Until next time...BethLabels: Beth
Just A Mom
A number of years ago, I was in my kitchen attempting one of my perilous cooking adventures and it succeeded beyond even my expectations. I was ecstatic that in throwing what ingredients I had on hand together, my dessert had actually turned out.
The only one home to share my triumph was my then three-year old daughter who was seated at our kitchen table. I picked her up, twirled her around and kissed the top of her head before setting her back in her seat.
"You," I announced grandly, "have an amazing mother!"
"Uh-uh." Her fervent disagreement set me aback.
'She doesn't understand the word amazing', I thought, so I got down on my knees beside her and explained, "I'm a wonderful mother."
"No you not." She shook her head, then blinked her big round blue eyes at me. "You just a mom."
I've had my share of those 'just a mom' days. Up all night with a fussy or sick baby, chasing after toddlers and breaking up fights between siblings. Going through the 'when does it get easier' woes that turned to blues when I realized it doesn't. The 2 am panics wondering 'where are they?" and biting my tongue over wrecked vehicles and speeding tickets, first loves and road trips.
I like to say that I loved every minute of it - but of course I didn't. I did love nearly every minute of it and tried to enjoy each phase of their life knowing it was going by in a blur. I'd do it over in a heartbeat - and sometimes found myself wishing I could, worrying that I had failed to teach them this truth about God or helped them develop that strength or gift.
They are all grown up now, my children, and its pretty quiet around here. I get phone calls, emails, and share the excitement of their lives on Facebook and the occasional visits when I get the chance. I still enjoy every - nearly - minute of it and am thankful that even if the colors of it have changed a little, being a mom doesn't end, its just another phase to thoroughly enjoy. And you know what? Despite my failures and all my worrying - those kids of mine turned out pretty good.
I always thought it couldn't get any better than being 'just a mom'. And then, a week ago, in a special moment between my daughter and I she wrapped her arms around me and with tears in those big blue eyes declared, "Mom, you're amazing!"
Oh, it gets better, ladies. Indeed, it does.
All for Him, Missy
Labels: Missy
What Language Are You Speaking?
Not too long ago I saw a snippet of the TV reality show American Idol where a contestant that had been turned down for the show made a remark to the judges that they took as a threat. Turns out 'Be Careful' is a colloquialism in that part of the country, a farewell as much as 'Take Care' or 'See Ya Later' might be. We live in the same country, but do we speak the same language?
One of the cultural shocks when we lived in the South was this language barrier. A young teenager spoke to me and because I didn't hear what she said I replied, "Pardon me?" It greatly offended her and I remember thinking - 'huh?'
I wonder if non-believers think the same way about Christians. I've been guilty of speaking 'Christianese' - a language a select few really grasp and understand - confusing those around me with their faces clearly depicting - 'What in the world are you talking about?'
We understand international cultural differences, but sometimes we overlook the cultural differences in our own back yard. As Christians, are we wearing 'Cultural Blinders' that cause us to see only our own narrow view? I'm not talking about compromising our faith or beliefs; I'm talking about understanding our neighbors.
I lived in Taiwan as a child in a walled-in compound, with bars on the windows. One day, my brother and I were playing kickball and the ball sailed over the wall. We could hear shouts of children so off we went to check it out - and to get our ball back! In the church yard next door there were about half a dozen Chinese children running around - laughing, and playing, and kicking our ball. We didn't know any Chinese - and they didn't know any English, but that didn't stop us from communicating in a universal language of children everywhere - fun! I have no idea what we said to each other, no idea about the rules or even the game we were playing, but that day is one of the fondest of my childhood.
We use words to communicate, but sometimes we miscommunicate. We think we are saying one thing, and the other person hears something totally different. It happens in all our relationships, but I think it is especially sad as we try to communicate God's love to the world given through His Son Jesus. According to John 13:35 love is our calling card (By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another). Love should be seen, and felt, and identified as love before words are ever spoken.
It's the only thing that can bridge the cultural gap.
All for Him,
MissyLabels: Missy
Master of the Wind...Whether (Weather) I like It or Not!
