Coming out of the Blog Smog

Ok this new blog design stuff? It's PROOF that I hate designing anything. I like this design after about 4,000 wasted tries and 1.5 hours of the most wasted time in my life, but of course, it says happy new year.

Plus, I am not the happy happy color, designy whiney type gal. I am the straight black and white gal. The content is better than the package gal. Especially at 40-something. And I can say 40-something because I AM over 40 and it makes me sound sage like. Like I am aged. Pronounced a-jid, for extra emphasis if you like.

I wanted to start a new blog. Should have. Maybe still will. But am still trying to figure out the design part. Wanted a big country look for the new homestead. But nothing worked. I like the more rock n rolly look.

Okay...enough of that already.

2 Peter's in the HOUSE!!!

We began 2 Peter at The Chap yesterday. JK, I am NOT going to start calling CC "The Chap". Just had to try it to freak you all out. P-Diddy stuck when I called Doug that once in a post and I do NOT want this one to stick as well. Lol

Anyway, of course- I could not deny the truth yet again that Doug discussed about ignoring who I am in Christ...again! If you are called...and if you possess the power that Christ gives...why oh WHY do we deny it and ignore it????

I lament that I possess a lot of Peter and Paul's worst qualities. Sigh. I'd like to think that makes me just like an apostle!! LOL! But really what it says is I am just a sinner saved by grace. (Ok, that's bad theology but you know what I mean)

Read this wonderful devotional by Oswald Chambers...I just CANNOT get over this guy!!!! Amazing every time!!



The Piercing Question


Do you love Me? —John 21:17


Peter’s response to this piercing question is considerably different from the bold defiance he exhibited only a few days before when he declared, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" ( Matthew 26:35 ; also see Matthew 26:33-34 ). Our natural individuality, or our natural self, boldly speaks out and declares its feelings. But the true love within our inner spiritual self can be discovered only by experiencing the hurt of this question of Jesus Christ. Peter loved Jesus in the way any natural man loves a good person. Yet that is nothing but emotional love. It may reach deeply into our natural self, but it never penetrates to the spirit of a person. True love never simply declares itself. Jesus said, "Whoever confesses Me before men [that is, confesses his love by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God" ( Luke 12:8 ).

Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. "For the Word of God is living and powerful . . . , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . ."— to the point that no deception can remain ( Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord’s Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us.


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Stream of Thought

Busy Busy.

Facebook marketing plan going great.

Kids are at Disney.

I'm not.

I'm glad.

I'm warm. LOL!

Next month is probably singly the most impt month for LFM. We pulled in an exclusive interview with a famous author.

Now, THAT is exciting for a small fry like us.

I'm behind the biggest 8 ball of my life this month and cannot get this thing GOING.

What a ride this is....our 24th issue is just around the corner....will it be our last? Will it be the start of the next 24? Only one fellow knows....

Happy Birthday to You!

Lol, what a fun time we had at Lauren's 10th Birthday Party. Really you guys, your kids are just wonderful. They were so darling laughing and excited. I love girls. I love your girls!

Lauren (obviously) ate up all the attention!















The cake was actually SO easy. Yet looks impressive! I will post a how to post on this as anyone could do it.










Group Shot. Lauren the goof off as usual.

Kate had the table all to herself...briefly.

Kids were having a ball from the get go. They must have needed a fun day off at the end of the week!

They ate like champs. Eggs, bacon, sausage in croissants, fruit salad, bagels w/cream cheese, french toast bake and juice!

Games were my favorite, we played "Who am I" (taped Disney characters to the back of the girls and everyone had to treat the person like who they were. If they guessed it, they win. From Mulan to Maid Marian (is that Disney?) that was a great beginning.

Then, "Go to Bed"...a secret Mom "winks" the kids to "bed". (read, hit the floor) Lol until she is the last one standing-unless someone can guess who it is!

On to everyone's favorite, we played "Panic Word". Two teams with a stack of word cards. Rotating girls drew a card and had to give clues to make their team say the word. Timed to a few minutes, whichever team got the most cards won. Highly competitive and fast, plays like verbal charades meets 100,000 Pyramid.

Tremendous game guys! Fun to watch too!

In keeping with the sleep over theme, we decorated pillow cases with fabric paint and markers. I found this fabric computer paper that has a peel and stick backing. Download a pic (or any graphic) print and stick on a craft! Cool! (Many of the girls were into this Live-Laugh-Love theme. Love E. Kliber's take though, "Live-Laugh-Liz!"

SO good to spend a little time with Madi too! We NEVER get to see her!!!! Such a cutie!

Diligent workers.

Ok, I didn't MEAN to do a pinata! (sorry, I don't know how to make a tilde on the computer)

But we did and did they love it! We initially just got it because it was so cute but we ended up filling it and doing it. It was TOUGH to break and there were loud chants of "Ma-di! Ma-di! Ma-di!

and "Let's go Janie, let's go! WOW.

