Windscraps
On Trash, and Treasures... and Starting Over

On Mondays, we turn into an old married couple.

Although no pastor I know ever actually takes an entire day off, Dave tries to stay away from his office on Mondays, and he likes to pretend (though I know differently) that he's not thinking about church and the people it contains.

We begin the day with a cup of coffee--same as every other morning--but this cup is sipped leisurely. Sighs of satisfaction usually occur at some point. I wait as long as I can. Eventually, when I can't stand the suspense any longer, I'll ask, "What should we do today?"

Dave will take a minute before answering. He might look out the window, or stare at the fire flickering in the wood stove. "Well ..." he'll begin, when a sufficient list has formed. "I should probably work on the goat barn a bit."

I nod and sip, still waiting. I know he won't stop there. The goat barn is an ongoing hobby. That one will come up every Monday morning from now to eternity. I'm waiting to hear about the other possibilities--the ones that involve climbing into the truck and saying adios to the farm for a few hours.

"We're about out of feed," he'll say. Now we're getting to it. This means a trip out to Dale's farm (if he means hay) or Strotz Feed (if he means Layer 100 pellets and scratch for the chickens).

"And I need to get out to the dump."

I restrain myself from clapping my hands. Really and truly. A big part of my delight is simple reminiscence. I have very fond memories of going to the dump, and no trip has yet failed to make me remember my grandpa.

The dump, when I was a child, was a place of great mystery and possibility. The mystery was how people of sound thinking could part with all that treasure. The possibility was how much of it I'd end up carting home.

"Shanny, let's try to leave more garbage than we bring back," Grandpa would suggest. I always thought it greatly optimistic of him.

The dump today is a mechanical, no-touching, no-possibility place, but back then, you could actually walk among the garbage and scrounge. I'd leave Grandpa talking to the dump guy and hold my nose as I scurried among the seagulls, poking at piles with my sneakered-foot. Oh, the delights I discovered among all the filth! I found a pogo stick once. The blue plastic handle was split on one side and altogether gone from the other, and the springs squeaked terribly when you bounced, but when did a pogo stick not squeak? Grandma wasn't as delighted as I when she saw me lugging that pogo stick out of the truck. Her resistance, I'm sure, was simply disgust. She had a thing about germs and trash and the like. It's one of those things she passed down to me, eventually ... and after much resistance on my part.

Another time I found a bike--a red bike with a bent front wheel and no seat. I envisioned a miraculous healing of that bike, and me riding like the wind around the farm, a swift, red blur of joy and frenzy. Grandpa didn't see it. After reminding me that I had other transportation options back home--including a perfectly good bike and my choice of horses--he vetoed my dream. Some part of me still grieves that sad, red mass.

Since the dump today has a no-poking rule ... and since, as I said, I've inherited my grandmother's disdain for germs and probably wouldn't poke even if they did allow it, I've surmised that there's another reason for my love of the dump. I think it has something to do with the fact that we've loaded up a lot of unnecessary and unpleasant remnants of our life and driven them away from our dwelling place, and I know that once they've been tossed over the side of the pit, I never have to lay eyes on them again. We return home with a truckload of empty garbage cans and a fresh start.

You know where I'm going with this. I can't not see a comparison between dump-treks and Jesus. The bending of your knee in first-time awe and surrender is like making a first run to the dump after a lifetime of garbage accumulation. Prayers at bedtime, after reviewing the mistakes of your day, are akin to emptying the little can you keep next to your desk. And those middle of the day, I-can't-believe-I-just-did-that prayers are like finding a tissue in your pocket and tossing it where it belongs.

Life is a journey through filth. God is a Father with a germ issue. And we're nothing more than children, scampering where we ought not to scamper, and too often poking where we shouldn't poke.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

©2009, Shannon Woodward

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Crayons in my Soup

Mom-i-Festo

This year, instead of making New Year’s Resolutions, I decided to write my “Mom-i-Festo.” This is the ideal, and I won’t always reach these goals (but NOT having goals means I won’t reach them for sure!). But the following points explain who I’d like to become as a child of God, wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend.

• I will no longer compare myself to other moms. I have talents, quirks, and special qualities all my own, and I will start to own and (YES!) even celebrate them, beginning today. I will see my weaknesses as God’s opportunity to be my strength.

• On the days when it gets so hard that I want to run out the door screaming and never come back, I will breathe. Slowly. And lock myself in the bathroom until I can gain control.

• I will remember that I’m a good mom. After all, a bad mom doesn’t question whether or not she’s a good mom.

• I will not gossip about other moms. Every mother has her own set of challenges, most of which I know nothing about. I will not demean or demoralize my fellow moms by talking about them behind their backs. And if someone else is gossiping, I will ask them to change the subject.

• I will no longer say “yes” to everything that’s asked of me. I will be thoughtful, prayerful, and deliberate in making decisions. That way, my family won’t suffer when I say “yes” too easily.

• I will no longer do everything for my kids. I want to raise them to be responsible, mature adults who can contribute to the world in amazing ways. This won’t happen if they can’t shop, cook, clean, and take care of themselves.

• I will no longer put my husband on the end of the “to-do” list. I realize that the health of our relationship makes a huge difference in our kids’ well-being, so I choose to make time regularly for intimacy (of all kinds). Date nights, here we come!

• I will ask for help when I need it, seek out other moms for mentoring, friendship and support, and make maintaining my friendships a priority (AND I will ask God to help me choose friends who understand when I’m swamped and can’t be there for them).

• I will take care of myself by exercising and eating right, so that I can be a good steward of the body God’s given me (this one is tough for me, but I’ve seen the results of not taking care of myself and it ain’t pretty!)

• I will make time to be still, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. During that time, I will listen to God, meditate on His truths, and pray. And when I can, I will take longer stretches of time for Bible study. It’s my lifeline, and the only real source of peace and wisdom in this mixed-up world!

• I will lighten up. I will laugh, and play, and enjoy my kids. I only get them for a short time (although the days are long, the years go by fast!), and they are a blessing, not a burden.

• I will believe that God delights in me, loves me, and accepts me--just as I am. He is with me as I navigate the uncertainties of motherhood, and He will make up for my mistakes. I will lean on Him during the dark days, and serve Him, through serving my family, with a grateful heart.

See if you can adapt this “Mom-i-festo” to your own mothering journey. Who knows, maybe we can start a mothering revolution!
 

©2009, Dena Dyer

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Financialy Free...

Resolutions Or Real Solutions?

Too many times, I think we treat our financial decisions like we treat our new year's resolutions.  We might make a half-hearted attempt at "doing things right" financially, only to fall off the wagon weeks or months into the process. The problem is, our resolutions are too lofty and too ambiguous to be lived out.  It's like saying, "I am going to lose weight."  And yet, that statement in itself does very little to help us actually lose weight.  We need a plan.  We have to turn our resolutions into real solutions.  Here is a list of ideas on how to do that where your money is concerned:

Resolution: I am not going to go into credit card debt anymore.
Real Solution: I am going to cut up my credit cards and cancel my accounts so I cannot make charges.

Resolution: I am going to be a better steward of my money.
Real Solution: I am going to be accountable to someone and pray before spending money.

Resolution: I am not going to make impulse purchases.
Real Solution: I am going to wait at least three days to make all purchases.  If I still want the item after that time, then I will go back.

Resolution: I am going to spend less money somehow.
Real Solution: I am going to commit to looking for used items before buying the same thing new. I am also going to cut coupons and only buy things on sale.  I am going to pray for God to provide all my needs—even if it means waiting longer to buy something I really want.

Resolution: I am going to manage my money better.
Real Solution: I am going to take a class at my church or read a book that will help me learn how to manage my money. 