"The steady drumming of the raindrops creates a soothing, almost hypnotic effect over me...", or something similar to this quote is what I wrote the other day. HOWEVER...the raucous wind that we endured during the night recently had NO soothing, hypnotic effect. I found myself wishing I could rock myself to sleep...knowing that would only work if I used REAL rocks. I found myself lying in bed (or is it 'laying'?...I'm always confused by this area of grammar), hoping that our home was like that of the third little pig's built out of bricks and not like those of his two foolish brothers, Mr. Straw and Mr. Sticks. Would the 'huffing and puffing' never cease?! Oh, the strange thoughts that go through my head when I am trying to find sleep in the midst of a scary storm! I found myself laughing...mostly at myself for really resembling an immature child rather than a wise parent who trusts God to handle the weather scenario. Through the brief laughing, however, I was indeed reminded that "even the wind and the waves obey Him" (Mark 4:41).
As I lay there allowing the God of all comfort to speak to what felt like 'stupid' fear in my soul, I realized that He took me seriously. He didn't (and won't ever) look upon this fear as stupid, but rather as something from which He could minister to me, and as something from which I could learn a thing or two from Him. Now this particular lesson may sound a bit strange, but hang in there with me. I found myself thinking that maybe the enemy would delight in destroying me and my family through this storm. Of course he would. And then my sweet Jesus reminded me that the enemy can do nothing without my Lord's permission. The enemy is absolutely powerless over the Lord and therefore powerless over me because I belong to Jesus. He bought me (and YOU) with His precious blood. The salvation I received from Him long ago not only secures my place with Him for all of eternity, but also secures me in my daily wanderings here on earth. Jesus is not only my 'heavenly' salvation; He is my 'earthly' salvation as well. He saves me from something every day. Sometimes it is simply Him saving me from myself. Honestly, sometimes I think I can be my greatest enemy! Praise God, He is my 'daily' Savior...my Savior in circumstances that would otherwise prove overwhelming and impossible.
This particular storm, like so many other storms in my life, simply revealed my never-ending need for God - not just a need for Him to do His work, but rather a deep need for HIM. I guess I kind of picture a loving parent just sitting beside me, holding my hand, and saying, "Don't worry; I will stay with you through this storm". That PRESENCE is enough...especially when I know that the presence with me is indeed God, Himself...the One in complete control...the perfect Lover of my soul and of my family...the One Who gives and takes away, and ALWAYS knows what He is doing and why...the One Who knows how the storm will end and why it must be so. And so, my recent stormy night became the kind of journey that moves me from immature child to wise parent who trusts God...again.
Doing life with you,
LibbyLabels: Libby
Email Forwards
Ah...email forwards. The funny jokes, the crazy pictures you know are photo-shopped, and the ones that promise that your life will be awful unless you forward it to 20 more people in the next 5 minutes. I am a recipient of these daily. And I don't really mind these forwards, I'll read them for a moment's entertainment, but what I mind is having to scroll through the people before who have forwarded it. You know, where there's so many names and email addresses that you wonder if there is actually a point where you'll get to the information in the email. C'mon people, how hard is it to delete?! So, I got this forward the other day and I'm scrolling...and scrolling...and scrolling, and somewhere in the middle I come upon a quote that someone must put on the bottom of every email they send that said:
A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man has to seek Him first to find her.
And, in the amazing way that God does things, a few days later a friend of mine mentions that she heard this awesome quote and it really stuck with her...and of course it's the same one that had been sticking with me. She (also named Emily) commented that it really got her thinking about identity and where she finds hers. How cool is it that God is trying to teach His Emilys at the same time about hiding our hearts in Him? Even though she is 18, single, and still in high school and I'm in my twenties and newly married, we still have the same lesson to learn. And I think it's a lesson God will have to continue to teach me as the years go on.
God knows our hearts, He made our hearts, and He knows how fragile and tender and easily broken and hurt mine is...and that so often I try to hide it in my husband. I find so much of who I am in who I am married to, not in Who has given me life. My heart, who I am, my hopes, my desires, my hurts, should be hidden in Christ and not any other human being. Why? Because He's the only one big enough to handle all of it, and He's truly the only safe place for it.
