It's Dark Out Here!

It's hard to ignore the fact that this world is a very dark place. The constant wars, heartbreaking famine, increasingly common natural disasters and widespread political greed and dishonesty continue to come at us from a myriad of sources.

I vacillate between being glued to the TV, staying informed of the latest breaking news, and being in denial, paying attention only to my own little circle of the world.  I know as Christians we have to stay informed of current events. We must know what we are up against and lean into God for His direction and guidance. He is counting on us to lead others to Him before it's too late as well.

But, it's depressing. It's scary, and it's overwhelming at times. Satan's schemes seem to be winning over God's Truth and Light. How can this be when we know that, in the end, God wins? As children of God, that means we win too!

But God also warns us that "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The Bible also warns us that "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." We are now seeing this happen in Israel, Iraq and throughout the world.

I sometimes struggle with depression and feelings of hopelessness when I focus too much on these tragedies. I feel insignificant and unable to make even a small difference in these tragic circumstances. I will continue to struggle with these issues, but I am also able to hold on to the many promises God has given us in His Word.

As I continued reading in 2 Timothy, I came upon Chapter 4, verse 18 which says, "The Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom."

I will continue to follow news and politics to a degree, but I am careful not to saturate myself or my family in it. God is well aware of and predicted thousands of years ago that the world would get darker and darker over time. In some ways, we can actually take courage from it, because it means that the time of Christ's return is nearing!

Take a Step

As Christians, we've all heard about taking a "Step of Faith." We talk freely about it as if it's something we do every day. However, a lot of what we call "Steps of Faith" are actually just simply "Steps."
Now, don't get me wrong. Steps of any kind are important. If we didn't take steps in some sort of direction, all we would be doing is standing still, staying stuck and remaining in a rut. God wants us to take steps daily in our lives to move forward in life, to keep going and to continue living for Him.
A "Step of Faith," however, is something much larger, much more meaningful and definitely much, much more difficult and scary. I would even call it terrifying.

It's important to realize that if your "Step of Faith" can be attempted and completed in your own strength, it is just a step. A "Step of Faith" requires God. It requires His strength. It requires His power. It requires His courage, and it definitely requires our trust in His promises.
In order to feel confident about taking a "Step of Faith," one needs to look closely at God's track record, whether it be in your own life or in others' lives. God is always faithful to His promises, but until you know that with 100 percent certainty, you will most likely not be willing to take any "Steps of Faith."
Take the Old Testament Israelites, for example. God had proven Himself time and time again that He would see them through. He freed them from slavery and then led them through the wilderness, never leaving them and never forsaking them. He promised them the land of "Milk and Honey," but when they got to the Promised Land and saw the very large, scary people who inhabited the land, they gave up. They chose not to trust God's promise and, instead, they fled. Everyone except Joshua and Caleb. They were the only ones that trusted that when God said He would give them victory over the land, He meant it. Therefore, Joshua and Caleb were blessed and inherited the Promised Land, just as God had promised. The others, however, never stepped foot in the beautiful Land of Milk and Honey.
Was it scary for Joshua and Caleb? I'm sure it was terrifying, and it didn't make any sense for them to think they could take over the land according to human reasoning. God usually asks us to take "Steps of Faith" that go against all common sense. Otherwise, we wouldn't need faith to do it.
Any "Step of Faith" begins with the conviction that God is Faithful and True to His Promises. Any "Step of Faith" will tap into your Spiritual Strength and engage the enemy, and any "Step of Faith" will take new territory for God.
Read Numbers 13-14 for Joshua and Caleb's great example of how to follow God wholeheartedly and take a "Step of Faith."

Put the Man Together First

While at church a couple weeks ago, our pastor told a story that he'd heard many years earlier that he has used to guide his life ever since. The story goes like this: 

There was a father who was very important at his place of work, and he often took hours of work home with him to do over the weekend. One Saturday morning, like most other Saturday mornings, he locked himself in his office to get his "all important" work done.  

Pretty soon, he heard a knock at the door, and when he opened it he saw his 6 year old son standing there with a baseball in one hand and his mitt in the other saying, "Dad, are you ready to go play catch? Remember you promised?" 

The father had forgotten he had made this promise to his young son, but he said simply, "Yes, of course. We will play as soon as I am done working. Come back later, and I promise we will go out and play catch."  

So his son went away, but about 10 minutes later there was another knock on the door. When the father opened it, he saw his son. "Is it later yet, Daddy?" 

"No," said the father. "You didn't give me enough time. Come back in a long while, and then I promise we will play catch." 

So the young boy went away again, but about 30 minutes later there was another knock at the door. "That was a long time, Daddy. Are you done now?" 

The father was getting frustrated, so he explained to his son that he had to wait until he couldn't wait any longer and then wait some more. Then it would be time to go outside to play catch. 

So, the boy went away for over an hour before coming back and knocking on the office door.  "That was a really long time, Daddy. Is it later now?" 

So the father had an idea.  He went to the shelf and pulled out a large world map.  He tore it into many very small pieces and then handed it to his son along with a roll of tape. "Here, son. I made you a puzzle. Put this world map together with the tape. I promise when you are done with that, I will be finished with my work, and we will go out to play together." He felt very smart and sat down to focus on the work at hand. 

The father couldn't believe it when 1-1/2 hours later there was a small knock at the door. When he opened it, his small son stood proudly displaying a heavy, but accurate, world map. "Son, did your mother help you with this?" 

"Yes," the little boy said. 

