On Christmas morning after all the gifts had been opened, our sunroom was full of children’s treasures. At one point, Sugar Plum surveyed the room, taking in the newness of the dolls, dollhouses, games, clothes, and craft kits. Shortly thereafter, she ran over and gave me an enormous hug and as she squeezed me she exclaimed, “Mommy, this is the best day ever!”

The next day as our family was en route to a fun Christmas gathering, from the back of the van Sugar Plum once again announced, “This is the best day ever!” After JT and I exchanged a knowing glance, he looked into the rearview mirror, caught Sugar Plum’s eye and said, “Today is the best day ever? Hmmm, I thought that was yesterday!” Without a thought, Sugar Plum offered a huge smile and cheerily informed us that “every day is my best day!”

Even in their simplicity, the words of a child often carry more wisdom than the words of an adult! A child’s naturally happy disposition and positive outlook makes it easy for the little one to view the world as a place of joy, happiness, and splendor. God desires that all of us, no matter what our age, adopt this joyful attitude daily. In Psalm 118:24, David reminds us of the importance of making each day our best day.

Some may wonder if it is possible for us to rejoice when the day brings disaster, discouragement, or doubt. Yes, it is possible and a little book of the Bible shows us why we can rejoice in the midst of sadness. Throughout its five short chapters, the book of Lamentations provides a sobering and gruesome account of what the Jews witnessed and felt as their city, Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25).

Lamentations describes how the citizens of Jerusalem watched in horror as people were slaughtered and starved to death. Furthermore, it notes the Jews’ deep devastation as they witnessed the looting and burning of the temple. Yet even in the midst of these horrific circumstances, the author of Lamentations offers a ray of hope in the middle of the book. The book’s most memorable verses, Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Every day can be our best day when we recognize that God’s love prevents us from becoming completely overtaken. Each new day provides fresh mercy from God and that is why we can rejoice! We are the King’s kids and we have the privileges that come from having a deep and true relationship with Him. We can rejoice because He showers us with love, faithfulness, patience, gives us direct and immediate access to Him through prayer, and offers us the promise of  eternal bliss in Heaven with Him. Isn’t that more than enough reason to jump for joy like a happy little child?

As a new decade begins, let’s embrace this new year God’s way by adjusting our attitudes and altering our prayers so that we can see the blessings in each new day the Lord provides. My heart’s desire is that each of us will take time to renew our commitment to the Lord and rejoice all 365 days of the coming year. Happy New Year everyone!

Photo: Courtesy of loswl (Flickr)

Not too long ago, while sitting in our sunroom, I heard a disturbing noise. It sounded as if something was trying to scratch its way up through the floor. After few more minutes of careful listening, I realized that an animal had gotten trapped underneath the sunroom and behind the lattice fence surrounding it.

I moved over to the window to see if I could spot the animal trying to free itself. When I peered out, I could see the fence rattling violently as a rabbit tried to push its way to freedom. Its initial efforts were unsuccessful so the rabbit then attempted to chew its way through the lattice.

Later in the day, my husband ventured out to see if he could help set the rabbit free and save the lattice from destruction. After a short time JT reentered the house and explained that he had found the rabbit and the large hole through which the rabbit had entered. JT further explained that the rabbit could easily escape through that same hole provided it calmed down enough and got its bearings straight.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation similar to the rabbit’s? I know I have. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the latest problem life hurls at us. Before we even fully recognize it, we’ve convinced ourselves that we’re trapped and we then frantically expel precious time and energy trying to extricate ourselves from the situation.

Often times our first inclination is to try and handle the problem alone. Unfortunately, when we do so, the results are usually detrimental. We become so fixated with trying to push, scratch, scrape, and claw our way out of misery, that we drain our strength and lose our focus. It is only when we settle down that we see that God is near. He is there all the while. Watching. Waiting. Beckoning. Ready to come to our aid when we stop trying to claw our way out.

Are you in the midst of a challenging situation? Are you devising plans to escape the trouble independently? Like the rabbit, have your futile escape efforts left you bruised, battered, frightened, and worn out? If so, I encourage you to do three things:

Give up your misplaced dependencies. Stop relying on outside sources to rescue you. None of us will ever be able to find true peace, joy, value, happiness, or refuge in external things. The only way we can experience these things fully is when we depend God, the One who dwells inside every believer.