Resolution: I am going to save money.
Real Solution: I am going to start a savings account for a certain amount of money per month through my bank or employer.

Resolution: I am going to keep track of my spending.
Real Solution: I am going to create a budget with expense categories to help me see where my money is going.

Resolution: I am going to stop wasting money.
Real Solution: I am going to assess my spending habits and cut out those things that aren't necessary or don't line up with my priorities.

Resolution: I am going to talk to my spouse about money.
Real Solution: I am going to set up a weekly time to go over our calendars and any upcoming expenses.  We can also discuss our budget and take a look at our account at that time if needed.

Resolution: I am going to be debt free.
Real Solution: I will make an appointment with a financial counselor or read a book to help me map out a plan for getting out of debt.

Have you made financial resolutions this year about being a better steward, getting out of debt, or being more intentional with your money? Spend some time this month determining how to transform your resolutions into real solutions, then find someone to hold you accountable to follow through with the parameters you have set for yourself.

©2009, Marybeth Whalen

 

Ask Sandy

I’m Late – For a Very Important Date!

Is Constantly Being Late a Fact of Life?

I remember all too well how I used to rush around to get somewhere on time.  There was always something distracting me from my mission - dishes, morning routines, feeding the older kids and nursing the baby,  phone calls, waiting for naptime to finish – as my mind was darting around, multi-tasking to get in the car and on the road … on time!

Do I have everything?
Do I have the dish that was delegated to me?
Is everybody in the car?
What’s the time we’re supposed to be there? 

Shoot, we’re late – again!

Sound familiar?  It does to me, because more than enough times I’ve found myself in this situation.  And even as my kids are older now, I still struggle with getting to places on time.  I do have to say that I’ve worked much harder on being prompt, because as a hostess, I do not appreciate it when my guests are late (or really late!)

Do people just not care?  Do they miscalculate?  Or just lose track of time?  A while back, a reader from my blog brought up very good questions about this subject!

Dear Sandy,
What is the deal with people always being late to things? I am not an overly scheduled person by any means, but I do value punctuality. Is it a generational thing? Or is it a young mom thing? I am 30 and have 2 little ones. I go to a mom group, play dates, a Bible study. I have parties at my own home, lunch dates, etc.   In every situation, whether hosted by me or not, with all different people (although specifically moms with little ones), people are consistently late to things - like by a 1/2 hour or more. I just don’t get it and I think it is really rude and hard to plan things when everyone always shows up when they want.

I’m right with my friend on this one, although I do think it’s a fact of life.  And I do think it’s harder for moms to get to certain places on time, depending on how many kids and how much she is stretched! 

It can be really irritating for a hostess who's trying hard because it does feel like people are disregarding your efforts when they won't arrive on time.  So what is kosher, when it comes to arriving on time? 

When do you draw the line of being “late” or being “rude?”

• Open houses:  The term "open house" suggests a drop-in situation, which means come anytime between the times stated on the invitation.
  
  
• Brunch, Lunch, Dinner or Potluck:  Anytime that hot food is served, you need to try to be punctual with your arrival time!  Especially if you are bringing one of the main dishes!
  
  
• Sit-down Dinner Party:  If I know I’m headed to a sit-down dinner party, I aim for perfect timing.  I think you can have a 10-minute leeway period, but I always call the hostess if I’m later than 10.
  
  
• Meetings, church doings, large group situations, or large family events:  Again if hot food is being served, it’s best to arrive on time!
  
  
• Casual invite, play date or birthday party:  I personally feel you have more room to be lenient with your time, but only up to 15 minutes difference.  Usually the party can start, or play can begin, without everyone showing up exactly on time.
  
• Some people will never try to arrive anywhere on time, frankly because some people just can't get their lives organized enough to be on time anywhere.  Maybe it’s because they have issues inside that disorder their lives.  And if I know there are issues, once again I try to extend grace.
  

How can we improve? 

• Count backwards with your time.  If you need to be ready by 9:45, tell yourself you have to stop what you are doing and jump in the shower by 8:45.  Give yourself a deadline!
  
  
• Set your clock back! Try setting your clocks and watches back 10 minutes (this doesn’t work with me, but I know people who do it!)
  
  
• Overestimate your time!  If you have to leave by 10:45 to reach your destination, tell yourself you have to be in the car by 10:30.
  
  
• Prepare the night before. Gets your ducks in a row!

I have been there.  I’ve definitely been late more than enough times - some of those times embarrassingly so.  But I’ve also improved – I’ve worked hard to be considerate of whatever generous invitation I’ve received – and to be appreciative of the hostess.

Are you a fashionably late inhabitant?

Rigidity can steal our joy.  And as the hostess on the other end, if I can’t be gracious with those around me, am I really extending myself to others in a way that God would find pleasing? 

Feel free to Ask Sandy… on her blog:
www.reluctantentertainer.com,
as she takes this subject to a new level - What if “you” are the hostess and your guests are always late?

©2009, Sandy Coughlin

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Book Buzz/Intrviews
Rebecca St. James

Lori Kasbeer interviews Rebecca St. James

 

Happy 2009!! I am over the moon excited to introduce you to Christian pop singer/songwriter Rebecca St. James.  In addition to her Grammy, she is a multiple Dove Award winner.  Rebecca St. James, born in Australia, has been a leading female voice in Christian Music.  But did you know she is also an establish author? 

Rebecca skyrocketed as an author with her book, Wait For Me, where she discusses sexual purity.   Wait For Me reached the #1 spot on the prestigious CBA (Young Adult) book chart in 2003.  In 2004 she released, SHE and SHE Teen.  SHE, which also hit #1 on the CBA Young Adult Chart, gives modern womanhood a voice based on a return to biblical principles.

Rebecca’s passion is still young women, but her newest devotional book Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit is for women of all ages.  Purity is something, as Christians, we should strive for daily.  But what does it mean to live a pure life?  Reading Rebecca’s devotional book Pure is like sitting down with a best friend in a coffee shop.  What you see is what you get.  She is real, she is honest, and she is a woman with a heart for God.  

Rebecca we are so excited to have you visiting us here at Christian Women Online Magazine.  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and also how you moved from Australia to the United States?

We moved to America originally because of my dad’s job in Christian music. My parents made the move with six kids—me, the oldest—and my five younger brothers.  My mother was expecting my younger sister, Libby, at the time.  My dad was a concert promoter back in Australia and always involved in Christian music at some level.  Unfortunately shortly after moving here, he lost his new job and we were forced into some very hard times as a family.  Through that time period, I saw God move on our behalf in dramatic ways—someone gave us a car, groceries would appear on our porch, someone even paid the hospital bills for Libby to be born, and to this day, we don’t know who did this for us. All this had a very profound spiritual impact on me at a very impressionable age—I saw firsthand with my family, while still very young, how we can fully trust God’s faithfulness.

It is amazing to see how the actions of one person, can make an eternal impact on someone.  Many times we as Christians think “what can I do, I am only one person?”  This example shows how one action can change a person’s walk with Christ.  Wow!

How did you get your start as a Christian singer?

With my dad being a Christian promoter back in Australia, as I mentioned, I literally grew up around music. I remember going to shows as a very little kid and looking at the performers onstage in the lights and wondering if they were having fun!  My brothers and I would actually put on little ‘shows’ at home for my parents—we would pretend to sell tickets and merchandise—so now looking back, I think maybe I had somewhat of an inkling even then of what was to come.  I was never really driven to be a singer as some people are—I actually remember purposefully giving God my gifts and talents when I was quite young and asking Him to use me. I didn’t quite know what this might look like in my life. 