But still, the father didn't understand how they could have put the map together so quickly. "How did you know how to do that?" he asked his son. 

"Well," the boy said, "I realized that on the other side was a picture of a man with long hair wearing a white robe. I just realized that if I put that Man together, the whole world fell into place." 

______________________________________________________________________

Just remember, if you make sure Jesus is intact in your life, everything else in your world will fall into place. 

Chaos or Calm?

Sometimes it feels like God is nowhere to be found. Maybe He's too busy to worry about my little problems, or maybe He doesn't really care that much. He does, after all, have a whole universe to keep track of. He said it Himself in the Bible, we are each like a speck of sand to Him. Does that mean my problems, fears and broken dreams don't actually matter to Him?

Have you ever had those kinds of thought? I definitely have, but deep down I know they aren't even remotely true. Somehow, some way, God cares so much about each and every one of us. He knows our every thought. He keeps track of every one of our tears. He knows our hopes and dreams, when they are realized and when they are broken and trampled on.

Remember the story about the disciples in Mark 4? They were with Jesus, crossing the Sea of Galilee on a fishing boat. A terrible storm began, and they were afraid for their lives. Jesus was sleeping through the whole thing, and the disciples asked Him, "Don't you care if we drown?" Jesus got up and said to the storm,
"Quiet, be still." And it stopped immediately.

Jesus spoke to the deadly storm as if it was a barking dog that was scaring his young children. "Stop now. Quiet. You're scaring them." And it obeyed.  Had Jesus been unaware that there was a dangerous storm brewing? Of course not. But still, he waited for His children to come to Him seeking protection.

God is our Protector. He wants each and every one of us to run to Him when we are afraid, when we are in need of protection. Oftentimes we forget. We run to worldly "saviors" instead, and we need to realize that God will never let money, people, success, or anything else be our "savior." He is the only One that can truly protect us.

When a storm hits a believer, they are immediately turned into a mirror. What are you reflecting during your storms? Faith in God or faith in the world? Trust or self-reliance? Fear or peace? Chaos or Calm?

It's important to remember that oftentimes God will calm the storm in our lives, but sometimes He calms us in the midst of our storm instead. Either way, He is always in control.

The Decision Has Been Made!

Well, I have finally made the decision that I have been praying about for quite some time. As a matter of fact, I have been thinking about, praying about and contemplating it ever since last August when I finished writing Gratitude Greens. I have officially chosen the topic of my next book!  Actually, I didn't choose it at all. God did. I just had to wait it out until He revealed it to me.

As I sat down last week, mulling over my many (quite varied) ideas of book subjects, I narrowed it down to just 7.  Seven? Yes. I had 7 different ideas about what I might write about next, and boy! were they all over the board. I like all of them for different reasons, but now I realize how much information I really need in order to be able to write an entire, full-length book on a single subject.

I worked on Gratitude Greens for almost 3 years, and after all was said and done, it ended up being just 104 pages.  Now, for my first book, I guess that's not too bad, but I wanted it to be longer, more substantial feeling.

So, I go into this next book with much more information and realistic aspirations than I had with the first one.  I know how written pages (yes, I hand-write everything first-it's the only way my creativity can flow freely) translate into much fewer typed pages. Then, after editing, formatting and putting it into book form, it ends up seeming much shorter than I first anticipated. So, of these 7 different ideas, none of them just jumped out at me as something I could write an entire book on.  At least, not yet. So, I waited....

And then, on Thursday, I grabbed one of my journals (I have several sitting around), and in it I found a note I had written quite a while back-I don't even remember when. It listed 2 more ideas for books that I had completely forgotten about.  One of them stuck out to me right away, and I felt myself get that excited feeling I have been waiting to get again, "I think I found my next subject!"  I prayed over it and slept on it and then prayed some more.  Then, just to be certain, I sat down and started writing an introduction.  And it just flowed. One idea led to another which led to another.  Yay! I had found my topic.

Obviously, God wanted me to find it in His timing, like He does with everything else. But, I am so excited and so optimistic about writing my next book, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for it. I have just a broad, basic idea of what it will include and what impact I hope it will have on my readers, but I know God has plans for it that I can't even imagine right now.

I am not going to divulge the exact topic of my book, because for some reason it takes something away from my writing experience when I talk about it before I write about it.  I always feel very protective of the work that I feel the most passionate about.  I will say that it will be another God-centered, inspirational and encouraging book.  I plan to include my own experiences as well as the experiences of people I admire and respect, and I can't wait to see who God directs me to include in this exciting new endeavor.  Maybe it'll be you!

Nerium International

I wouldn't normally use my blog as a platform to share a product with you, but I am going to tell you a story about how Jim and I came to the place we are now.

My sister, Angi, has been talking about this skin care company called Nerium International for a while now. She and her daughter have been using the night cream for a couple months, and Angi swears that it has cleared up her rosacea and her daughter's acne. Now, the company doesn't claim that their products clear up either one of these skin problems, but the results have been amazing. Nerium International is actually a company that markets anti-aging products, so I had my doubts.

Eventually, my daughter's acne got to the point where we were willing to give Nerium a try, and the fact that Angi gave us a free 5 day trial period helped us along.  After just a few days, my daughter's face was already beginning to noticeably clear up. Even more amazing was the fact that her acne scars were fading rapidly as well!

Ok, I was hooked. I would bite and buy my daughter the monthly night cream. (Any parent of a child with acne knows that we would do just about anything to help them clear it up).