Banish foolish notions and futile efforts. We can’t fix this our problems independently and no amount of scratching and clawing will improve the situation. We must admit to the Lord that we’re in a mess and tell him that we’re not content to stay there. He is our omnipotent Father and already knows all about every situation we find ourselves in, but He wants us to talk directly to Him. We must pour out our hearts in prayer, tell the Lord how we found ourselves trapped in such a difficult situation, and ask Him to provide a way of escape.

Embrace the Lord. Ask Him for guidance and direction. As we travel the road to freedom, we must not grumble about the way of escape. Many times the road leading to the problem was complex, and the way out will be just as complex. Along the way we may experience chastening, so we must be prepared to accept it and continue moving along.

As we do these things, we will experience peace and eventually freedom. We can rest our worn and weary bodies and relax knowing that our Savior will make a way of escape for us!

Sugar Plum is sick. At around 2:00 am her cries for Mommy roused me from sound sleep and sent me zipping down the hall to her room. I was greeted by a feverish little girl, eager for medicine and juice.

After providing her with both and tucking her back into bed, I slipped down to the living room to pray for both Sugar Plum and myself. I could feel the worry and fear beginning to take root and I didn’t want to become overwhelmed by such a crippling attitude. As I prayed for Sugar Plum’s health to blossom and for my worries to wither, I remembered a wall plaque I had recently seen and been encouraged by in a Christian catalog. It read,

Why I shouldn’t worry…

• I am chosen by the will of God,
  
• Saved by the Grace of God,
  
• Held by the Love of God,
  
• Enpowered by the Spirit of God,
  
• Guided by the Word of God, and
  
• Protected by the Hand of God.

Aren’t those some excellent words of reassurance?

I need not worry because God has chosen me. God did not make a mistake when He chose me for motherhood. He purposely sent Sweet Pea and Sugar Plum into my life and made His will for my life quite clear. God is using motherhood to grow me and to transform me. He has equipped me for the task so I do not need to worry (Psalm 28:7).

I need not worry because I am saved by the grace of God. God fully understands my human weaknesses and my worries never catch Him by surprise. Just as the song Jesus Loves Me says, when I am weak, He is strong. When I am at my weakest, God seizes this opportunity to remind me that He is God Almighty. His grace is all I need! (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I need not worry because I am surrounded by the love of God. God is the ultimate loving parent who never stops caring for His children. The Bible tells me that God’s love is powerful, sacrificial, and unfailing and reminds me that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of my Heavenly Father. When I recognize the depth of God’s love for me, I have no reason to worry. His love will sustain me (John 3:16, Romans 8:35-39).

I need not worry because I am empowered by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has the power to flood me with joy, hope, and peace so that I am able to defeat worry. In addition, even when I’m so flustered that I cannot pray as well as I’d like and my words seem incoherent, God knows exactly what I’m saying. The Bible notes that the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf (Romans 15:13, Romans 8:26-27).

I need not worry because God’s Word guides me. It’s never wise for me to attempt to solve problems using my own limited strength. Whenever I do so, I always end up worrying. If I want to see true results, I need to consult God first. One way of doing so is by reading His Word and seeking guidance there. God’s Word provides the ammunition I need to eradicate worry. (Psalm 119:9-16).

I need not worry because I am protected by the hand of God. Because I am one of God’s children, His protection covers me. When frightening situations arise, it’s easy to feel vulnerable and slip into worry. I need to remember that God never leaves me and His protection is always with me. Even when faced with uncertainty, I know that God will not abandon me or allow me to be devoured by worry. I can give my troubles to Him and rest. (Psalm 4:8).

By the time I finished meditating on those truths, Sugar Plum’s medicine had begun to take effect. She was resting much more peacefully and I was able to climb back into bed with a lighter heart and a renewed mind. Shedding our worries is often easier said than done. But if we pray and meditate on God’s Word, we’ll find that we can slowly free ourselves from the bondage of worry. That’s one of the many benefits of being the King’s Kids!

Photo: Courtesy of toastforbrekkie (Flickr)

On Sunday evenings, the girlies attend an AWANA program at a local church. The acronym AWANA is derived from 2 Timothy 2:15 and stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. The girlies look forward to going each Sunday night because they enjoy the weekly games, crafts, and stories. JT and I love taking them to AWANA because we know they’re learning more about our wonderful Savior in a fun environment.