I made a record in Australia but actually my real start came here in the U.S.  I was singing at our church and several executives from my label, EMI, heard me and were interested in signing me.  That was the real start of what was to come. I was only 15 at the time and I could never have imagined all the aspects of the journey God was about to take me on.  It’s definitely been an incredible adventure thus far.

You have written several books, but in your new 90-day devotional titled Pure you encourage women to live a life of purity from the inside out.  Can you share with us what you mean by living a life of purity?

Striving to live a pure life physically is obviously a huge aspect of life as a Christian and one that we hear talked about a great deal. But in addition, the way you turn over your fears and priorities to God, the way you forgive others, the way you think about every aspect of life—this one and the one to come—are also part of living a ‘pure’ life.

When living out our love of God becomes our biggest passion, our lives are greatly impacted.  Not only our decisions about how we treat our bodies, but also how we protect and feed our minds and spirits as well. That’s a picture of a ‘pure’ lifestyle.”

What are some of the ways we can guard our hearts on a daily basis?

As I mention in Pure,  when my six siblings and I were growing up, our parents placed a sign on top of our television to remind us to be aware of what we allowed into our minds,  It was Psalms 101:2-3 and says: ‘I will live with a pure heart in my own home.  I will not put anything wicked before my eyes.’ 

On a day to day basis, we can prevent a great deal of anguish in our lives by guarding what we put into our minds—and ultimately what we allow to take root in the heart.  We need to be really wise about the simple things: the magazines we read, what we look at in our travels on the internet, what movies and television we watch, and, of course, the music we listen to.  What goes ‘in’ is ultimately going to come ‘out’ in our lives and actions. We need to ask for God’s strength to say no to the harmful—to go against the grain of what is prevalent in the world around us.  The best way to ‘guard the heart’ that I have found is to daily spend time in God’s Word—to ask Him every day to purify and renew my mind.

You share in one of your devotionals how we tend to live our lives surviving one challenge just so we can move on to the next one.  Can you share how as Christians we can get trapped in “survival mode?”

There have been seasons in my life, as I talked about in the book, where I realized I wasn’t thriving—I was simply surviving!  ‘Survival mode’ for me was simply getting by day-to-day and not failing. It was rooted in fear—fear of rejection, of stepping out to new opportunities, or people or challenges, even at times wanting what I did to be ‘just right’ to the point of agonizing over the creative process. It was exhausting to focus on surviving one challenge to get to the next one—a never ending cycle.  It took me some time to wake up to the reality that God doesn’t want us to just survive—He wants us to thrive!  In my own life, I have come to the realization that God is in total control of my steps—they are ordered of Him—and with Him guiding the path I can throw off all fears—I can move from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’!”

In the past one of your passions has been your ministry to teens.  What would you say is your primary passion for your ministry today?

I’m still very passionate about reaching young people—the Wait For Me message about waiting for sex until marriage is a huge part of my message and one that I continue to share from concert stages all over the world.  I have felt in this, the most recent season of my life, God really calling me to Christian film—to bringing a Godly message through this medium.  I am very exciting about this new aspect of my life and am seeing God open doors in recent months for me in the film community!

Singing, to writing and now acting, how do you balance everything and not burn out?

A few years ago I had to learn a very difficult lesson about the need for ‘balance’ in my life.  In certain seasons of my ministry, I have overtaxed myself and have paid the consequences both with emotional and physical exhaustion.  I didn’t have much left to give and came the closest to burn out that I ever want to get—a place where I never want to go again!  God is concerned that we learn to balance our lives physically and emotionally—learning that there is a time to work, and a time to rest.

In my own life, I’ve had to learn to set boundaries—and even harder sometimes—I’ve had to learn to say ‘no.’  Finding the balance between rest and work, grace and discipline, giving and receiving—all are daily exercises we all have to face.  I find I can avoid going off track by spending time each day with God and asking Him for daily wisdom on finding balance.

You are an advocate for one of the ministries dear to my heart, Compassion International.  How has this ministry changed you?

I am passionate about sharing the message of Compassion with everyone who will listen.  In my work with Compassion, I’ve seen their ministry in operation first hand in parts of the world where children would have little hope without the presence of this wonderful ministry.  On a trip several years ago to Rwanda to film for Compassion, I saw the stark contrast of their work in one of the poorest regions of the world.  I witnessed little children with clean, bright, shining faces singing songs about Jesus and radiating His love at the Compassion school which stood literally within the shadow of the town’s very foul, wretched garbage dump.  Here in the midst of the unlovely, Compassion had raised a standard for God—and children’s lives through Compassion sponsorship were being pulled from poverty and lack and being forever changed.  They are a ministry that’s truly impacting for the Kingdom.

To learn more about Compassion International please see their blog here http://blog.compassion.com.

Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I’m very excited about a film I am working on that will be released in 2009—a wonderful door God has opened in this current season!  It’s called To the Wall.

It’s a faith and family film about two young guys whose dads died in the Vietnam war. The movie contains flashbacks from Vietnam, showing the friendship between the fathers of these two young men. One is a believer, the other is struggling with matters of faith. Wayne and John, the young guys, embark on a journey to the Vietnam wall in DC, to see their fathers’ names and to connect with their history. Along the way, they meet my character, Annie and her cousin Ted, and we bring some lighter elements to the film.  As a ‘PS’ to readers --I would love additional prayer for God's peace and joy to shine through me and for inspiration as I move into this new genre.

Rebecca St. James with Candace Cameron Bure
on set during the filming of "To The Wall."

We will definitely be praying for God’s blessing on this new exciting adventure.  I will be looking forward to the release of  “To The Wall.”

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us here.  Can you share a scripture with us that God has recently placed on your heart?

I have one to share that is very special to me—a recurring reminder in my life and ministry. It’s Act 20:24. In the Living translation it says: But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.”  I pray we are reminded daily that through Jesus, each of us as Christians, have the privilege in this world of being ‘bearers of good news!’  How awesome is that?

Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit” by Rebecca St. James is a perfect devotional book to begin your new year.  Each chapter is short but rich in content.  If you would like a chance to win “Pure: A 90-Day Devotional for the Mind, the Body & the Spirit” by Rebecca St. James (for January '09 only) please visit our Book Draw.

©2009, Lori Kasbeer

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Live Well!
2009 - The Year You Take off the Weight!

I woke up the other morning to a voice. I’m certain it was God’s. It wasn’t mine, it wasn’t my kids, and it wasn’t my dear husband waking me up—now, it was that still small voice that speaks to the heart, when we take time to listen.  It’s the voice that always lines up with the Word, and nudges us back on the path.

“It’s not a matter of habit or lifestyle. With you, it’s simply a matter of the heart,” He said. And I knew that He heard the grumble of my tummy, which quickly turned my thoughts toward visions of drive-throughs that danced in my head.

I was reminded of the verse in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, when in chapter 6:12, he writes:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

There’s a battle going on in our hearts, ladies, and Satan wants nothing more than to see us turn our eyes away from the Father and onto the idols that the world has to offer.

I’ve tried to change my habits, change the food, change my plan of action… even change the scale to a friendlier, less-honest, version, but when I see that none of those changes have helped—I come back to the issue at hand—the necessary change in my heart.

What do I long for? Is it a closer walk with Jesus that I crave, or a fudge brownie? For years it was the high I get from food. It still is some days—too many days unfortunately, which is why I need that constant nudge from the Father reminding me that He longs to be my heart’s desire—He alone.

Again that morning, I turned to my daily devotional where He clearly spoke to me again:

Work and prayer represent the two forces that will ensure your success. Your work and My work. For prayer, believing prayer, is based on the certainty that I am working for you and with you and in you. Go forward gladly and unafraid. I am with you. With men your task may be impossible, but with God all things are possible.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.
(December 29, God Calling, by Two Listeners.)