Well, Angi began talking to me and Jim about becoming Brand Partners for the company so that we could earn free product and make some extra income along the way. We weren't convinced at all. I mean, Nerium isn't even being marketed for acne and rosacea (I know 2 people who've had their rosacea cleared up within days with Nerium, however)  So, Jim and I didn't really buy the whole "Amazing Results" shown in the before and after pictures on Nerium's website. It looked a little far fetched to us. But, what the heck! We decided to both do the 5 day free trial and see what happened.

Oh, my goodness!  After the first night's use, our skin felt smoother and much less dry and rough. After our 5 day trial, we thought we definitely noticed less crows feet (Jim's term when he was talking about me....hmmm..)  and less bags under Jim's eyes.  I looked like I already had foundation on before I had even applied any makeup. My skin tone was evening out, and my chronically dry face was completely supple.

But.....were we just imagining it? Luckily, Angi had encouraged us to take very close-up (yuck!) pictures of our faces and chests (mine) where we felt like we were showing signs of age.  We took these before we used the Nerium for the first time. We got our pictures out on the fourth night and WOW! we really had undergone some changes already, and it wasn't just our imagination!  That was crazy, and we were hooked!
Now that our 5 day trial is over and we had to give our sample bottle back, we are very anxiously awaiting our own shipment of the Nerium so we can get back to using it.

And we have decided to become Brand Partners! Not only is the product amazing with 10+ years of science to  back it up, but the company is just 3 years young and growing at breakneck speed! It had 3900% growth in one year (no, that's not a typo) and has been featured in several magazines, on The Doctors and The View and just launched into Canada last weekend. But, most people still haven't heard about it, so there is so much more growth to go!  Nerium is planning to launch into a total of 32 countries, so that gives you an idea of how much bigger it will get.

Now is a great time to check out Nerium for yourself! See if you have the amazing results Angi and her daughter and Jim, our daughter and I had. In about a week or so, we will have several bottles to give out as 5 day samples, so let me know if you would like to try it for yourself or someone you know.  The only requirement is that we ask you to take before pictures of your problem areas, as it is hard to see changes in your own face sometimes.

Also, go to the website (link at the top left of my blog) and check out the amazing science behind the products as well as the great business opportunity! I know someone that has been in the company 3 weeks (no joke) and has already promoted 2 levels and has earned several hundred dollars and an iPad already-in 3 weeks, and she knows someone that earned the Lexus bonus after 4 months of being with Nerium!

Let me know if you want any more information, and don't discount Nerium like Jim and I did for so long. Keep in mind too, that 50% of the people using Nerium are men.  Many married couples sell it together, as well as individual men and women.

Just look into it and give it 5 days!  It's free, with no strings attached whatsoever!  You'll either love it or you won't.  http://www.nerium.com/Opportunity.aspx?ID=jimandamy

WWJB

We've all heard the words and seen the bracelets saying WWJD, What Would Jesus Do?  It's a great question to ask, but there is an even better one: WWJB or What Would Jesus Be?  What kind of mom would He be? What kind of son would He be? What kind of employee would He be? What kind of teenager or manager or pastor would He be?

This is a sobering and thought-provoking question. If Jesus were placed right smack in the middle of your life, what would He be? It's thought-provoking, because we don't usually think that God would place Jesus in our life, in our position. It seems below Him, somehow not important enough for the Son of God to be as insignificant as one of us.

However, where God has placed you is not at all insignificant.  He has placed you exactly where He needs you to do His work. He has placed the people in your life that He needs you to touch, and He has put you exactly in the place He needs your light to shine.

A couple weeks ago at church, we met a couple named Thomas and Beatrice Omolo.  God has placed them right smack in the middle of one of the biggest slums in Kibera, Kenya. Their life mission is to reach the children and locals of Nairobi. They started a non-profit organization called the Garden of Eden which provides a stable home for the children of Kibera, and they have recently planted a church there as well.

Kibera, Kenya

The Omolos know God has called them to a significant mission here on earth. He has made it clear to them that their lives matter, they are needed.  Thomas and Beatrice have chosen to follow God's leading and be Jesus in the slums in Kenya.

But, we aren't all called to such clear missions. Most of us won't be drawn to foreign slums to serve God's people and bring His word to those who have never heard it.  But, that doesn't mean that your light doesn't matter just as much as the Omolo's light matters. God has called each and every one of us to be the Light of the World.  Your light might be needed in the school you attend. Maybe it's needed in your family.  Your place of employment might be exactly where God needs His light to shine through you.

Just remember: your light matters, even though you aren't in Kibera. That's where God put Thomas and Beatrice Omolo. Where did He put you?

Be a Stone

      God needs you.  Have you ever thought about that?  You know God has a plan for you.  You read that in Ephesians.  But do you know that God’s big, overall plan doesn't work without you?  God called each and every one of us for a purpose.  Your purpose is not the same as my purpose.  He needs you to play a different role than He needs me to play. 

Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.

1 Peter 2:6

            My husband just finished building a stone retaining wall in our back yard.  Before it was built, we had piles upon piles of stones in our yard.  None of the stones seemed extraordinary or special to me, but now they each have a very important purpose.  If I were to use a pick to pull any one of the stones out of the retaining wall, the wall would become unstable and eventually crumble. 

God’s plan is like that too.  He needs each and every one of us to complete His project here on earth.  So don’t feel insignificant.  You have a very important job to do.  Be available to be a stone in God’s sanctuary here on earth.