I was talking to my husband about this, how I struggle with looking to him and not to God, and that quite honestly I find probably 75% of my identity in him. Immediately a look of panic came across his face, and I could see what he was thinking in his eyes, "I'm gonna let her down." And I realized that by doing that I am setting my husband up to fail. How completely unfair is that? It's so easy to do, because he's there, he's this physical person I can talk to and lean on and embrace, and he is so wonderful and sweet and caring. But as amazing as my husband is, GOD IS SO MUCH MORE! And by placing my heart in his hands and not in God's, he will eventually let me down. Not on purpose, not because he wants to, but because he is only human. God is ready and waiting for me to let Him define me, to find my identity in Him, to hide my heart in Him. In fact, He's made me so that I will only find complete satisfaction when I do so.
And when my heart is hidden in Him, my husband knows exactly where to find it.EmilyLabels: Emily
Confessions of a Peace Lover...
You want to strike fear in the hearts of many...mention the word accountability! It's a very scary thing to think about.
I think for most people the word congers up a big finger pointing at you saying "you are WRONG AGAIN!" After all that's what holding someone accountable is, right? Letting them know when they're wrong? Well, if you love Webster as much as I love do you've already started to look up the word accountability. Guess what? That word is not in my dictionary, but the word accountable is. It simply means responsible...uh-oh, another word to look up...some of the meanings of responsible are: expected or obliged to account (for); answerable (to); able to distinguish between right and wrong; dependable; reliable. And since it has its roots in the word respond let's take a look at that one: to answer; reply; react.
Hmmm. This is sounding a little better all the time. Maybe we need to start calling accountability groups "reliability" or "first responder" groups. That's really what they are. A dependable, reliable person, or group of people, who are there for you, who have your best interest at heart and who trust you to reply to them in the same way.
That's what accountability has come to mean to me. Oh don't get me wrong, they will tell me if I'm wrong! Remember, Proverbs 27:6 tells us "wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." But they also let me know when I'm right on track. And they cheer me on when I'm ready to give up. And they love me, and laugh with me, and cry with me, and rejoice with me. Since they've been here for the long haul they understand the little victories and all the work and tears and prayer that went into them.
I am a better person today, a better wife, a better mom, a better friend, because of the relationships I have that are rooted in God's word and grounded in accountability.
Does that mean I'm getting it all right, all the time? Nope, accountability isn't Heaven! But being a part of a caring group gives me the boundaries I need to help me when I get distracted and start wandering of the path God has set before me while I'm still here on earth.
So how about you...do you have people in your life who will love you when you're not feeling so loveable? Will they tell you when you're wrong? Will they rejoice with you in the big stuff AND the small stuff? Will they accept correction from you?
God doesn't want us to walk this path alone. He made us to be in fellowship, first with Him, and then with His other kids. Living in harmony, its part of the way He brings peace to our lives...even in the midst of a storm!
Until next time...
BethLabels: Beth
Behind the Scenes
Our 4th annual Circle of Friends Women's Conference on February 7th with speaker Sheila Walsh was a great success! I thought you might enjoy a look at a little of what was happening behind the scenes.
 The 'lads' joined us from the UK. This was our band for the conference. They joined with the Circle of Friends worship team and brought us some awesome worship!
 John Perry is a worship leader from the UK and wrote the worship song Forever. he also wrote Pour Your Love Down and Only The Best and produced the companion cd to our devotional book, A Place To Belong (have you gotten your copy yet?) Before the conference there was a lot of practicing going on, With sound checks...  And collaboration between the Brits and the Yanks,
 With a lot of hard work and decisions to make. But there was also picture taking... And photo shoots.
 And good friends, old and new.
With lots of laughter
And genuine joy in the process.
But the best part was laying it all before the Lord and watching Him work! What about you - did you attend the conference? How did the Lord bless you?
All for Him, Missy
Labels: Missy
Real Love
As a child and young adult I never thought of my parents as 'real people' - they were just Mom and Dad - and old. Too old for me to ever picture them as young and in love! My whole perspective changed shortly after my mother's death when I read a letter she had written to my dad a year after they were married. She was a warbride and he was a soldier who shipped out three weeks after their wedding. 1 Corinthians 13 describes love as 'always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, always persevering'. Elspeth demonstrated that kind of love for Frank. She would kill me if she knew I was posting her private thoughts - but it's so poignantly beautiful and courageous that I'm going to do it anyway!
My Darling,
Let's dream awhile - our thoughts drift back to February 1943. That unforgettable Wednesday. From the cold and windy dawn when we left for Saginaw until we fell asleep in a moon drenched room. That whole perfect day. I'd like to tell you how I felt that day. The peace that filled my heart. Mom said I wasn't any good at all for several days before.