A few minutes before we leave for AWANA, the girlies slip into their adorable and purposeful AWANA vests. Scripture memorization is a major component of the AWANA program and the girls are eager to memorize scriptures so they can earn pins and patches to display on their vests.

Right now, Sweet Pea is working to memorize eight verses so she can earn a Hang Glider pin for her vest. The other week as we were standing in front of the refrigerator and studying the memory verses posted there, she posed a challenging question to me. “Mommy, how many Bible verses have you memorized?”

Thankfully, I was able to recite a few of the Bible verses I have memorized over the years, but at that moment I realized I needed to do a better job of committing God’s Word to my memory. Right then and there the Holy Spirit showed me that it would be wrong of me to insist that my daughters memorize several verses when I hadn’t or wasn’t doing the same! Isn’t it just like God to teach us a lesson via our children?

After that little encounter, I decided to make scripture memorization a priority. I headed over to Chrysalis where I knew my friend e-Mom had written an informative post about scripture memorization. There I discovered a link to the Scripture Memory Challenge taking place at Beth Moore’s Living Proof Ministries blog.

If you’d like to begin or brush up on scripture memorization, I highly recommend visiting the Living Proof blog. To help you get started, Beth Moore has posted three scripture memory tutorials full of terrific information you’ll need to memorize scripture effectively.

Why memorize scripture?

• You can use what you’ve memorized to provide an encouraging or comforting word to someone in need, including yourself (Proverbs 25:11).
• You can use what you’ve memorized to help defeat the sin in your life (Psalm 119:9).
• You can use what you’ve memorized to defeat Satan (Ephesians 6:17).
• You can use what you’ve memorized to keep your mind focused on what is holy and pure (Philippians 4:8).
• You can use what you’ve memorized to share the Gospel with others (Isaiah 55:11).
• And…you can use what you’ve memorized to show a curious child that you’re hiding God’s Word in your heart too (Psalm 119:11 )!

Normally, I’m not a fan of late night television. However, I’ve been up late for the past week or so, eagerly awaiting the next broadcast of ABC’s Nightline. The late night program recently launched a new series called The Ten Commandments, which is intended to explore the commandments and facilitate discussion about whether they are relevant today.

During the series, viewers have been introduced to a self professed shopaholic whose covetous attitude and wild spending have caused her to file for bankruptcy twice. The series has also highlighted Chick Fil-A’s well known Sabbath honoring Sunday closures. On yet another night, proponents of traditional marriage and advocates of open marriage squared off in a discussion about adultery and delved into whether or not we’re born to cheat. More recently, Nightline explored the popularity of the words Oh my God! and questioned whether speaking or texting those words is blasphemous.

Though this modern exploration of the Ten Commandments has featured some sensational stories perhaps better suited for tabloids and gossip magazines, it still provides good food for thought. How should Christians respond to this series?

If we think we’re doing a stellar job of following The Ten Commandments, we might be tempted to shake our heads in disbelief, wag a finger of criticism, or berate others who disregard the commandments. However, we would be better served to examine ourselves more closely. Remember that passage of scripture about the plank in one’s own eye?

When we wrap ourselves in a cloak of self righteousness, we first deceive ourselves by thinking we’ve done no wrong. This faulty thinking is always a dangerous prospect because it allows us not to take responsibility for the things we have done.  In addition, we miss an opportunity to grow closer to God through His loving instruction. The Ten Commandments weren’t intended to stifle us, but rather to guide us so that we could experience a more joyful life.

This series has caused me to rethink my commitment to the Ten Commandments. Do I know them? Have I truly embraced them? Better yet, am I working to live according to them?

What about  you?

Photo: Courtesy of robeena (Flickr)

It’s only Wednesday but it’s already been a been a long and busy week. Whenever I’m struggling to get over the midweek hump, I like to refuel with some praise and worship music!

One of my favorite praise and worship leaders is Israel Houghton. He certainly knows how to do praise and worship! A few years ago some friends and I had the privilege of seeing him in concert. As I recall, we spent very little time in our seats because we were too busy jumping up and down and singing praises to the Lord! It was one of the best praise and worship experiences I have ever enjoyed.

Today, the girlies and I will be singing along to Israel Houghton’s Still Standing. Wanna sing with us? The lyrics are listed below. Sing loud so we can hear you!

Verse One:
You gave me courage to believe
That all Your goodness I will see
And if it had not been for You
Standing on my side
Where would I be?