(Excerpt taken from Gratitude Greens)

Thoughts of the Seasons

Here is one of the essays I wrote during my recent writing class at Whatcom Community College. Definitely not my normal writing style, but I thought I would share it nonetheless.  Just for fun: 

Spring

            I almost never laugh when I’m alone. I am usually deep in thought, settled within the quietness of my own mind. But today I watched two dogs playing and suddenly felt a spring of laughter bubble up from my center. As they slapped their front paws repeatedly on the floor, raising their tail ends in a sort of dance-like language while simultaneously hopping backward over and over again, goading the other to join the dance. Today I laughed a hearty, joy-filled, playful laugh.

Summer

           

            In the early mornings, all is still and peaceful. The children are asleep, and the dogs are still in their crates. They seem to know this is a special time for me, as they don’t whine to be let out but instead wait patiently while I enjoy my time alone. Just one small lamp, a cup of hot coffee and my cozy plaid quilt.

            I sit quietly, looking out the window at the world slowly awakening. I read my Bible and get my heart and mind set right for the day. Over time, the sun rises, and my family seems to sense it’s time to rise. The quietness turns into a bustling and busy home, full of love, joy and expectations for the day to come.

Fall

            This morning at sunrise it dawns on me that the days are beginning to shorten once again. Soon it will be dark when I leave my home in the morning and dark when I return in the early evening.

            What is it about fall that makes me feel content and cared for? It’s the cocoon of our home engulfing and protecting the family within.

            Fall begins to close in on us, bringing us ever closer and ever safer. The harshness of the wind beats against the windows and sways the huge evergreens that tower over the neighborhood. Rain pelts the shingles, an ever present reminder of the heat radiating out from the wood burning stove. We are warm. We are safe. We are together, and we are content.

            I’ve always loved the late fall, how it seems to bring the family into the center and send all else into the periphery.

Winter

            I’m looking at a lone, single set of footprints trailing through the snow, the only disturbance in the otherwise glossy, smooth white blanket over the front yard. Soft white mounds of whipped cream where the bushes once were. Beauty, serenity, a sense of complete peace.

            And then sadness. It won’t stay this way. Soon, children will plow through the beautiful glossy frost. Bright red cheeks and gleeful cries of laughter. Dogs chasing them. Balls of snow and ice clinging to their damp coats. What a mess they will make. Wet and cold and smelling like sweat and dirt.

            Then I smile again. There will be joy and laughter and freedom. Messes can be cleaned, but snow days only come around once in a blue moon.

            Let them play. Let them joyfully cry out. Let them chase and let them run. The sounds of laughter are ringing in my ears. Happy, serene and beautiful.  

Beautiful

This past weekend was Easter.  The church was packed, people sitting elbow to elbow in the seats and standing patiently at the back of the room. The overflow room was being used to its full capacity.
Encouraging..
 Babies and young children were dressed in their Sunday best. The little girls' hair curled and bouncy and the boys in button up plaid shirts and pressed slacks.
Adorable.
People were smiling at each other, saying "Happy Easter" and letting each other pass by ahead of them without scowling.
Friendly.
The sanctuary was decorated with soft lights and a wooden cross symbolizing Christ's Crucifixion.
Touching.
The music was lively and upbeat, singing God's praises and glorifying Him for the freedom and forgiveness He has given us.
Humbling.
The message was of hope, security and reverence.
Inspiring.
But the vision I walked away with this past Easter Sunday, the most impactful part of it all was the alter call at the end of the service. Men and women, teenagers and young children, the crippled and the healthy raising their hands to symbolize their decision of faith. A sea of people walking toward the front of the alter to hear the true Message of Hope and Forgiveness.  Realizing they are nothing without God, but they are Everything with Him. New members of Christ's family, brothers and sisters with me.

                                                   Beautiful.

I'd Do It All Over Again

I'd do it all over again.  Have you ever said these words? Usually they are uttered after a difficult, life-altering event. It usually takes a period of time before we are able to see the benefits of our difficulties and realize that we came out stronger or more fulfilled by enduring them.  We recognize that all the pain and heartache we went through is what made us who we are today.

For example, mothers often say this after giving birth, no matter how difficult the pregnancy and labor happened to be. For some of them, it takes months or even a couple years to realize that they want to do it all over again. For others, the realization comes as early as the first time they hold their newborn baby in their arms.

Other people utter the words, "I'd do it all over again" after healing from a painful, broken relationship. They may have learned lessons and grown in amazing and significant ways through their hardships. Although most of us would never sign up knowingly for pain and suffering, we recognize after the fact that it was needed in order for us to get to where we are today.

One person that did choose to suffer, knowing full well how painful, lonely and humiliating it would be, was Jesus.

                                           HE CHOSE THE CROSS.

He knew the price. He endured the pain of his Heavenly Father turning his back on Him and forsaking Him.  He endured the pain of His own people cursing Him and mocking Him. And He wasn't the only one that suffered pain. Those He loved dearly: His mother, His disciples and His followers were uncertain and afraid. They grieved for Him, and He left the whole world a dark and hopeless place for three days.

But He chose to do it anyway, because He knew the end results would be well worth it. And He would do it all over again if He needed to.

Next time you're in pain, remember that God can bring so much good from it. Remember that He understands. Remember that He has been there too. As a matter of fact:

                          PAIN IS WHERE GOD DOES HIS BEST WORK.