I love it when God confirms that tug on our hearts, telling us that, YES—it was Him that spoke, and that He is taking each and every step beside us.
I’m not alone, and, sister, you’re not alone in this walk either. I hope you accept that. Do your part, and trust that He can, and will deliver you from the bondage that food has on you.
How can faith make a difference? The answer is two-fold:

1. When we live out our faith, His weapons--which are not of this world--become ours.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. –Ephesians 6:10-13.

1. And secondly, God promises to give His people a heart with new desires so that we won’t turn to the idols [food] that we cling to:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.
–Ezekiel 36:25-27, NLT 

I pray that 2009 will be the year that you discover success—the year you take off the weight, and keep it off! You and He, working together—gladly and unafraid.

©2009, Darlene Schacht

 

Home and School

Why This Year Can Have Real Hope

It's an unlikely place to spend the final hours of the Christmas holidays.

The planet twinkles in the glow of lit trees circled with family. And this family works in the barn. Sows grunt, piglets root and nuzzle udders for milky warm. Snow falls soundlessly out there in the dark.

I am supposed to be feeding hungry sows, but the sounds mesmerize me:

were these the first earth sounds that reverberated in the Babe's ear drums? From the lofty arias of the heavenly host to this, this snorting of beasts, this banging of feed troughs? And the smells: from the incense wafting through the celestial heights, to this air hanging thick with dung's rank, dust's heavy itch?

Hard to comprehend: God left kairos and entered into chronos through the means of a barn. Not to vaulted domes but to a cob-webbed, manure reeking barn, a barn where most folk would not step foot in without changing clothes, without covering nose from the offensive smells. But our God isn't antiseptic, carefully avoiding dirt, grime, stink. Of all the places on this spinning orb, He intentionally decided to clothe himself as a naked baby and birth His virgin skin onto a mucking bed for animals.

He chose a barn as His entry point. He chooses our dirty places, our stinking places, the places that shame us, as His point of entry into our lives.

Funny how the lights celebrating the birth of the Christ Child, God with us, still illuminate this earth when we embark on a New Year, a new hope. A new us. Standing here, slopping hogs, it seems so clear:

such New Year hope is only plausible because of Christmas. Without the Babe who came to the barn, who didn't hesitate to meet us in the rotting mess of our sin, the new year would only be a rehashing of the old year. But when we rip off that last calendar page and begin time with a clean slate, the Barn Babe is still new, stretching, waiting to grow up in us. The Christ Child enters our lives in the places where the flies buzz over refuse and dung and chooses to grow up within us right here.

The swaddled Babe murmurs, "Behold, I make all things new" --Rev. 21:5

I take Farmer Husband's hand and we walk out of the barn and into the chill of Christmas night and out towards the New Year. Heavens seem warm, close, nailed up there with shimmering stars. Christmas night and the world seems hushed. Even the children walking in from the barn, whisper. Our orchard sleeps under its winter white blanket.

And I know: visions of New Year excellence will prove barren "for human efforts accomplish nothing" (John 6:63). Past year's failed resolutions prove it: "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

But this New Year birthing has good fruit hope because of Who was just birthed in the barn. Because the Barnyard God Babe will grow up in us, this God-with-us transforming the squalor of our lives into health and wholeness.

My New Year's may still smell of the barn. Which is exactly why it has Hope.

©2009, Ann Voskamp

________________________________________

Sunny Shell interviews Larissa Lam

What a beautiful way to enter the New Year! I’ve recently had the immense blessing of interviewing a dear sister in the Lord who is so humble and so on fire for Christ I was warmed with our Lord’s presence just chatting with her on the phone.

I’d seen our sister Larissa Lam on JCTV’s “Top 3” before, but I never knew about the depth of her passion for our Savior and His Gospel message. I just thought it was great to see a cute, little spunky Christian gal making a positive impact on younger girls who would really be inspired by her honest, open and genuine demeanor. Little did I know, behind all her spunk, was a fire for Christ, well contained by the Holy Spirit with whom she strives to stay in step with as she seeks God’s guidance for every aspect of her life.

I am very pleased to introduce to you, our sweet sister, Larissa Lam.

Hello there sister Larissa! Thank you so much for allowing me this interview. I’m very intrigued by your story and can’t wait to hear all your responses to my questions. I’m confident it will be a sure blessing for our readers as well.

I see that you’re involved with and have founded many ministries. Can you tell us a little bit about the two ministries you’ve personally founded: On the Way Up Ministries (OTWU) and Beautiful Faith?

Both On the Way Up and Beautiful Faith Ministries are a department of A.C.T. (Artists in Christian Testimony International), which I discovered about 4 to 5 years ago as I began to search out exactly how God wanted me to use the musical talents He’s given me.

I realized that while I enjoyed writing songs, singing and producing, I felt there was more to Christian music than just that. Beyond the concert, my heart is very connected with smaller and multi-ethnic churches that do not have large budgets to host conferences, have musical guest and/or speakers. That’s where On the Way Up comes in. At OTWU, we provide resources for Christian musical artists to:

• EVANGELIZE – through outreach concerts and events across the U.S. and abroad.
• EDUCATE – others about Christians in the arts and the importance of missions through conferences and guest speaking at schools and universities.
• EQUIP – though music training seminars, workshops and disciplining others to use their gifts to spread the Gospel and be competitive with the mainstream.
• ENCOURAGE – by offering musicians prayer support, mentorship, networking and other resources.

How did God inspire you to create your latest ministry, Beautiful Faith?

God’s inspiration came to me as a twofold passion:

1. I want to motivate believers to grow in their faith and see what God is doing in their lives and share with others. I want to encourage believers to spread the Gospel without comparing themselves to other people who have different personalities, gifts and talents.
2. I also want to speak to unbelievers and help them to understand what God’s beautiful faith is truly about. I want to tell them that Jesus is someone they need to know personally in their own lives.

Wow, that’s fabulous sister! It’s just like what you wrote as your slogan on your Beautiful Faith website “The hope is that everyone will experience God’s beautiful faith in their lives.”

Can you tell us how God introduced you to the other 12 sisters who have joined you in this mission with Beautiful Faith?

After God made it clear what He wanted, I worked through Christian networks and personal referrals for Christian female artists who had a ministry that encompassed a mission’s heart. As the music portion of Beautiful Faith began to develop, God revealed to us, the wonderful stories that emerged beyond the music for each of us. We want to make sure that we never lose sight of the stories God has given each of us that demonstrate His miraculous power in our lives; even with things that might be considered as insignificant. This is very important to us as we’ve witnessed that even the seemingly insignificant aspects of our lives, becomes something amazingly beautiful when they are placed in the hands of our awesome God.

Thank you so much for pointing out that simple, yet often forgotten truth, “even the seemingly insignificant aspects of our lives, becomes something amazingly beautiful when they are placed in the hands of our awesome God.” AMEN to that sister!

If someone was interested in hosting a Beautiful Faith event at their church or home, how would they go about it?

I remember many years ago, I had to say “No.” to an event due to finances. The church that asked me to come didn’t have much of a budget and I didn’t have personal finances to get myself there either. I hated that and never want that to happen again. Once is enough. Due to this, we at Beautiful Faith do not have a set fee for any of our ministry services. Instead we work on a case by case basis so that money will never be the hindrance for anyone who would like to host a Beautiful Faith event.

If anyone is interested in hosting a Beautiful Faith event, they can contact me through our website.

The Higher Sounds CD includes 10 bonus, downloadable songs and 13 devotionals that accompany each song.