Of course, it broke in half and fell the ground refusing to participate by breaking. We nearly beat that thing to death and could have taken out a kid or two in the process. I had to pick it up, rip the top off and fling it across the room! Much to the delight and screaming of some cutie pie girls. We also painted toes, did some Eduardian hair do's and learned a new dance!

Girl's fave? Why the limo of course! One small benefit of the magazine is the ability to trade! No I didn't pay for this ridiculous thing! LOL! You will see their ad in March issue. :) But they were so wonderful and the limo was just beautiful! I wish you all could have seen it. I have never seen the girl's faces so beaming with excitement. So fun. And really we did it for YOU parents too so you wouldn't have to come out and get them so late.

2nd load

First load takes off...with loud music and water and soda. Very Fun!

This whole party was so much fun to plan and pull off. I can't thank you all enough for letting your girls be a part. Lauren loved all of her VERY thoughtful gifts and was just thrilled to spend time with some girlfriends. I hope they had fun, I think they did!

I will send some individual pics to you all. I have some great shots of each of the girls. :) That's all folks.

My Utmost for His Highest

January 27, 2010
Look Again and Think


Do not worry about your life . . . —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

"I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . ." Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, "What are your plans for next month— or next summer?" Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

Stream of thought on my Stream of thought

My stream of thought post hard to follow? Sorry, it's likely because it is my crazy stream of thought. I re-read over it and thought maybe I should clarify a bit! Though that is often where the trouble begins. In the clarifying. lol! :)

To be clear on two items: Of course I am thrilled for A & J's new baby in every way. I just meant that I am especially glad they did it. There is little regret in parenting as difficult as it can be. It changes the me focus to a we focus and that is something we all need. Regularly.

CCOTL: NEVER to imply that the teaching is simple as in not challenging...just that it is straightforward. Two very different things. The challenge at this Calvary church (can't speak to any others as I have never attended one) comes in the call to action to DO God's Word not just HEAR God's Word. And I am a practical application GIRL!!!! What is the point of learning it if you do not get to the doing it! I am a great lover of theology...would have loved to have gone to seminary (just for the education, no worries, John Knox is NOT rolling over in his grave) but am seeing that vs by vs teaching is (dare I say?) how it should be done!!!!

The whole I love people but people don't like me thing? Are you kidding? Everyone loves me! YOU love me don't you? Lol I just meant that one of the finer points about business world vs. Christian world is that it is not that nice sometimes. I know I know, the Christian world can be not that nice too, but I am talking about ideally....being in the business world is EXHAUSTING and there is little room for error lest EVERYONE who isn't IN LOVE with you grabs it and runs. My merely BEING Christian has worked against me on many social levels. It doesn't bother me though...and is actually how I found my peace with Facebook. I remembered that as long as I am acting right, expressing rightly, then my faith bothering others is their problem not mine. Good reason to pray for them!

SOMEONE and for the life of me I cannot remember who...I think it was my old Pastor from Vero who I was Facebooking with, lol, told me something awesome. People irrtiate you because they are not on your heart. WOW. THINK about that. Think about someone who is irritating you. (yeah, I get it, the big funny would be to say that I am irritating you right now) But anyway, think about a person who REALLY bugs you and then ask yourself, "Is that person on my heart?" You are going to answer no! All of a sudden, irritation gone, coals on head, and prayer ensuing for said irritator. Pretty cool huh?

My meeting yesterday went well. It actually could not have gone better. Second meeting with them on Friday. Trying not to put cart before horse. Where or where is Warren Buffet when you need him?

And that wraps up my stream of thought on my stream of thought.

Except, no one even asked me about my poor big toe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (I hate it when my toe falls asleep during the day...then it's up all night.) Yes, it is still completely NUMB. Going on a full week. That can't be good?

Stream of Thought

Hello Stream of Thought..it's been a long time. Let's go.

I have made peace with Facebook. Yes, it's not so bad.

I have a BEYOND huge meeting tomorrow with a media group about the magazine. I have not been able to really prepare AND no manner of reaching out for help has produced help, so let the proverbial chips fall.

I have learned more in the last year than in perhaps my entire life.

Since the purchase of the magazine until now, I can still say that I still truly love people though I am fairly certain a marked amount of people are not so crazy about me.

There is nothing, at all, in the world, like freedom.

It is a good thing I went to the early service this morning. I don't think I could have withstood the longer version. Can you say, OUCH???? I love that at CCOTL, the teaching is straightforward and to the point and often leaves me feeling like a baby Christian. Deep theology containing words I can't pronounce let alone define, is a great hobby but not necessarily productive to spiritual progress. You must come to the Lord with the faith of a child and not forget the simplicity of the Word! woohoo!