Sneak Peak

Here are some of the very thoughtful and sweet reviews that Gratitude Greens has gotten from my sister, my dad and author Renee Robinson who wrote the book Seeking Christmas which is available Here (They each got a sneak peak of the pre-published manuscript):

My dad:
Ever find the news reports, or the busyness of your life get you down? Ever feel like you're in a rut? This is a spiritually uplifting little book that could change your outlook on life.
This is a GREAT study on dealing with life challenges, big or small, and putting it all into perspective with the promises of God. The second half has a 30 day personal daily devotional for you. Get this book. You'll be glad you did!

My sister, Ginger: 

Gratitude Greens is an uplifting and encouraging book. A must read for all! The devotional is concise and relevant. A great way to start each day!

Renee Robinson: 

A sweet book that encourages the reader to shift their perspective. In daily life we find ourselves weighed down. Gratitude Greens gently lifts our chin back up and reminds us we serve a God far bigger than our problems. AD Masters does a beautiful job showing us how to change the way we view life by pointing us back to the Creator of the universe time and time again. Highly recommend!

An excerpt from Gratitude Greens:  

I believe God puts people in our lives to encourage us and to spur us on to all He wants for us.  He puts others in our path to be examples to us.  I want to continue to learn and grow into a woman God can use in someone else's life like he is using Laura in mine.  I would love to be that inspiration to someone, that example of who they want to be in Christ. 

            God may never give me the satisfaction of ever knowing if I am that person to someone, but He may.  My job is to strive to be that light to someone else, let God use me and trust that He is.  I don't have to reach a certain 'holiness' or perfection before I can be used by God.  He can use me right where I am today.

            God has a plan for each of us, and we need to know and believe that He is working that plan out in our life right now.  We may not see it clearly yet, but believe it, know it, celebrate it.  God is using you.  Are you willing?  Do you dare make yourself available to Him?  Please do.  It is what you were created for, and it will fill your deepest longings for significance. 

  ___________________________________________

I can't wait until even more of you get to read Gratitude Greens and let me know what you think of it.  I hope it encourages many, many more! You can order your copy Here or wait until the Book Release Party at Grace Cafe on April 26 and get it there.  

All In The Family---Let's Party!

 

The Handout

 My family and I have been busy planning my book release party, and I couldn't do it without any of them!  I asked my son to take the picture of my book cover, the vital information about the party and come up with two things: Hand-outs/invites to the party and a poster to put up at local churches and small businesses.  This is what he came up with, and I am so proud of his talents-he's amazing with a computer (and very artistic, too).

The Poster

The rest of my family: husband, sisters, and mom and dad have been busy planning out the fun details of the book release party. It will be on Saturday, April 26 from 10:30 to 1:00 at Grace Cafe in Bellingham. It's an open house format, so feel free to come and go as you want, and please bring a friend. There will be coffee, tea and light refreshments provided, and if you want to have lunch, Grace Cafe has great sandwiches, bagels, and lots of other yummy coffees and treats to purchase. We will have raffle drawings and plenty of copies of Gratitude Greens to purchase and have signed. And don't forget Mother's Day is coming up, and a nice encouraging book might be just the thing Mom wants!

Anyway, I really hope to see all my friends and family there as well as many others who were invited or just heard about it (free food anyone?)  Spread the news and hope to see you all there!~

Gratitude Greens is  now on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com as well as crosslinkpublishing.com.  Check it out!

Yikes! What Now?

I just got word from CrossLink Publishing that my book, Gratitude Greens, will be starting to print sometime next week. That means I need to get on the ball and start the marketing process of letting everyone I know as well as tons of people I don't know that there is a new book on the market. Let me just say, this is NOT my strong suit. I am not a sales person, and pushing my own product on people goes against the very grain of who I am. Unfortunately, in today's publishing world, it seems that it is up to the author to market a book (unless of course you are a famous, well-known author and the publishing company knows that just mentioning you will sell thousands of copies). But, that's not me, so here I am...trying to figure out how to throw a Book Launch Party for myself.  Google helps a lot, but it's still completely up to me how big I want it to be, how much advertising I want to do for it and how much debt I want to get into in order to meet my own expectations.

To be honest with you, I didn't even think about actually selling Gratitude Greens during the writing process or even when I started researching publishers. I just wanted to write about what God had put on my heart, and I really wanted to see my book in my own hands, professionally designed cover and all!

Well, I don't technically have my physical book in my hands as of yet, but I have gotten a chance to preview and approve the cover design.  So fun!  But now the real work begins...

It's really hard to throw a party celebrating your own accomplishments. Try it and see!

So, I have decided to enlist the help of those closest to me, the friends and family members that know me best and are almost as excited as I am about Gratitude Greens. I am excited, nervous and very uncertain about what the next few months will bring, but I will definitely keep my blog up-to-date on the process (and the party!).

My number one goal through this entire process is to make sure it's about God, how He wants others to be reached and encouraged and making sure He gets all the glory.  

Wish me luck, say a few prayers and e-mail or comment if you have any great ideas for a book launch party!

Here's Your Sign

Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame.  For you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me." Psalms 86:17 (NIV)

I read this verse in a devotional one morning. The study went on to say that it's okay to ask God for signs of His presence at times.  We are not to ask for signs that He is real, and we aren't supposed to test God.  However, asking Him for a sign that He is near or asking Him to show us the way He wants us to go is Biblical.  

One day I was having a particularly stressful, busy day.  I had way more work to do than I normally do and proceeded to get very stressed out and very, very grumpy.  Luckily, nobody was home to bear my wrath, but God was there.