Some of the plans for Beautiful Faith in the near future will include our readers/supporters to submit and share their beautiful faith stories on our blog either through writing or with vlogs (video logs).

That sounds very exciting! I'm sure many of our readers would love to submit their beautiful faith stories! Thank you so much for providing this opportunity. Now about the ministries you’re involved in, hosting JCTV’s “Top 3” and “The Hope.” Can you tell me how you got involved with these ministries?

Sure! About 6 years ago I had several friends in the music ministry who were involved in the TV industry. They said I was a good talker and suggested that I would make a good host on a TV show. I didn’t think much of it at first, but the Lord put it on my heart to pursue this avenue, so I did. In the beginning, I kept getting cast, but nothing would happen. After some time, my business manager met someone who was a friend of a friend of a friend who was responsible for reviewing material for a new youth channel called JCTV (Jesus Christ TV, a ministry of TBN). I auditioned and got one of the four hosting spots for JCTV’s “Top 3” program. I’ve been a host on “Top 3” for four years now.

I got involved with The Hope through a referral. This film is somewhat like the Jesus Film Project and a video Bible combined. The producers (Mars Hill Productions) needed an Asian-American female to be one of their main storytellers. Somehow they heard about me, contacted me and asked me to submit a video audition tape.

The interesting thing about this experience was that my first day of her filming was on 9/11. We all just stopped and prayed. After we finished praying, we were even more convinced that this movie needed to be made.

I’d like to get a bit more personal if you don’t mind. Since it’s obvious that you have a huge heart for evangelism, would you mind sharing with us how you got saved?

I’d love to! I’m the only child of Chinese-American parents who took me to church pretty much since I was born. My aunt and uncle who still live in Hong Kong were the first in our family to get saved and they basically evangelized the rest of us.

But it wasn’t until my cousins (children of my aunt and uncle who told us about Christ) from Hong Kong came to live with us for a few years that I really came to understand who Jesus is. I was 10 and they were 16 and 17. I loved having them around because it was like having sisters! Even though they were a lot older than me, they were kind enough to invite me with them to attend the youth group at our church. One Friday night, the pastor gave a message on forgiveness and a personal relationship with Christ. This was the first time I’d ever heard this! That same evening, the pastor also extended an invitation for all those who wanted to know Jesus, personally; to believe and trust that He alone can save anyone from their sins. I trusted Jesus as my personal Savior and the Lord of my life, that very night.

That’s truly an amazing story Larissa! How wonderful it is to know that God sent your cousins to you from across the ocean, to save your soul? I’m in wonder of it all. God is gracious. Is this one of the reasons why your songs and all the ministries you’re involved in are so evangelistic in nature?

My upbringing has something to do with it, but honestly, the most significant reason is simple, it’s in Scripture. God commands that all His children evangelize according to Mathew 28:18-20. This is why He made us. Our whole purpose is to see everyone glorify the Lord. When you see God’s word change people’s lives, this becomes your passion. I didn’t always feel this way though, especially not when I first started in the music industry. At 16, I began incorporating an evangelistic message in my music, but it was secondary and certainly wasn’t the focal point that it is now. It wasn’t until I began to personally grow in the Lord that Jesus’ purpose for why He came to earth, became the passion of my life.

I have a great desire to encourage others who don’t consider themselves to be an evangelist, because really, neither do I. But I’m doing it and God’s using me, and I want others to see that He can use them too. God doesn’t require nor expect everyone to be a Billy Graham in order to preach the Gospel. God only requires that each person have a willing heart to use whatever He has given them. Personally, I didn’t think I was equipped at all to do all that God has called me to do. In fact, when I started, I really had very little knowledge of the Bible. But we all have to start somewhere. As I grew in my knowledge of Christ, I also grew into a much deeper relationship with Him. It really all ties together, every step of obedience grows a person in their faith.

Even though I didn’t use to, I now purposely look for situations to share the Gospel with someone and I use whatever means God’s given me to do it.

Well sister Larissa, I’m just blown away with the passion God has put in your heart and your desire to encourage others who feel the same ineptness you once felt. Your conferences, seminars and concerts must be amazing! The only thing I’m wondering now is how we can host one of your events at my church! :-)

You got saved when you were 10, wrote you first song at 13, but didn’t begin to incorporate the Gospel in your music until you were 16, why?

Although I was saved at 10 and wrote my first song at 13, I was just doing it for fun and never really considered music as an option for a career. Up until I was 16, I thought I was going to be a doctor. But one day I visited my dad’s office, got completely disgusted, and realized that I probably wouldn’t make a very good doctor. This was not a good day for me because I’m somewhat of a control freak and have always felt that I needed to have my whole life planned out, and up to this point, I thought I had. I was very upset, because in just one incident, my entire life’s goal had just vanished and I experienced a nebulous void; with no concrete plan for my life. It was a strange place to be. That’s when the Lord came to my rescue and called me into music missions.

Don’t you just love it when God causes our personal dreams to vanish, just to put before us, His greater will for our lives? I love when God does that!

After God called you into the music industry, how did you get started?

In college I worked at a recording studio. The owner of the studio, Bill Schnee, was very influential in helping me see what it really means to be a Christian working in the mainstream; the salt and light for Christ. Although I had the desire to shine a light into the music industry, I wasn’t spiritually mature enough at the time. To be honest, up until that point, I really had some illusions of grandeur. It wasn’t until the end of my college years that everything and everyone God used to guide me as a music missionary, that I truly understood what it meant to be doing all this for the Lord.

After God instilled the purpose of His call to me; to be a messenger of His Gospel through music, I graduated from college, and was hired as the CFO for NSOUL Records (an independent label). Within only a few months of working with NSOUL, one of the groups at the label (Nitro Praise), were in need of a singer for a Campus Crusade Conference. They asked me, “Do you want to go?” I said, “Yes!” and that was that. I worked as a CFO at NSOUL by day and sang with Nitro Praise for the next 2 years on the weekends.

God used my time with both Bill Schnee and Nitro Praise to shape and train me to more effectively communicate the Gospel as a performer. Everyone with Nitro Praise really helped me to see that there was more to our music than entertainment, but that we could and should use all that God has given us to impact the world for Christ. After every concert all the members of Nitro Praise would go and talk to the people who attended. They showed me that the heart of the concert, wasn’t the performance, but personally sharing the Gospel with those God brought to the concerts.

God is sovereign and He is faithful! Praise the Lord our God for all His goodness to us!

Well, now that I’ve gotten so personal with you, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind sharing with us how you met your husband Only Won (a.k.a Baldwin). I understand that you’re newlyweds?

Yes, we’re newlyweds! We were married on March 29, 2008. :-)

I really like telling this story because this is just one of the many stories of how God uses the seemingly insignificant aspects of our lives to truly make something beautiful.

One of my friends from Nitro Praise attended one of Only Won’s concerts, thought he was great and suggested that I connect with him, but strictly on a professional basis of course (wink, wink). It turned out that Only Won’s producer, Maximillian just happened to be one of my other good friends from Nitro Praise! So I thought, “Well, any friend of Maximillian’s is a friend of mine.” That’s what began our 2 year emailing to keep in touch, but remember it was strictly just business.

Then one day, Only Won invited me to do a concert with him at his church in Sacramento. It was pretty funny from that point on. Our friend Maximillian began to play matchmaker, but this wasn’t one of those well-thought out mature matchmaking situations, no; it was more like the ones we all remember from our middle school days. Maximillian would say to me, “Hey, I think Baldwin likes you, but he’s not sure how you feel.” Then he’d go to Baldwin and say the same thing about me. And the really funny thing about this, is that Max was right….about both of us…obviously. :-)

You see, even in this story about how I met my husband is all about God’s miraculous work in the things that we would never think would be significant, like singing with Nitro Praise. Had I never sung with them, not only would’ve I not benefited from their love for Christ, but I would’ve also never met my husband. I look back now and see how God used everything and everyone to be who I am now, both as a wife and as a music missionary.