From the moment we talked to you until the day you arrived home. First I had to have some new clothes and then I couldn't do anything for anticipation, very flighty except in knowing what I wanted - our marriage. I had no patience at all for all the people around the afternoon you did arrive. Wanted you all to myself. I've learned what patience means in the past year, what it means to wait for a letter, word of my loved one, not knowing where he might be, waiting for him to come to me.
Our visits that evening and not breathing a word to anyone. How surprised Dad was the next morning. Nice of him to be our chauffeur. Saginaw, Bay City, deciding on the ring - home to lunch. So much fun to decide things as we came to them. And I remember thinking as I went through Unionville, 'Everything that is happening today is indelibly printed on my mind, the way things look, the people we’ve seen.'
The flowers, Howletts, and then to the Court House. Dad talking to the Judge, the Clerk and back to the Judge and then the Clerk again. Arrangements for photos and I'm so glad we did get them. How the arrangements were made. Very neatly done, Honey. I'll always remember the expression on your face when you saw me in my wedding gown. "I do" or "I will" or whatever it is one says. I didn't know how right that would be. Trying to tell myself it was true. Much less excited than I thought I'd be. Waiting in the car for you when we went up to have our pictures taken. Too tired and content to want anything except to come home with you.
Our Sunday morning stroll - "For Me and My Gal." Reading the funnies together. I never read them now but I remember that. The next leg of the journey I very much enjoyed. Our twilight stroll in the park. Our struggle to get aboard the train and how you laughed at me.
Why write more? These words don't begin to express my feelings. The pride I have in you. How much I love you. I love to travel with you, Honey. That trip down - our three weeks together were heaven. So many highlights I can't begin to mention them. All gathered together in that last Sunday we spent together. Happiness as I've never known before.
And so a year has passed. A year of working, fighting, praying for the peace this country is fighting for. Working, waiting, praying for you to come safely home to me.
On this, our paper wedding anniversary, there is something special I'd like to do with you. There's a waltz, "The Anniversary Waltz." I'd like to dance the Anniversary Waltz with you. Won't you take a few minutes and just imagine we are dancing it together? I'll do likewise.
I love you, my Darling, all the things you are - your courage, strength, your sweetness - everything about you. Your loving me, your belief in me, have helped me so much this past year. It's so much harder to imagine where you are or how you are. I've never lost my belief. Frank will come safely home. I just know it, and I'll be waiting. And ahead of us are all the years to come - together.
All my love always,
Your Elspeth
To all those who sacrifice for our freedom, and their heroes they left here at home -
Thank you.
All For Him
MissyLabels: Missy
True Truth...
I'm sitting in the recliner-reading...and enjoying this rainy day. It is early in the morning, and I have the fireplace cranked up. It's supposed to hit sixty degrees today...but not yet! I just need some 'coziness' for what feels like a chilled body. Listening to rain pelt against the window panes has always been a pleasure for me, and today is no different. Maybe it's the steady drumming of the raindrops creating a soothing, almost hypnotic effect over me. All is right in my world-at least in this moment.
My mind drifts to a recent conversation I had with a dear friend. She asked me if I had received results from a pathology report done on an area of growth removed from my neck. I told her 'not yet', and that I wasn't the least bit concerned about it. Honestly, I hadn't even thought about it. I said I was convinced it was nothing, but even if it did turn out to be 'something', I would be so okay with that. I joked with her that I just wanted to live long enough to be debt-free when I die-don't want to leave a legacy of debt! (Big laugh...)
Later that day, I began to think more seriously about the potential outcome of that pathology report. What if the results were serious...even life-threatening? Would I really be okay with that? As I continued in this new direction of thought, I found myself admitting to the Lord - "I'm a coward!" Now I really began to question just how I would handle such a truth. Could this be 'fear' now creeping in...threatening to bombard me?
Thankfully, I realized that all of these new thoughts were merely that-thoughts. They were not my current truth. My current truth was that I did not know for a fact just what had been taken out of my neck. My current truth was that I had been given this day, this time, this moment that the Lord had made-and I would rejoice and be glad in it. There is no harm in me thinking about 'possibilities', but there could be great harm if I turn those 'possibilities' into 'truths' that don't actually exist. Doing so tarnishes my point of view and keeps me from thinking clearly and hopefully.