Anyway, I gave myself a break, sitting outside on the back patio.  I closed my eyes and forced myself to take some deep breaths and just relax. I asked God to help me with this challenge. 

            After a couple minutes, I opened my eyes and guess what I saw painted across the bright blue sky?  There were two jet airplane trails forming the shape of a perfect cross!  I knew God meant this as an encouragement to me; It was like God was winking at me, playing with me and, to be honest with you, showing off a bit.  I loved it!  It put a smile on my face and a skip in my step.  I was able to get back to my work with a much better attitude, all because God showed up. 

A friend recently told me about a very similar situation. She and her husband are in the process of selling their house. Anyone that has ever gone through this experience knows that many stresses are involved. Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait. My friend has been trying to follow God and not run out in front of Him through this whole process. She doesn't want to "get the cart before the horse," and she definitely doesn't want to take any steps that are not God-ordained.  

As their ordeal is nearing the end, she felt herself getting more and more anxious, worrying about things out of her control.  She prayed to God, asking Him to give her a sign that He had everything under control.  

And He gave her a literal SIGN.  She drove right past one of the billboards that are up in town saying "04/23/2014." Now, I don't know what this sign pertains to, and neither does she, but she sure knew what they were for at that specific moment.  She just knew God was winking at her telling her that, yes, the scheduled closing date of 04/23/2014 is really going to happen.  See, that's been their scheduled closing date all along, but she was doubting herself and beginning to worry that it wasn't going to go through on time, if at all. 

God knows exactly what sign to give each of us so that we will know it's Him. Nobody else would have thought much about seeing that cross in the sky or that particular billboard at that particular time, but Karla and I knew what they meant and who they were from.  

As God to give you a sign today, and then let Him decide what it's going to be.  You'll know. Give God a chance to show off a bit for you!  It can be really fun to see what He does with that challenge!  

 

Take a Load Off

Jim and I just got back from 4 days at the beach in Moclips, Washington. I hadn't even heard of the town until about three weeks ago when I did a google search on beach houses for rent. I knew exactly what I was looking for: a house with big windows that looked out onto the beach with no dunes in the way of the view. Well, it wasn't nearly as easy to find a place like this as I thought it would be, however I finally found the perfect place! (If anyone wants to know of a great, relaxing, quiet and affordable vacation rental on the Washington coast, let me know).

The week leading up to Jim and my vacation was crazy busy. Jim has been training a new coworker, and he needed to get him up to speed and able to be completely on his own before we took off.  My book is coming out next month, and I can't believe how many last minute chores are involved in having a book published. Lots and lots of work but so exciting at the same time!

Anyway, we were extra busy the week prior to leaving, and boy were we in need of a good vacation and some down time!

And we got it! It was beautiful. It was serene. It was quiet (so quiet-no cell phone reception whatsoever).

It wasn't nearly long enough, but it will have to do until the next time we can get away together.  The one thing it did do was give us some much-needed oomph to get back to the busyness and crazyness of life. We are ready to take it on again, this time with a little more energy and quite a bit more patience.

God knows we need these kinds of breaks periodically. It's not always possible to go somewhere and pay for a hotel or a rental cottage, but we can all schedule some down time into our lives. Turn off the TV. Shut down the cell phones and just relax. Talk. Read. Listen to the quiet. It's hard to do sometimes because we are so used to staying busy, doing a bunch of nothing and running from one thing to another.

Try it. Choose one day this week, and make it your Sabbath. It doesn't have to be on a Sunday. If all you can pull off is one quiet evening this week, then do that. Notice how it revives you and centers you. Use the time to really talk to God or your spouse or your children. Take the time to write in your journal or snuggle up with a cup of tea and just watch the fire in the fire place.

Give yourself a mini Sabbath or a full Sabbath this week, and see how it refreshes your soul.  You may even decide to make a habit of it.

Praying For You

            How many times have you told someone you would pray for them or their loved one?  How often do you actually follow through with prayer?  I hope it's often.  I hope it's every time. 

            Unfortunately, I've found myself forgetting time and time again to follow through with consistent prayer for another person.  I'm ashamed of this, and I've asked God to help me grow in this area.

         

            So, now I pray every morning for my husband, my daughter and my son in the order they got up that day.  I often choose a topic or a theme for each one for a week or two, focusing on an area in their lives I want to cover in prayer. 

            I have also asked God to make me blatantly aware of and responsible for the times I tell coworkers, friends or others that I will pray for their situation. 

            We are called to carry each other in prayer.  I don't want to take this lightly, and I definitely would like others to remember me in prayer when it's needed. 

James 5:16 (ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of the righteous person has great power as it is working.

Make sure to follow through when you tell someone you will be praying for them. If you have trouble with this, ask God to make you acutely aware of the times you utter the words, "I'll be praying for you," and don't say them if you don't mean them.

(Excerpt taken from Gratitude Greens)

Pay It Forward

Jim and I took his dad, Earl, out this weekend. We wanted to take him to get his hair cut and then out to a nice lunch. We enjoy spending time with Earl, but we don't do it nearly as often as we should. We try to make a point to see him at least once per week,and this time we wanted to get him out of his assisted living apartment for a change. Little did we know that we would be the ones blessed and encouraged on this outing.