Again, I’m just in awe of how God is using you to show the rest of us that in God’s economy, nothing is wasted. God can use one situation to bless the multitudes, we just have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus so we can see what He’s doing.

I really love your voice and I especially love what, or rather Who you sing for and about. :-) I found out that you freely give of your time and talent to teach others on Expert Village. I’m very impressed with some of the things you do, (like the yawning warm-up exercise) I mean, you’re very transparent and well, I think it takes a lot of humility to teach the way you do. Can you share with us how this all came about?

Oh, thank you Sunny. And honestly, until you mentioned it, I never thought about the embarrassment factor. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. :-)

The way I found out about Expert Village is by seeing a notice/casting for people with different expertise. Even though I was sure they wouldn’t choose me (because there are so many talented singers out there), I went ahead and submitted a video. The next thing I know, they’re calling me and asking me if they could have a camera crew video me giving some singing lessons. And now people can watch me yawn on the world wide web. :-)

I’ve received many emails from around the world due to my training videos on Expert Village and I’ve even gotten a student from this as well! I see this as another venue God has provided me to share the Gospel message.

You’re generous heart blesses me sister! Well, are you ready for some light-hearted, easy questions now? I understand that you love trying new foods, me too! I love to eat! And even though you’re Chinese, you don’t like Chinese food, why not? I’m Korean and I love it! :-)

I’m not really sure why I don’t like Chinese food. For one thing, I don’t like ginger and there’s lots of ginger in Chinese food. I have some other theories, but they’re just theories. :-) But you know what? I actually like Korean food better than I like Chinese food. Oh, and the best part about being Chinese and not liking Chinese food, is that people ask me that question a lot and God even uses this quirk of mine to start a conversation with someone so I can witness to them! Isn’t that great?

That is great sister! I love how you think! So do you ever eat Chinese food or is it banned from your menu?

Now I get to share with you how much I love my husband. Only Won absolutely loves dim sum. So I eat it with him, even though I really don’t like it. It’s one of the ways I show him that I love him and prefer him over my own desires.

It sounds like as a newlywed, you’re already putting biblical submission into practice. Way to go sister!

Besides your love for trying new foods, I understand that you also really love Garfield. Precious sister, could you please elaborate on your Garfield fetish?

Ha, ha, ha! You found out about that, huh? It’s true, I love Garfield. I think it all started when I was six and I got my first Garfield comic book.

I now have a collection of Garfield stuffed animals, comic books and I’ve even attended a Garfield Cruise for Garfield’s 25th birthday celebration with the creator of Garfield and other fanatics.

Do you want to know something else? Garfield was at my wedding! Yes, I had a 2 foot tall Garfield that sat right next to my parents. My mom dressed him in a vest and bow tie. He looked great!

If you lived closer, I think we’d hang out! Your love for Jesus is so intense and it shows in how you choose to live your life. You also know how to just relax and be silly too. I think that’s great!

I’m really inspired by how passionate you are for our Lord and for the people He came to save. Would you share with us a Scripture verse or passage God is using right now to penetrate your heart to refine you?

Yes, I’d have to say that it’s my life passage: Proverbs. 3:5-6. I’ve been meditating on it a lot lately as I reflect on all that God has done in my life this past year and just wondering what He has in store for me in 2009. And I don’t mean big picture wise, I mean the specific steps God wants me to take in everything, whether it be in my wifehood, singing, hosting beyond JCTV, Beautiful Faith events in churches, homes, etc. I’m not sure just yet on the specifics, but that’s okay, because God does and I trust Him to move me forward.

In closing, since you’re so good with step-by-step encouragement, would you please share with our readers something you do personally to live out your life passage?

I’d love to! I want to encourage all believers to remember that we are all ambassadors of Christ, we are all messengers of His Gospel.

I use something I call a “target list”. This target list consists of all the people and/or ministries God’s put in my life. This list was created when I found myself overwhelmed with trying to daily remember to write down all the names of people and ministries I needed to pray for each day. I hate forgetting to pray for people and I know I can’t pray for everyone, so I started a target list that is found at the very back of my prayer journal. Instead of trying to daily remember people’s names and ministries I need to be praying for, I now have them organized on my target list, into categories i.e., family, friends, coworkers, unsaved friends, ministries, etc. This way, I always have them written down and I can add new names under the appropriate categories or take off the prayers that have been answered. It’s really nice to go back and see all the prayers God has so graciously answered.

Sister Larissa, thank you so much for visiting with me today! I just love your heart and am so grateful to God for all that He is working through you! I for one have truly been encouraged to be more purposeful with my everyday evangelism and to allow God to use me, even with the things I might deem as insignificant. Thank you so much dear sister! I’m going to include your name on my “target list.” :-)

Please visit our sister Larissa at:
Beautiful Faith.org or:

©2009, Sunny Shell

____________________________

Beauty by God

Winterize Your Skin

Has the winter months left you brittle? Your hair, skin and even those precious lips that are …dry and chapped. With such extreme weather conditions, I’d say they’ve left you cracked up--literally. I’d say your skin needs some TLC: Tender - Lotion - Care :)

First let's begin with your beautiful face; Use a creamy cleansing base that won’t compromise your skin’s hydrolipid barrier like most foaming cleansers. Your skin depends on this barrier to retain water; it is the skin’s waterproof seal that was never meant to be broken. However, mainstream skin-care regimens take care of that by destroying it. A non-abrasive creamy gentle cleanser like Mychelle Honeydew made honey enzymes to dissolve and soften dead skin cells, chlorophyll, sea weed, and algae to provide nutrients while cleansing.
 
Tip: Give your skin a rest from exfoliation, cut back to once a week. 
 
It’s time to up the moisture content of your morning and night routine and winterize the stratum corneum (the outer layer of your skin). Lotus Moon Cherry Blossom Healing Soothe (lotusmoon.biz) is formulated with Willowherb extract that can help reduce redness and inflammation. Plus it has horse chestnut and butcher’s broom extracts that strengthen capillary walls to support skin. If you are suffering from severe skin conditions or eczema, I would suggest Coconut Clean’s Healing Balm. It contains Kamani oil from Hawaii; an amazing traditional natural skin healing and rejuvenating herbal oil with anti-neuralgic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial & antioxidant properties.

Teresa Neumann the owner of Coconut Clean, gets the oil directly from a friend who grows it and processes it on the Big Island.

Check out Coconut Clean Natural Bath Products on Facebook!

Tip: wear gloves at night and use pumpkin repair hand lotion by Dessert essence. Wake up with softer more beautiful hands.

Dry Skin Eliminator
If the weather has kept you inside, you may like a homemade treatment mask. I call this the dry skin terminator.

Recipe
½ cup heavy cream
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1 avocado, peeled and mashed
3 tablespoons of honey

Combine ingredients in a bowl, whisk together, then spread mixture over face, neck, and top of hands. Relax for 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water. (You may not want to answer the phone with this mask on - It’s very messy.)

If this seems like too much work, an over-the-counter one such as Aubrey Organics Jojoba Meal and Oatmeal with Rose Mosqueta Mask and Scrub is easy to apply. Be sure to keep the container’s lid tight. I made the mistake of not doing so, and it did not keep as long.

Hairapy
We must not forget about your hair! Due to the seasons changing, your hair can become brittle and in need of moisture. I tried this pre-shampoo hair treatment by Burt’s Bees and loved the way it made my hair glossy and soft. Use one to two teaspoons of the Avocado Butter Hair Treatment (www.burtsbees.com) and leave on for 15 minutes. I recommend using a wide-tooth comb to pull product through hair for more even application. 