I find it interesting that God has me in a place that the harder I reach out to others for help, advice or answers the less it seems to come in anything less than a pretty watery platitude. (no offense anyone) But encouragement seems to come in spades. Typical God work.

I am beginning to taste the motto I so long quoted: "God dreams bigger dreams for us than we can dream for ourselves."

My big toe on my right foot has been dead asleep for 24 hours a day for the 4th day in a row and it is really beginning to bug the crayola out of me. I need a good adjustment and 2 massages per week for 3 months. Hmmm...I bet I could trade for that. Last year I traded for an entire mouth full of dental work...what's a good massage between friends. (hey, that's kinda racey)

I am glad Amanda and Joel had a baby. REALLY glad. Sometimes it's in the having one that turns the light on to what parenthood is and means. I am so happy for them! But not in the typical way people are happy for new parents.

My cats think the puppy is a cat. Kind of. They play and attack each other like cats. It's hilarious. Evidently, they are not threatened by my dog.

I wonder what tomorrow is going to be the catalyst for. What if its nothing? That would be funny.

Knowing that God is in control for real really helps take the wonder out of the "I wonder what if". I think it, but then I always think, who cares? Doesn't matter. What He will have is what He will have.

Still loving sovereignty. It sure does help in the view of complete and utter wonder.

Hope I don't have to pay for it one day.

Just kidding, I know my theology but I sure don't deserve it.

I continue to be probably the worst Christian that ever lived. It PERPLEXES me so on how this can possibly still be.

The old adage '"The more I know, the more I realize the less I know" becomes truer and truer after the age of 40.

People I secretly think rock: Shelly W., Kathy H., Vigo M., and a handful of various misunderstood kids I know.

Now I lay me down to sleep....

Birthday a comin'!

Had to share these fun invites early. Don't let your kids see!

This fun birthday is being planned for Lauren's 10th and I am pretty excited. I used to throw fun parties for the kids but when we moved here, we knew no one so we had family birthdays. Well, of COURSE raising the girls as reformers they enjoyed family birthdays more. (Who knew? Me having a liberal upbringing is always throwing some kind of party, lol)

But Lauren said 10 is a party birthday! So WOOHOO to that.

This is an almost sleepover party...

kids come at night dressed in pajamas (DRESS THEM IN PAJAMAS Moms!) to enjoy breakfast for dinner, decorate pillow cases, play sleep over games for great prizes and then be dropped home via a stretch limo! (traded an ad for that people, don't worry, sanity in tact.)

The cake is RIDICULOUS. And Mom gets a party fix to boot. Life is good for the 10 year old this year!

Sand Jo Haps

So after a day or two of just way too much sleeping....I thought Sandy Jo might not be getting enough nutrition. We happended into Piglet's Pantry where after trying on a few harnesses and giving up since she totally does NOT need one, we happened upon the subject of nutrition.

She explained all the options and introduced me to "raw" food for animals. Gave me a few samples and off I go.

They come frozen in little squares, you defrost them and give them to the animal.

Sandy Jo went CRAZY for it and in two seconds flat has become a new puppy.

Full on, regular puppy.

As the runt, I don't think she was getting enough nutrition with the competition of her much bigger siblings and Mom wouldn't tolerate them nursing much anymore. She didn't care for her kibble that much regardless of the fact that I soaked it in warm water.

So when she got ahold of this human grade raw food, she really got so excited.

So I think in one fail swoop, she chose her new dog food, the highest and best quality nutrition you can get for a dog. Now, I can only afford this food because she only eats one little morsel twice a day. lol If she were a German Sheperd, forget it. Purina Dog Chow for her. But she is not and so it easy to allow this small luxury for her. The free sample alone that they gave me should last for a month or two!

Plus we will mix with new high quality kibble as well so we are really happy to have said puppy eating, doing other normal puppy things and playing, playing, playing! It was amazing to watch the transormation.

Pottying is going well. Yorkie's I guess have a stubborness from what people have said about potty training, but perhaps the mix of Maltese, Yorkie and a little Shitzu mixed in gave us a better head start.

She sleeps with us and when she awakes at night (about 2X) I just set her on the floor and she runs over to her paper and goes potty and then runs back to the bed and I pick her back up and back to sleep we go. She sleeps to 4:30 which is an hour past me so I have been staying in bed with her and dozing for that last hour too. Today we did not get up until 5:30! Sacre bleu!

So far? Puppy success. Can't wait to get her to the vet to get all the low down on the do's and don't and when's and what's and why's.

I'll post a vidoe of her playing later today.

Thanks for all the well wishes!

Oh...my.

My Utmost for His Highest

Have You Ever Been Alone with God?

When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples —Mark 4:34

Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls.

It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it.

But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?

We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God.

The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I’m so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone.

Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone.

Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.