I may not yet know the truth about that place that was removed from my neck, but I know THE Truth-Jesus Christ. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and in control of all things. He both knows and holds my future. I must choose to live in His moments of true truth and not conjure up my own version of truth based on unknowns or wishful thinking. I must allow Him to help me live out the truth of Philippians 4: 4-7... "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)LibbyLabels: Libby
Fail Safe
I recently was sent an email full of pictures like this.
Hilarious moments where things didn't quite work out as intended.
 (You gotta feel bad for that poor kid kicking the ball into his face!)
 And we all can relate. I could have a book full of the stupid things I've done.Actually, I have snapshots like these in my head. Things I've done or said that I've stamped a big fat "Fail" across. Seriously, like stupid things I said when I was 13. I still haven't gotten over the humiliation and regret!
Aren't you glad God doesn't have a wall of pictures of His kids doing stupid things reminding Him of how we've failed? That He wants us to rip up those pictures of those moments we keep of ourselves?
My mind went to the verse that says God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. I found it in Psalm 103 and read the whole chapter...and read it again...and again. Wow. We mess up so much in this life but we have a God who forgives our sins and casts them away from us. He cleanses us completely. Those pictures don't even exist. And whenever I picture those times of failure it is not my God putting it in my head. It's our mutual enemy seeking to drive a wedge between me and my Heavenly Father.
There's no reason for me to hold onto those photos. God doesn't. And reminding myself of those failures only keeps me from truly experiencing His grace and mercy like He wants me to.
No, God definitely doesn't have a wall of pictures like these. In fact, I like to think He has a refrigerator for each one of us, covered with pictures of us that have made Him smile.
Emily Labels: Emily
Confessions of a Peace Lover...
Peace: (according to Webster) 1. freedom from war 2. an agreement to end war 3. law and order 4. harmony; concord 5. serenity or quiet
While I have come to enjoy "serenity or quiet", the first two or three decades of my life "peace" was more about the 1st definition. Freedom from war to me meant freedom from fighting. I think I may have even thought it was a sin to fight or disagree!
I grew up in a very peaceful, peace-loving, home. Honestly, I don't remember ever hearing my parents argue. My mom had a passive personality and my dad's wishes were the rule at our house. Fortunately, he was a God-fearing man who also desired peace, not a dictator who ruled with an iron fist. The problem I see that stems from growing up in a household like that was that I never learned to resolve conflict.
Conflict was something to be avoided - at all costs - and so I became a "peace at any cost" personality. I said yes, even if I wanted to say no. If there was conflict I distanced myself from the relationship (ever heard of the silent treatment? I'm sure that was invented by someone who hated conflict as much as me!). That can work, as long as you never want to get married...or have children...or have friendships that you desire to maintain long term.
Conflict happens. That's life. Usually it's not the conflict that is the issue, it's how the conflict is dealt with - ignoring it only means it will have time to grow before it finds its way back - and it WILL find its way back.
I realize now that conflict is simply part of God's plan to grow us. He gives us little problems in life so that we can learn how to handle life's big problems!
I tell my firstborn that God gave her 4 siblings so that she could have a better mom. As our eldest's "piece of the pie" became smaller the "peace" in our home became smaller too. God forced my hand! Thru parenting He finally got me to see that conflict can't be avoided. But He loved me enough to make sure that I would be surrounded by a caring group of His followers (in my case it was an accountability group) to walk me thru the stormy conflicts I'd been avoiding.
So there...confession time from this former "peace at any cost" personality. It doesn't mean I now enjoy conflict, but it does mean I've learned that true peace often comes as a result of conflict.
Next time I'll tell you about the accountability group that walked me thru my storm.
Until then...
Beth
Labels: Beth
Slightly Off Balance
"Missy, you are moderately right-hemisphere dominant and have even preferences between auditory and visual processing, traits that might make people perceive you as "slightly off balance." So say the experts at http://mindmedia.com/braintest.html - a left-brain/right-brain personality test. It goes on to tell me quirks I didn't recognize in myself, but ends with this last sentence, "Your own personal adjustment to your style should come naturally although you are likely to feel frustrated by your own limited discipline and often wonder 'Why?'"