DIY - mash up half of an avocado and apply to hair. Leave on for 10-15 min.

Luxury Bath
While you have either mask on or both, why not soak your body in a milk bath? Cleopatra was known for this bath, and the results are ever so nice.

Recipe
1 cup dried milk
¼ cup orange peels
¼ cup lemon peels
5 drops of Lavender oil or calendula oil

Once you exit the bath, towel dry and within three minutes apply lotion while your skin is pre-moistened.

Tip - Using a humidifier can help replace the moisture sucked out of the air by your heater.
                              
Top the bathing experience off with a night cream rich in moisture. Try Aubrey Organics Rose Mosqueta Night Cream with Alpha Lipoic Acid (www.aubrey-organics.com), formulated with soy-based liposomes, micro capsules that deliver emollients and nutrients to your skin. End your routine with lip balm, I keep mine on my night stand ( I like Miessence, Coconut Clean and a capsule of vitamin E).

Take this quite time to enjoy and relax with a hot cup of chamomile tea and reflect on all the great moments and blessings God has done in your life this past year. God created beauty in all things; YOU are beautiful and wonderfully created. How great is our God to create extravagant blueprints of our faces, bodies, and the world. He is the greatest Architect, the Great I AM!

©2009, Shelly Ballestero

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Preachers Wife
Being a Well-Watered Woman

Well, it’s that time again!  December has come to an end and it’s time to think about resolutions for next year.  First and foremost, I want 2009 to be marked by a deeper, richer relationship with Jesus Christ.  I would also be thrilled if I could shed the baby bump that has no baby.

For those in servant leadership, the beginning of a New Year is important both personally and within the life of the church.  In the same way we resolve to make positive changes spiritually and physically, we are often involved in planning and revitalizing activities within The Body to preserve and enhance its health. 

It is so easy to get caught up in our congregation’s growth and neglect our own.  I get many emails from ministry wives who feel they are working themselves to death for God and the benefit of His people and yet feel very far from Him. I can relate on so many levels to women who feel this way.  It is a constant struggle for Luke and I to prevent our work from becoming just that – work.

For ministry spouses and lay people alike, I can’t think of a better time of year to get our heads on straight in prioritizing our relationship with Christ.  I’m a girl who needs practical advice to stay on track (or return to it when I’ve strayed miserably), so allow me to share five ways to rejuvenate your walk with Christ in 2009:

1.  Give yourself the gift of 15 minutes in the morning for prayer. 
   
   You’ve heard it before:  “Start your day with God!”  I’d love to give you some new insight here but truth is there isn’t any.  I’m the world’s worse to jump straight out of bed and rush into my family’s morning routine but when I do, my whole family suffers for it.  If you can be intentional about giving yourself 15 minutes before you wake the kids to get on your face and ask for God’s mercy and the Holy Spirit’s filling, you’ll be the calmer for it.  I’m two different women with and without my morning prayers! 
   
   One other note here:  You’ll find you love this time so much you may even be tempted to run the clock back 30 minutes instead.
   
   
2. Follow a Bible-in-a-Year Reading Program.
   
   Okay, it’s time for some truth-telling.  How many times have you closed your eyes, flipped open the Bible and pointed your finger at the page to choose your reading for the day?  My Bible has a daily reading plan in the back but there are also many online resources to follow.  The thing I love about the BIY is the systematic way it leads through the entirety – and consequently the oft overlooked treasures – of Scripture.   It is also a much more trustworthy guide than your finger! 
    
   
3. Journal, journal, journal.
   
   I can wholeheartedly say that journaling has been the primary way that God has spoken to me in my devotional life.  Those beloved books are now a chronicle of Christian growth that I refer back to often when I need encouragement or reminders of Scripture God has used to minister to my heart.  How to begin?  Choose one verse that resonates with you out of your daily Bible reading.  Write three sentences about what insights you have about it.  If your experience is anything like my own, you’ll soon find yourself filling pages with words that are straight from the Holy Spirit to you. 
   
   
4. Facilitate a Women’s Bible Study Group.    
   
   I love teaching and facilitating women’s Bible study groups!  I would love to be pious and tell you that I do this strictly for the benefit of others, but the reality is that I am a more spiritually fit individual under obligation.  I study much harder when I am in a season of teaching and even though it is a lot of work, the extra time in the Word makes me a better woman.  Do you find your study has been shallow?  Don’t wait until you feel like a spiritual giant to lead a group.  Ask God if He would have you do this for your sake and the sake of the women who will reap the reward from your own desire to grow deeper in God’s Word.
   
   
5. Always Remember to Feed Yourself First.
   
   Much is expected from women in church leadership but you can’t give what you don’t have.  The most vital thing you can do to serve your congregation well is to see to your own spiritual well-being first.  Be a well-watered woman who splashes joy onto others instead of allowing needs and demands to suck you dry.  Christ is our wellspring and as long as we abide in Him, we’ll never experience drought.

Girls, I pray your 2008 was filled with wonderful memories and that you look forward to 2009 as a year of fresh opportunity to serve your God, your family, and your church.  For more encouragement and camaraderie, I would love for you to visit my personal blog, The Preacher’s Wife!  

©2009, Lisa McKay

_________________________

 

Inspired Room

Imperfectly Perfect Homes:
5 Quick Tips for Frugal Updates

Take one look at the struggling economy and it will become pretty clear, times are changing for everyone. Even people who once had their eye on home equity funds for a remodel are reconsidering how much they are spending and how they are spending it. Most of us can’t really afford to be living high on the hog.

So, what do we do if we are staring at our 1970s style bathroom and wondering how to make do with a meager budget? We get creative and work with our house’s charming imperfections.

While a year ago we may have considered ripping a room apart and starting over, now it might make more sense to do a more reasonable makeover.

Here are five quick tips for working around your home’s imperfections:

1. Reface cabinets rather than ripping them out.
   When we remodeled our kitchen a few years back, we assessed the quality of our cabinetry and found them to be solid. While we didn’t like the look of them, there was really no reason to rip them out and start over. Our contractor built new frames and ordered new drawers and cabinet doors. We got a brand new look, easy opening drawers, and saved ourselves quite a bit of money over new cabinetry by working with what we had.

2. Buy from resale shops or scratch and dent rooms.
   Need new appliances or furniture? You can save a small fortune by purchasing ones that come with the same tiny scratch you know your family will put on it later. My refrigerator came with a small dent on the freezer drawer. Sure enough, we put another dent in since our purchase. Glad we didn’t pay full price for perfection.

3. Rethink how you use your space. 
   Don’t have the rooms you need? While you may wish you had a nice new family room addition, there is a less expensive option.  If you have a little used formal dining room or living room, it is fairly easy to change the way you use those rooms. With different furniture, changing walls, adding new windows or doorways, a space can be transformed for a fraction of the cost of a new room. Think inside the box, rather than how to expand the box.

4. Details, details, details.
   Need to give a room a cosmetic facelift? It can be easy and inexpensive to change a few details. A fresh coat of paint, new hardware, updated faucet and a new shower curtain can give a bathroom a whole new feel without an expensive remodel.

5. Break out the elbow grease.
   Many home imperfections can be vastly improved with a weekend of effort. A few trips to the home improvement center and some creative thinking can bring about acceptable results. It may not be as stunning as a remodel, but your pocket book will thank you for the effort and you’ll sleep better at night knowing you are living within your means.

Be creative around the house and work with what you have. Perfection is highly overrated, anyways.

For more creative and frugal ideas for the home, visit The Inspired Room!

