OH THOSE TEENAGERS!!

This morning my dog ran out the door to chase his little female friend that walks the same time every morning. As I ran out the door with no shoes I noticed that someone had t.p.'d our home. At first I was touched that someone took the time to show their love for us. I remembered my days of youth ministry and knew that you only t.p.'d the homes of the ones you love. Then suddenly my joy turned to anger when I saw egg, toilet paper, red candy, syrup, mulch and yes...my favorite..yellow sticky notes plastered everywhere.

So how do I know it was a teenager? I know because I had to ask my teen to explain some of the words that were written on my car. She had to explain to me their meaning. So here is my advice to the one who chose to deface our property. If you really wanted to offend the adults in the house....splurge and buy the larger bottle of syrup. We need for you to completely spell the words...no abbeviations. Also...next time...use larger letters. Thanks for the additional toilet paper. With the state of the economy all donations are appreciated. Also...we like our eggs scrambled...not in our tail pipes. Next time...please bring over a little more mulch. We were about to order a truck load and you could really help us save money.

If by chance we meet and you have to fulfill some kind of community service...I have a few ideas in mind. I think the two of us would have a great day serving together while you listen to me tell you every story about my childhood, my lectures on teenagers and most importantly....you will about the term grace. I will explain to you what it means and about the One who gives that to everyone...yes...even teens who are creative and energetic.

TO THE CORE OF MY BEING

The other day I was watching (not participating) a work out video on television. There was a word that the trainer kept using "core". She kept saying "strengthen your core" "tighten your core" "work on your core." What's with the core? I just want tighter legs and arms...as a matter of fact...what is my core? I learned the core is the center part of our body and really needs to be the strongest part of our body. It carries and supports everything. It made me wonder about the "core" of my spritual walk. First of all...what is it...how do I make it stronger? My spiritual core is my faith. If it's not strong...forget about the rest. It needs to support so many areas of my life. How do I exercise my spiritual core? That's what I am pondering now. I know the obvious ways are prayer, studying, fellowship, worship, etc. How strong is your core? Are you watching or participating?

The Necklace

A few years ago I wrote a children's book called "I AM BEAUTIFUL". It's about a little girl who only feels beautiful when she is wearing her princess costume. One day she is searching frantically for the costume so she can feel beautiful. Her mother sees the importance of this costume and explains to her little girl that she truly is a "princess" with or without the costume.

When I wrote the book I had a dream that a special necklace would come with the book. I envisioned that it would be round and pale pink. It would have a little silver crown in the middle. Not just any crown...but one that looked like a "fairy tale princess crown" with little round circles on top.

A few weeks ago I was at a conference and look what I found...and bought....




I spoke to a representative about the possibility of buying this special necklace for my book...I'll keep you posted.

GOD IS GOOD!!!

WHAT IF YOU KNEW?

Ask yourself this question..."What if you knew you would be with Jesus today? What if you knew tonight you would not be sleeping at home...but in a few hours you would be falling into the arms of Christ?

My best friend's mom will probably be in heaven by tonight. It's an eery thought for our human minds to comprehend. She has been sick for sometime and symptoms show that today could possibly be her last day on earth. As I type this...it almost seems unreal. She is ready. She knows the Lord and she knows that once she takes her last breath...her real life begins. To think that heaven is preparing to accept her possibly today is a little unsettling but also exciting.

What would I do if I knew today was my last day? I don't know if we can accurately answer that. We can speculate and guess...but what would we really do.

I guess we should always live like it's our last day. Say what needs to be said. Reach out to those who need help. Give like it's not our's to give and love like we aren't afraid of getting hurt.

Pray for the Horvath family and tonight when you go to bed...think of Helen...she'll be with Jesus.


****UPDATE

At 9:30 am this morning Helen went home to be with Jesus.

HE AMAZES ME!!!!