Chorus:
If not for Your goodness, if not for Your grace
I don’t know where I would be today!
If not for Your kindness I never could say I’m still standing!

If not for Your mercy,  if not for Your love
I most likely would have given up
If not for your favor I never could say I’m still standing
But by the grace of God!

Verse Two:
To You I lift my offering
And set my heart on higher things
For if it had not been for You
Standing on my side
Where would I be?

Chorus:
If not for Your goodness, if not for Your grace
I don’t know where I would be today!
If not for Your kindness I never could say I’m still standing!

Vamp:
I’m still standing
I’m still standing
I’m still standing
But by the grace of God!

Chorus:
If not for Your goodness, if not for Your grace
I don’t know where I would be today!
If not for Your kindness I never could say I’m still standing!

When I was in the last trimester of my pregnancy with Sweet Pea, I took a water aerobics class at the local YMCA. I was the only person under the age of 65 in the class, but I so enjoyed every meeting! While working out, these darling senior citizens would often strike up conversations with me, offer parenting advice, and share fond memories of raising their own children.

One day while in the pool, a sweet 80 something year old woman in the class shared a great piece of parental wisdom. She introduced me to the acronymn HALT and told me that if I wanted to avoid problems, I should never allow my little ones to become too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

Woe to the mother and father who are caring for children who are too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired! The ire of these upset children and the furrowed brows of their parents can easily be spotted on playgrounds and in supermarkets, malls, and time out chairs all across the nation! Though JT and I have found that abiding by the HALT principle is an effective method of dealing with our children, did you know it’s also a great principle for adults to live by?

Am I the only one who has eaten way too much or made poor food choices because I was too hungry? Hardly. Am I the sole individual who has experienced a strained relationship because I let my anger run away with me? No. Am I the first person who has slipped into the company of the wrong crowd because I was lonely? Nope. Am I the lone lady who has found herself under the weather because I haven’t gotten enough rest? Certainly not.

Hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness are not issues relegated to modern day men and women. The Bible provides many examples of people who lived long ago and battled these very same issues. Remember Esau? He foolishly gave his birthright to his younger brother Jacob because he was hungry for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:28-34). Remember Moses? His hope of entering the Promised Land was dashed because he allowed his anger with the Israelites to overtake him (Numbers 20:1-12). Remember Elijah? After Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah’s fear and loneliness drove him to waste time cowering alone in the desert instead of utilizing the strength God had given him (I Kings 19: 1-8). What about Samson? He finally revealed the source of his strength to Delilah after tiring of her constant nagging (Judges 16:4-21).

What lessons can we learn from the HALT principle? Just as children trust their parents to meet their needs, we must trust God to meet our physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.  As parents employ strategies to combat problems associated with their children’s hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness, we must seek Godly wisdom so we can better anticipate potential problems in these areas. If we do not do these things, we are like little children: prone to tantrums, meltdowns, and poor decisions.  Let’s make sure we’re well fed, happy, in good company, and well rested. If we’re not, we run the risk of making foolish or rash decisions that could send us into a spiritual time out!

Photo: Courtesy of johnwilliamsphd (Flickr)

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

There are a few teenage boys who live in our section of the neighborhood. When the weather is pleasant, I can often hear them playing football in the street. Frequently, I’m amused by the boys’ joking and trash talking as they compete in the street.

A few days ago, the boys were playing football and I could hear their banter as I cleaned up in the living room. As one boy practiced his punts, his buddy cracked jokes and criticized his friend’s efforts claiming that the football’s hang time was weak.

Hang time describes the amount of time the football floats or hangs in the air after it has been kicked. Ideally a football should hang in the air for 4 to 5 seconds, thus allowing players time to position themselves for the play.

At times, each of us experiences some hang time. The issues of life deliver us a swift kick and we can easily find ourselves sailing through times of uncertainty, fear, or despair. Though the initial kick often startles and frightens us, hanging in the “air” often brings us closer to God and provides us with an opportunity to see things from a new perspective. As we wait it out in the air and endure times of hardship, God is yet at work. He uses hang time to teach us a lesson while He positions people and arranges circumstances in ways that will help us grow.

I recently received one of those startling life punts that sent me soaring into a hang time I’m still enduring. At first, I flailed and wobbled all over the place. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this approach was tiring me out, making me anxious, draining my energy, and delaying my progress. I’ve since adjusted my attitude, stopped worrying about the issue, and have prayed more. I’m more focused and have been pondering some important questions.