©2009, Melissa Michaels

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Boomer Babes Rock!
Learning When to Say No

In the publishing world, January is the month of New Year resolution stories and weight loss programs. It’s the introduction to a season of slimming and exercise that begins with zeal, but so often ends with resignation.

This year, instead of a focus on weight and body image, the publishing focus seems to have shifted to finding financial peace and emotional balance. Everywhere we look people are hunkering down to weather the storm of a recession that has “officially” arrived. Magazine and newspaper articles are exploring what it means to live simply, be thrifty, cut back and make changes.

I’ve always been a thrifty Boomer Babe. I was raised in the projects of Cleveland, and I learned the value of shopping at the Goodwill store at a very early age. Consignment shops are so much a part of my life that I’ve set my next boomer babe novel inside of one. But I digress. We were talking about the shift in focus. Even Oprah has had an “ah ha moment” about reassessing this recurring theme of weight in her own life.

 “If you’re looking for an excuse to fall off the wagon, the universe will provide one. That’s what I’ve learned. It’s not enough to simply claim to care about yourself, when you believe that you are worthy of the space you occupy on the planet, you demonstrate that by insisting that every last one of your choices—from the food you put in your mouth to the commitments you place on your calendar—moves you toward the life you want. This past year, I completely took myself off my own priority list. I wasn’t just low on the list, I wasn’t even on the list. What I’ve realized is that no self-care means no self-love. We all need to make 2009 the year we give ourselves as much love and support as we give others.”

While some may think this is incredibly selfish, the simple fact of the matter is that we won’t be worth a hill of beans if we kill ourselves by always saying yes to others and putting our own needs last. We must gain SANITY and learn the difference between helping and enabling. Like Oprah says, we need to give ourselves love and support as well as others. 

Yes, Scripture tells us it is better to give than to receive. But it also tells us that we must take the time to recover our own life, to rest. In essence, a healthy dose of self love.

In her newest book, Rest – Living in Sabbath Simplicity (Zondervan Publishing), author and fellow Boomer Babe Keri Wyatt Kent opens with Scripture from Matthew 11:28.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. (The Message Version)

Let 2009 be the year we not only get in shape physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. The year we gain SANITY by understanding that giving love and support is not always saying “yes,” it’s not always “coming to the rescue.” It’s time we learn how to rest…to be still and know God in a more intimate way.

The 6 Steps to SANITY as outlined in my newest book start with the most important step when we decide to make any change in our life. We must “S = STOP.” Stop the negative behavior that keeps us running like gerbils on a wheel.
 
It’s not about how many times we try and fail. It’s about having the willpower to stop what isn’t working and try something new. Bob Greene, Oprah’s trainer, says, “Each new effort brings us closer to the one that might really work.” Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston says that we can’t ever give up trying to be the best we can be, because we just don’t know if we “might be on the edge of a breakthrough blessing that will change our life.”

Let 2009 be the year we set healthy boundaries in all areas of our life. The year we claim our breakthrough blessing! The year we take responsibility for the choices we make. The year we really make a U-Turn toward God, and start the journey that will bring us closer to actually being a new creation in God. The year we learn how to say no to choices that keep us in bondage and yes to the things that truly bring us SANITY.

Join me next month as we continue our new 12-month series on Setting Boundaries and Gaining SANITY. We’ll explore what it means to make choices that will change the story of our life. I’d also like to invite you to visit our new revised web site and come see me LIVE as I tour the country and offer online LIVE webcasts. It’s time for us Boomer Babes to live the sane life God wants us to live.

Until next month, dear Boomer Babes who Rock, may the good Lord bless and keep you all!

Allison Bottke
www.SettingBoundaries.com
www.BoomerBabesRock.com

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CWO Radio

Ginger Plowman on CWO Radio

Tune in to CWO radio as Jill interviews Ginger Plowman. Ginger shares with us how we can conquer whining! I know it sounds too good to be true, but Ginger gives solid advice on how we can teach our kids to communicate effectively. Learn how to get to the heart of whining, avoid power struggles and teach your child self-control.

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Blog of the month

Living in the Spirit

Each month CWO chooses one blogger from our list of over 3,000 women to be CWO's blog of the month.

This month's pick is Stacey from Living in the Spirit.

Stacey describes herself saying, "My biography is no different from anyone else: I have had my share of challenges, heartache, and success. It feels good to be home again in Wisconsin after a 14 year stint in New Jersey. Everything changed with a phone call, a plane ticket, and an Encounter in March 2007. With faith the size of a mustard seed, I now move mountains..."

Visit Stacey at her blog:

Living in the Spirit:

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Book Draw - Pure

This month one of our readers will win a copy
of Rebecca St. James' 90-day devotional,
Pure

Product Description
Rebecca St. James's messages of abstinence and modesty reflect her passionate love for Jesus and her commitment to living for Him. Rebecca does more than talk the talk--she walks the walk. And in this daily devotional, she offers young women the encouragement they need to join her in living a life of all-out purity. It's not just about sex. It's about mind, body, and spirit.

This 90-day devotional proves that purity is anything but old-fashioned and boring. It's edgy and relevant. Rebecca lives it--and readers can live it too. It starts with Day 1 . . . and ends with everyday radical living. 

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Enter to Win

The book draw is open to residents of Canada or the US. To enter our draw, please send an email to our editor which includes your name, full mailing address, and email address. Deadline for entries is midnight on the 25th of January 2009. 

 

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Chosen

A New Season, A New Beginning

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace. 
--Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8,   KJV

Not only does 2009 bring in a new year, but it also is the beginning of a new season of my life.  I am transitioning from being the mother of teenagers to being the mom of young women; I am transitioning my relationship with one of my daughters from being close and loving into being emotionally and physically distant; I am transitioning from working part-time into working full-time; and I am transitioning from being younger to being older by society’s standards.  Each of these transitions brings some sorrow, some grief, some bewilderment, and the process of learning how to let go and let God. 

God doesn’t promise that things will always remain the same, or that our lives will go smoothly.  What He promises is that He will be there to hold us, comfort us, protect us, and guide as we go through our trials and tribulations, as we face transitions and changes, and as we begin new seasons of our lives. 

This verse from Ecclesiastes reminds us of His ever-loving presence as we go through different times of our lives. He acknowledges that there will be times of incredible joys and devastating anguish; He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings as we face the good and the bad times; and He is there, He is always there. 

The past several months have been filled with so much pain as I watched my oldest go from a loving and faith-filled young woman to one who has totally rejected us and the faith and values we instilled in her from the very beginning.  She has chosen a path which we believe is very destructive to her emotionally and spiritually, and thus we can’t condone or support her decisions. 

“Tough love” brings on a deeper meaning when one actually has to practice it on one’s child. But, I know that it is the only way to go at this point in time, as my daughter will have no other choice but to take responsibility for her own actions and learn from her mistakes.  It’s painful to not be there for her, it’s painful to not have her presence in my life anymore, it’s painful to know she is in a lot of turmoil herself – and I can only imagine that God feels the same way about us when we have rejected Him and His love and His teachings. 

So, this new year, I will face many new beginnings for myself.  I’m a bit scared because all of them are unchartered territory for me.  But the knowledge that God is there to sustain me, as He has over the past several months, brings me hope and encouragement.  I know I can weather these transitions as I go into a new season of my life, because He will not fail me. I know my relationship with Him will grow stronger and deeper as I depend on Him more and trust in His will for my life.  That part of this new season excites me and humbles me. 

May God bless you and yours in the New Year.  May He keep you safe in His graces. And may 2009 be the year in which you begin some transitions of your very own, with God’s loving hand guiding and protecting you.