This has been a very challenging week in our household...but it ended on a postive note. We were able to go to Kalahari Resort this weekend and enjoy some downtime. Well almost downtime. I was at a confernce so Wally and the kids were able to enjoy the waterpark. Speaking Thru Me Ministries had a booth and I had the honor of representing this incredible ministry. Many women responded well to our mission and a lot of interest was created. Friday night I was feeling really tired and a little discouraged by things involving my week. A lady approached my booth and began talking about her desire to speak and write. She began to energize me as she shared how she felt like God was calling her to speak and share her story. I encouraged her to contact Leigh and offer to write devotions for a radio opportunity Leigh has been given. She gave me her name and it looked very familiar. Then it dawned on me...I had met her three years ago. I asked her if she had attended an event in Mentor three years ago. She looked at me and began to cry. She said "Yes...and you shared your testimony at this event." I looked at her and said "Cancer survivor...you had shared with me your story of surviving ovarian cancer." Then I began to cry. We both remembered how we had a lengthy conversation that evening and promised to get together after the event. We had exchanged phone numbers and we had both accidentally threw them away. She shared with me how recently God was prompting her again to write and speak but she didn't know where to begin. She prayed that God would allow her to run into the speaker that she had met three years ago (me) who had encouraged her to follow what God was calling her to do. She didn't remember my name or where I lived. He did just that. He had me drive over an hour and a half away and had her drive even further for our paths to cross. How cool is God. We both just felt sort of awestruck of what God had done. Don't you love it when you experience such a personal response from the creator of the universe? I do! I want more of those personal encounters. I want them daily. I want to truly be in sync with God! I am so glad that this lady is again in my life and I am SO GRATEFUL that God never loses my number.

FEELING DEFEATED

Today I was driving to church and I had a heavy heart. For those of you who know me well know that I am PASSIONATE about teaching young girls about modesty. For many reasons this is near and dear to my heart. I am saddened by the way our young girls feel that they need to dress. Ways that I feel also sadden the One who created them. I guess this always hits home when I see the many many prom pictures that are posted on social network sights. My heart goes out to not only the girls but to the guys. Guys who are trying to live a pure life but struggle with this when girls are scantly dressed. I have heard many girls say "that's their problem...they shouldn't be thinking those thoughts." I don't think girls truly understand the mind of a young man. For those who profess to be followers of God's Word He makes it very clear that we are "not to cause our brother to stumble." My heart was heavy today as I truly felt that satan is winning in this area. I don't like to lose and I don't like it when, as someone in ministry, feels defeated. Tears came down my face as I prayed for our young girls. I prayed that they would see the importance of living a modest and pure life.

If I could talk to each one of those girls here is what I would say:

1) God created you in a unique and wonderful way. Turn off the world and tune in to Him.

2) I would challenge them that if they are walking the walk...they need to dress the walk. What you wear on the outer self can sometimes detract or often represent the inner self.

3) If God has called you someday to be a wife then that means your husband is out there somewhere. Protect what is meant for him...not the eyes of others. As Dannah Gresh says "be a secretkeeper".

Today I was praying to God and asking him to "show up today in a large way." I asked that He affirm the call that He has placed on my life and reveal Himself to me.

I left church the same way I entered..defeated. Defeated by situations and people. The intent of this post is not to host a "pity party" but to just lay it out there and say...there is a battle. As scripture says..."the battle is not against flesh and blood..." I need to equip myself a little better for battle. I need to be in the Word more and on my knees more.

FINDING MY HERO

As I continue to recruit people to volunteer with children, the word hero keeps going through my mind. Kids needs a hero and that hero is Jesus. I want them to be some child's hero. The one that shares Christ with them.

It made me realize who my hero was. I was six years old and I believe her name was Marilyn. She was my VBS teacher and she told me about Jesus in terms that a six year old could understand. That day I gave my six year old heart to Jesus. She was the hero that lead me to Jesus.

I feel compelled to try and find her today and tell her thank you. I will blog about my journey as I try to track her down. Who was the hero that lead you to Christ? Have you told them thank you? Join me in this journey. Share with me as you find the one who introduced you to our greatest hero.

Gotta go...I have some investigating to do.