What does God want me to learn in the hang time?
Am I fighting with or flowing along side God during this uncertain time?
Do I trust God even though my problems I’m airborne?
How can I glorify Him while in the hang time?

Has life given you a jolt and knocked you off your feet? Take the situation to God and let Him guide you. I’ve learned it’s better to embrace the direction in which God floats me rather than to fight it! I’m hanging in there and going with the flow because I know that when I embrace God and His will for my life, I’ll be always be happy no matter where I land!

Photo: Courtesy of johnlamb (Flickr)

JT and I listen to Christian radio as we complete our morning routine. As I listened this morning, one particular program blessed me and encouraged me.

A few weeks ago, Focus on the Family asked listeners to call the organization and record a prayer in observance of tomorrow’s National Day of Prayer. Focus on the Family received hundreds of calls and several prayers were broadcast today and more will be broadcast tomorrow.

During this morning’s broadcast, I was moved by the sincere prayers offered by men, women, and even children all across the nation. Throughout the thirty minute broadcast, heartfelt prayers for our nation, our children, our President, our troops, our schools, our churches, our economy, and our hearts poured forth.

Though the prayers were beautiful, I was struck by just how much we all need to pray for! Tomorrow marks the 58th observance of The National Day of Prayer and the theme is Prayer: America’s Hope.  This special day is a great opportunity for us to join people all over the country who have gathered to pray for our nation. The girls and I are eager to participate so we will be attending a children’s prayer event in the afternoon.

If you cannot attend a National Day of Prayer event, you can still participate! Take time to pray at home alone and with your family. Turn off the radio and pray in the car. Partake in an online prayer rally sponsored by The Presidential Prayer Team, an organization dedicated to praying for our President and his administration or watch The National Day of Prayer festivities on Tangle.

Won’t you join us as we participate in The National Day of Prayer? When we take the time to pray, amazing things can happen! Let’s pray together and see what God does!

Photo: Courtesy of Ninjaneil902 (Flickr)

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:27-28)

Last week, I heard an odd story during the Community segment on the evening news.  According to the news reporter, cuddle parties are increasing in popularity. Cuddle parties are described as non-sexual social events “where attendees gather to snuggle and cuddle with others while experiencing the joys of touch, affection, and communication.”

Perhaps such events have been taking place for a while but their existence is just now reaching my radar. Initially, I laughed out loud at the concept of such a gathering, but I stopped laughing when I thought about why there is a need for such parties. How disheartening it is to know that in today’s fast paced world we have literally lost touch with one another and some people now feel compelled to pay for the hugs, handholding, and other simple displays of affection they long for!

Today, it’s a bit harder to connect with others because of the hectic pace of our lives and the contemporary gadgets we depend upon. Offering or receiving a handshake is difficult because our hands are securely grasping cell phones and our fingers are flying over keys as we text. Hugging is a bit more challenging because we risk getting caught up in the cords of the earbuds attached to the iPods that pump a steady stream of music into our ears. Physically sitting beside a friend as she teaches a craft may seem exceptionally time consuming if we find can learn the same craft by watching a short YouTube video.

We may be losing touch with one another today, but in Jesus’ time, people seemed to move much more slowly and purposely. No one was moving too fast to be touched perhaps because the people recognized that a simple touch was important and often life changing! Think about the woman whose life was forever altered simply because she pressed her way through the crowd and touched the hem of our Lord’s garment (Mark 5:25-29)! Consider how Judas’ lips touched Jesus and the role that kiss played in God’s redemptive plan (Matthew 26:47-49). Recall Tabitha who was raised from the dead because Peter offered her the power of his God given healing touch (Acts 9:40-41).

When we take the time to touch amazing things can happen! A physical touch brings us together physically and emotionally. Touch provides us with physical warmth and comfort while it also affirms our worth and provides us a with a sense of safety and security. A mere loving touch can awaken us, refresh us, and stimulate us. Touch is a simple yet wonderful gift from God, one He intends us to freely give to others!

Yes, our days are hectic and indeed our lives are full. However, I encourage you to take a moment to give your loved ones a warm touch through hugging, patting, tickling, kissing, rubbing noses (Sugar Plum’s favorite), linking arms, or whatever other loving touch you can imagine. Give it a try and see what happens. I bet you’ll touch someone’s heart and make their day!

Photo: Courtesy of HdO-Helene (Flickr)