Hmmm. Maybe they have me pegged, after all - at least about the whole 'limited discipline' thing. Discipline for myself is hard enough, but I found as a mother that lacking discipline in me made it hard for me to instill it in my children. As a mom, how many times a day do you find yourself repeating things over and over - pick up your toys, did you brush your teeth, clean your room - and then follow along behind them to make sure they did it?
Okay, I confess, I'm a slacker. The not following through part caught up with me. By the time my kids were teenagers I had learned to shut their bedroom doors. That worked only so long. One day, even I had enough. They came home to find this tacked onto their closed doors:
NOTICE
THIS ROOM IS HEREBY
CONDEMNED
BY ORDER OF THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES OF THIS BUILDING OCCUPANTS HAVE
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
BY WHICH TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS OF SAID AUTHORITY TO FUMIGATE, STERILIZE, DISINFECT, DECONTAMINATE, AND GENERALLY RESTORE TO ORDER SAID PREMISES.
IF IN GIVEN TIME ALLOTMENT OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH DEMANDS STATED HEREWITH, OCCUPANTS ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS TO SAID ROOM, OR POSSIBLE WORK DETAIL TO MEET SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS.
GIVEN BY ORDER OF AND SUBJECT TO HEALTH AND WELFARE DIRECTOR: MOM
(c) Copyright 2000 Melissa E Horsfall
Yup. They probably had the part about being 'slightly off balance' right too!
All for Him,
Missy
Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:12 (NIV)
Labels: Missy
Yes (Wo)Man
A movie recently came out called "Yes Man." It's about a guy who has settled in life. He won't say yes to anyone or anything; he won't commit to anyone or anything. He lives his life by himself, all alone, working the 9-5 then living the rest of his life on his couch, refusing to do a whole lot outside of his normal routine. Even his few friends have just about given up on him completely. When it seems as though all hope is lost for this guy, he's encouraged by a former acquaintance to attend a "Yes" seminar and promised that it will change his life.
"I want you to invite 'yes' into your life," says the conference leader, "because it will always RSVP 'yes.'"
He is supposed to accept every opportunity that presents itself after that point, no matter what it is. Even if it seems like not such a good idea, it will work out for good because of the power of "yes."
"Yes! I want you to say it a million times. Say it a million more times, and the word you will have said 2 million times is yes!"
While I laughed (a lot) at that quote, I soon started to wonder how many times I have said yes to God. I can tell you right now of a couple instances recently where I said no. I'd felt little nudges to do things - to write a note of encouragement to a girl at work, to stop and actually have a conversation with the Wal--Mart greeter who was surviving the cold lobby - and I said no. What God could have done through me if I had just said yes!!! Sure, the Wal-Mart lady may have looked at me strangely or my co-worker may have felt awkward around me, but what if they didn't? What if they got just a tiny little piece of God's love and they started seeking more of it?
The power of yes in my life if I used it in response to the Lord, I'’m sure, would blow me away. Sitting here thinking that the God of the universe wants to use me at all, to let me be a part of His plan to work His purpose out simply amazes me. And the fact that I say no makes me realize what an idiot I really am.
I want to say yes to God a million times, and then say it a million more times! To respond like Mary when the angel came to her, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) To say, "Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening" when I hear Him calling me (1 Samuel 3:10) To be like Abraham, when the Lord tells him to do the hardest thing he could possibly do by sacrificing his son, and just get up and go. (Genesis 22:2-3)
We used to sing a simple chorus that went like this:: "I'll say yes, Lord, yes to Your will and to Your way. I'll say yes, Lord, yes. I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes." I want that to be the cry of my heart. I want to be a Yes Woman.
Emily
Labels: Emily
Confessions of a Peace Lover...
Okay, okay, I confess...I am a mama that likes PEACE!!!! As I sit here this morning - the first morning since before the Christmas break that I am truly at home, alone, with no where to go - I feel a little selfish in admitting just how much I am enjoying the quiet. And it seems rather strange that I am enjoying it so much when, without a doubt, I LOVED having all my kids home over Christmas, and was sad to see the older ones head back to college. My favorite memories are full of people - family vacations at the beach, Christmas morning, our kid's birthday parties, worshiping with a body of believers, all of these things include people and activity and noise!
So why is today so special, why is the quiet so appealing, why do I think I could really get use to this...perhaps because I know I can't? Am I guilty of always wanting what I can't have? Or, am I just enjoying the gift of today? The gift of quiet; of solitude; of peace.