As we walked into Great Clips, I noticed an adorable bright red haired boy getting his hair cut into a mohawk. His dad was watching the progress and chatting with his son a bit throughout the visit. As I took Earl to sit down and wait for his appointment, Jim checked him in at the front desk. He quietly explained to the employee that Earl had dementia and may not make much sense at times and to let the hairdresser know this ahead of time.  As he sat down, I continued watching the young boy's mohawk come to life.

Eventually Earl was called back to the hairdresser's chair, and Jim and I waited patiently in the waiting room, continuing to watch the cute little boy and his dad.  After a while, the mohawk was complete, and they proceeded to check out and leave Great Clips.

When Earl was finished getting his hair cut (looking very handsome!) we went to check out and pay and were told that his haircut was already paid for.  When she saw the look of confusion on our faces, the store manager came over to us and explained that the young man with the red-headed son had paid for Earl's haircut when he paid for his little boy's.

We couldn't believe it. We felt stunned. No stranger had ever done something for us simply "because" before. We didn't know what to say, and there was no way to thank the young man for being so thoughtful and generous to complete strangers.

After talking about it, Jim and I decided how we could thank him. We could pass it on, pay it forward, do a random act of kindness for someone else. We have prayed and asked God to open our eyes to an opportunity to bless a stranger in our path. We will continue to wait for God to put something on our hearts, and I am asking everyone who reads this story to pay it forward as well.

I have no way of knowing if that young man is a Christian or not, but I do know that he is sure acting like a Christian should act. What better way to thank him than to pay it forward, not only myself, but all my readers as well.

If you have every been blessed by a random act of kindness, either by a total stranger or someone you know, please share with us below in a comment.  Make sure to pay it forward as well.

What If?

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.                              Psalm 16:8 NIV

Fear is crippling. Worry stops us in our tracks. They distract us from the present and keep our focus on what we don't want instead of what we do want. Fear and worry say:
                                               
                                                       
                                                              I can't.

     It's too hard.
     What if I fail?
     What if I'm not good enough?
     What if nobody cares?
      How will I know?
     What if I don't have what it takes?



We all hear these types of messages from time to time, but do you know what you're really thinking and saying when you repeat them and believe them?

                                               You're saying to God,
                                                 "I don't trust you." 

Just let that sink in for a minute.......

Do you claim to know and trust God?  If so, ask yourself these questions:

 *Do you think your problems are too big or too complicated for God?
 *Do you think you know how to handle them better than He does?
 *Do you think God is big enough to create and manage the universe but is unable to handle your life?
 *Do you think God doesn't understand your worries?

I bet your answer would be "No" to all of those things.  Mine would too. However, I have come to realize that when I fret over my children's future and safety or when I continue to worry about finances or health problems, I am forgetting that God told me to "Cast all my cares upon Him."  Sometimes I have to remind myself that:

                                                    God Is Greater

He is greater than all my problems--past, present and future.  His abilities far outweigh anything I can possibly imagine, and nothing is going to happen that He doesn't allow.

When you find yourself worrying about anything--real or perceived, known or unknown--give it to God. And leave it there!

Why is this so important?  Because worry lives in the future. Worry paralyzes your heart. Worry drains your joy. Worry warps your perspective, and it strangles your faith.

God calls us to trust Him. Try to make it a practice this week to lay your worries and fears down before the Lord. Show your trust in Him. Revel in the peace He gives you, and find joy in the lightness that comes from a worry-free heart. And, last but not least, remember:

                                                  GOD IS GREATER!

Hide and Seek

Most of us can probably remember playing Hide-and-Seek when we were young children, and maybe you've even played it with your own kids recently. What most of us fail to realize is that we sometimes still try to hide ourselves from God or from those closest to us.

Have you ever found yourself running and hiding from God? Jonah did. Genesis 3 says, "The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.'"

The next verse is the pinnacle of the story:  

                             "But Jonah ran away from the Lord...."   

People have been running away from God since the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were ashamed of disobeying God, and so they hid. The Bible is full of stories about God's children hiding from Him, and we can usually trace the reasons to two different things.

Some people hide from God or others because they are ashamed of a sin and don't want to face the disappointment or hurt they have caused. Maybe they aren't ready to stop sinning, or they think that they can actually hide it from an all-knowing God. Adam and Eve didn't want God to find out about their sin of eating from the forbidden tree. They were ashamed, and so they hid themselves from the Lord.

Another common reason we hide is because God is asking us to do something we either don't want to do or think we can't do. This was Jonah's reason for hiding himself. God had asked him to go and preach to people whom Jonah was afraid of and didn't respect. He decided that he knew better than God, and so he went the opposite way.

But, guess what! God always finds us. He will always pursue us. He wants our obedience and our devotion, and He will give us several chances to get it right. It's important to remember that God will never let anyone or anything other than Him be our Savior.

God used a huge, wild storm to get Jonah's attention. He then used a giant fish to drive the point home even more. Jonah eventually realized that God meant business and that he better obey if he wanted to remain in close relationship with God.

I recently heard the story of Jonah told with a new and refreshing slant to it. Jonah being thrown into the sea and swallowed by a giant fish and then coughed up onto the beach was used to symbolize the act of baptism. In baptism, a person is dunked under water to signify dying to themselves and then lifted up, illustrating becoming alive in Christ. The burial of the old and the resurrection of the new. Isn't this what happened to Jonah? He had to give up his own ideas and plans and then choose to follow God's.

Have you found yourself hiding from something or someone? Is God calling you to something you don't think you can do, or maybe something you don't want to do? Do you have sin in your life that makes you ashamed? Maybe you aren't yet ready to give up that sinful habit.