My Utmost for His Highest

WOW was this an amazing comfort and word today. In all of our trying to be liked and accepted and for some of us, trying to reamin as quiet as we can to avoid the seemingly neverending spotlight focused on us...that there is some relief in the knowledge that one cannot always avoid it.


January 11, 2010
What My Obedience to God Costs Other People
READ:
As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon . . . , and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus —Luke 23:26

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, "You call this Christianity?" We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.

When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, "I will never accept anything from anyone." But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).

A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, "I will not cause other people to suffer"? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.

Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my darling Rachel. 13 years old today and bringing joy to our lives each and every one of the 4,645 days you've breathed air on this earth. You are the quintessential "one in a million". We simply adore you.

The Line Divided

Have I told you how scary FB is? Wow, I mean to say, that is the devil's playground. I don't know what possesses me to think that Christians can operate in the mainstream business world without repercussion, but let me help you out with that.

They can't.

Over some bigtime fussing over whether to or not to post the color of the bra that you are currently wearing, lines were drawn and sides taken.

Now I can argue any side of a debate. It almost doesn't matter which side either. It just doesn't REALLY matter that much. But after some BASIC BASIC talk about WHY such a thing isn't a good idea from a Christian standpoint...guns were drawn.

It was a really interesting commentary on Christians and their walks. I noticed that the Christians backed down, as usual...which to me was likely the better thing. But the other side gained momentum. I knew most of the people there and saw that they were the new age, do whatever you want, what is WRONG with you Christian types anyway but the surprise came from the mouths of Christians themselves...vulgarity, cussing, the F word, flippancy and more.

No matter of "discussion" went on at all. For all the hate that others claim Christians spew, I saw none of that from the Christians but plenty of it from the other side. A LOT of hate directed at anyone who did not agree.

Good discussion is good for the Christian, but there is something to be said about being evenly yoked when discussing some issues. Otherwise, you are just looking for a fight.

I was disappointed but not surprised at the number of Christian women who IGNORED scripture- writing it off as fun, harmless, etc. While it's not a salvation issue, it goes to the every day walk of they "typical" christian from the "typical" church...no one held to any kind of standard at all anymore and everyone shouting "Judgement!" when they are.

I had it by then and revamped my account, deleted posts, and am now operating as a stand back business person in the community. I am afraid I may have lost my fight. I thought about standing on the other side as I had just been a commenter on most things but you know, I eventually make a pretty easy target so held back on what I REALLY thought. But I don't want to be a target since I was there for business.

So where's the line? Do you stand or defer? Do you care or let it go? It seems that it was never a question of right or wrong...that is a no brainer to any Christian...it seems that sin is just so easy to participate in all in the name of "harmless, fun".

I guess it's harmless to (possibly)incite lust in men's minds...it's harmless to show younger woman the harmlessness of brash, vulgar public activity, it's harmless to be immodest in front of pastors, husbands, children, business people...it's harmless to set the example to non Christians about what Christians consider proper behavior. That is the danger of social media...you do not know how far reaching it is...
you can't possibly grasp it. No worries, it's harmless.
It wasn't about being offended. But that is what everyone was saying...."whoever is offended, get a life." type thing. But I didn't see a lot of people offended, just stating their own side of it and being shot down for it. I personally wasn't OFFENDED by it, I don't think anything much offends me anymore...I think that comes with age...when you are offended, you think you have the "right" to something and as Christians, you give up your rights. But it is clearly, clearly wrong. Not in a legalistic way, in a scriptural way.

I admit I am disillusioned with people and the world right now. With myself and what is good, right and true. It seems a hopeless fight for the Christian and any kind of decent Christian upbringing. The power that families have over their own legacies is so grossly underused that I can only shake my head anymore. Nothing seems to matter to anyone about behavior and the affect it has on others.

I like good harmless fun, I like private girl fun too...I like pushing the edge along with anyone else too but how, where, when, what and why are important questions to be asked before I do. I mess it up all the time. But when we, as Christians can blatantly show off our sin, blatantly ignore the Truth all in the name of "fun", then like it or not, some spiritual self examination should occur.

It's true that it's better to stand alone and be right then stand with the multitudes and be wrong but it's a lonely place to be. The one or two against the multitudes immediately got shot down and then shut down.

Sin is sick and we are all sick with it. But when we refuse to confess and repent, when we refuse to be teachable and grow...then we risk the basic scriptural principle of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins...so go and sin no more.

In Christ Alone

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV) For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.



How are you doing with your New Year's resolutions?



I suspect Paul only had one resolution on his list: "I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified"



Paul's message is radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone. What does this mean?

It's not Christ plus your good behavior.

It's not Christ plus the number of Bible verses you memorize.

It's not Christ plus your tithe or the church you attend.

It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar, class, book, friend, teacher or small group.


It's simply Christ plus nothing. Christ and Christ alone.


Now that makes for one Joyful New Year.