There is a reason why God tells us in His word to "be still...and know... " He IS God of the "noise", of the activity that involves His kids in relationship with one another. But He is also a very personal God, who knows that we can best know Him in the quiet, in the stillness, in that "peace" of the day.
This past month has been so filled with activity that those quiet, still, peaceful times I've come to cherish have been harder to come by. My days have ended later, which for me means my mornings have started later. And morning is the time I love to sit and read, and pray, and drink my coffee...all by myself, before the first peep comes from one of my chicks.
Would I trade the activity of the past 4 weeks for those quiet mornings I missed out on? No, I really do love having all my chicks in the nest; having places to go and people to see. And as I look back I can see how creative God was in giving me moments of quiet with Him. I may have been out of my routine, but I was not out of my relationship with my heavenly Dad.
Yes, peace is one of the things on my "favorites" list. Always has been...but next time I write I think I'll let you in on a little secret...I think it's time for me to confess the fact that "peace" didn't always mean the same to me as it does today...
Until then...
Beth
Labels: Beth
Stepping Out
The first step, they say, is the hardest. Think of rappelling - stepping off the edge of the cliff, or skydiving - a leap into thin air, or bungee-jumping...well, you get the picture. Will the rope hold, the parachute open or the bungee bounce? All relevant questions for me today as I begin this new - and slightly terrifying - adventure of Blogging. More questions plague my mind. Will I have anything witty to say? Will my words even be read? Will anyone leave a comment...the insecurities are endless.
Recently the leadership team at Circle of Friends have been talking about the things we struggle with - things like insecurity, fear, shame, rejection, feelings of worthlessness, sadness and despair. Does this surprise you? For me, one of the biggest blessings of hanging out with the ladies on the COF board is that they have this burning passion to follow God wholeheartedly, and yet they are real and honest about the struggles they face in doing so. "Authentic, accountable to one another, encouraging examples of faithfulness, and just downright fun!" would be my description of these precious ladies.
In my ever-increasing circle of friends I'm finding that we have so much in common; we all struggle with the everyday battle of our selfish 'fleshishness' (Like it? I just made that word up!) Really, if we're honest with ourselves and others, our first response is all about me; it takes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit for us to know and act upon the fact that it's all about Christ and His glory.
I don't know about you, but for me, sharing this journey with someone else makes that 'first step' - whether that's a new challenge, a new discipline or making changes, accepting comfort or sharing joys as well as sorrows - so much easier when we are not facing it alone.
So, ladies - welcome to our Circle of Friends. You truly have found a Place to Belong. Come back often. We'll be here - 'stepping out' in faith, love and encouragement for one another.
All for Him,
Missy
When people's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with their ways. Psalm 37:23 (NCV)Labels: Missy
Welcome to Our New Look
Welcome to Circle of Friends blog!
So, here I am, standing at my closet looking for (and not finding) something to wear. Been there? These pants are too small, this shirt the wrong color, that doesn't fit, too old, out of style, too new, I'm saving that for something special, too hot to wear that, too cold for this, too casual, too dressy...By now I've tossed my whole wardrobe out of the closet over my shoulder and onto the floor. Time to go shopping? Not really practical. Then it occurs to me - maybe what I need is not new clothes, but a 'new me'!
Do you ever feel like that's what you need in your spiritual life? A fresh start, a 'spring cleaning' for your soul? You've come to the right place! Circle of Friends has started a new blog (this one) with a number of contributors so check back to see what's happening. We also have daily refreshment in the Word (check out our link to the devotionals).
There's a lot of excitement going on around here. A new devotional book - A Place to Belong, Sharing Life With Circle of Friends - is now available. Included in the book is a worship CD by Circle of Friends Worship team that features their new release, Forever. They will be also be recording a live album at the Sheila Walsh conference that will be released this fall. You can listen to Circle of Friends weekdays at 10:00am on WNPQ The Light 95.9 fm.
So check us out. We'd love to hear from you. Do you have the gift of writing and want to submit a devotional? Send an email to missy@circleoffriends.fm to get our writers' guidelines. Have a friend you want to suggest for our 'Friends Spotlight'? Check back for more info or send an email to the link above.
Thanks for dropping in. See you soon!Labels: Missy
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