I know that when I'm hiding from God I feel antsy, unsettled, easily worn down and somewhat depressed. This is God's way of convicting me and pursuing me, and sometimes it takes me a while to recognize it for what it is.

No matter what your reason for hiding, freedom and joy can only come through repentance, obedience and following Christ. Until you make that hard decision to come out into the open, no matter what the cost, you will always feel like you are playing Hide-and-Seek.  It's not a fun game, however, when the stakes are life and death.

The Danger of Arrogance

Have you ever heard the Bible story about Uzziah?  Although it's not a widely quoted passage, it's an important one, in that it serves as a weighty reminder of the dangers of pride and arrogance. Uzziah was just 16 years old when he became King of Judah. That is a scary thought when you think of the immaturity and impulsiveness of most 16 year olds.  However, Uzziah was a man after God's own heart.  2 Chronicles 26 tells us that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord just like his father had, and because of this, the Lord blessed him.

2 Chronicles 26:15b says, "His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped....."

It's the next part of the passage that serves as a warning to all of us.  2 Chronicles 26:15b goes on to say..."until he became powerful."  In other words, Uzziah was blessed and greatly helped by God until he became successful and powerful.

His pride kicked in and destroyed his relationship with God as well as his fame and prosperity among the people.  How do we know this? Because verse 26 says, "But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord."

Uzziah ended up being inflicted with leprosy and being condemned and shunned by his own people. He was so despised that when he died, he was not even allowed to be buried near the other kings' tombs.

God calls each of us to be humble. Does he want us to be meek and mild, not standing up for ourselves? Absolutely not! God wants us to be courageous and bold, but He wants our confidence to be grounded in Him. Being humble means acknowledging that God is the basis for all of your abilities and successes.

Questions to ask yourself to determine if you are arrogant or humble:
1. Do you believe that you and your own abilities are the reasons for your success, or do you know that you wouldn't have what you have without God's blessing?
2. Are you chasing after your own purposes or the purposes God has placed on your life?
3. Do you respond to godly confrontation with defensiveness and self-protection, or are you willing to look at your weaknesses and sins with a humble heart?
4. Do you see other people as obstacles to your own agenda, or do you see them as fellow children of God?

Sometime during his life journey, Uzziah took the off-ramp of pride and arrogance. Ask God to search your heart and open your eyes to any areas in which you have become prideful and self-reliant instead of depending on and following after Him.  It's so easy to do, and it can sneak up on every one of us.  Make sure God is your life-compass, not you.

A Fresh Start

Marty

We all need a fresh start every now and again.  There are days that I need one every couple of hours.  We took our two dogs, Marty and Badger, to the groomer this past weekend, and boy did it ever give them a new lease on life! They are bouncier, happier and all around better smelling than they were before.  I think sometimes a fresh start is all we need to invigorate ourselves a little and refocus on the positive, bright side of life.

Badger

It's easy to get down on ourselves when we have been failing to live up to our own goals or expectations, and it's even harder to feel encouraged when we think we're letting God down. But guess what-- God isn't going to give up on you, and He will let you start over as many times as you need to.

Newly Fresh and Beautiful 

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."



Give yourself a fresh start today. Forgive yourself for your shortcomings and ask God to help you reach your full potential.  Don't ever give up on yourself, because God never will.

Gratitude Greens

About one week ago, I jumped on my computer very quickly before heading out of the house, and what I saw in my inbox blew me away!  I had gotten an offer from a real live publishing company that was offering me a contract for my book.  The book is called “Gratitude Greens,” and it’s the first book I’ve ever written.  I just assumed that I would have to self-publish it, as I am brand new to the industry.  I’ve always loved to write, but I am also realistic about how competitive the book business is. 

I read the email from CrossLink Publishing 4 times before I actually believed what I was reading.  Then, just to be sure, I called my husband at work and read it out loud to him.  Could I be mistaken? Is this real? Could I be reading it wrong?  It was real, and the journey of publishing my first book has only just begun. 

I have always been fascinated by the power of positive thinking and the idea of the law of attraction, but I have wondered how and if those theories line up with God’s Truth. I am a Christian, and I know that God tells us not to fall prey to deceiving spirits.  I also know, however, that I feel much happier, lighter and more joyful when I focus on the positive and expect the best to happen.  For a period of time, I worried that relying on these theories of the “universe” bringing me what I focus on was in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches. 

After praying about my convictions and reading the Bible, looking for clues, I came to a realization.  God, Himself, tells us to focus on the positive.  Philippians 4:8 says “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

That sounds like positive thinking to me!  God also says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones,” in Proverbs 17:22. 

This made sense to me and enabled me to reconcile my belief in God as the one and only Creator of the universe and my beliefs in the law of attraction and positive thinking.  After all, the law of attraction claims that the universe will bring you what you focus on.  Who made the universe? God did!  Who made it work the way it does? God did!  The only way the universe is going to bring you what you focus on is if God wants it to.

I wrote “Gratitude Greens” as a way of expressing my belief that when God calls Christians to be the Light of the World, he is calling us to be grateful, positive and light-filled. This can only be done by focusing on the many blessings and wonders we are surrounded by each and every day.  This must be done on a continuous, consistent basis.  It is a choice, and we are each called to make it.

What are you grateful for today? Give yourself a few minutes today to focus on your blessings. How does this make you feel? Try to carry that positive feeling with you throughout your busy week.