Daily Devotionals Coming Soon!!!

I am so excited to present Daily Devotionals beginning Tuesday, January 1, 2013! We will go through scripture and learn a little about God and His plan for us everyday. On Sundays, I will expand into a more in depth Bible Study where we dive even deeper into what God's Word means and how we can apply it in the real world.

This is an endeavor that God has placed on my heart. I never really thought of writing devotionals, I always wanted to write the great American novel. However, I believe God is using this particular talent for a greater purpose. It is my heart's desire to truly inspire people and this is the method which God has provided for me to do just that.

I pray that these devotionals bring Glory to God and that you can learn something about yourself or about God that will help you in your walk with Him and in life in general. I hope that you can read and get exactly what you need, my prayer is to affect people in a positive and loving way.

Be inspired! Seek Peace! Live in Joy! That is my prayer.

Please join me on the 1st as I trust God and begin Daily Devotionals with Amanda at Tales from a Mother!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

God Bless!

God Bless The Little Children

It has taken me a long time to be able to respond to the Newton tragedy. I think part of that is denial. It is not possible for this evil to live among us. It is not possible for innocent lives to be stolen so violently.

On Friday, a gunman opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. He killed 26 people, 20 of which were children.

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To be perfectly honest, I still don't have any words. My heart pours out the families of those precious lives lost.


1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 -- “16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

This is the verse that God put on my heart when I began writing about this tragedy. I couldn't believe it. After the evil the world witnessed in the presence of children, "this is God's will for you" ?!?!?

But then I began to understand. 

"Always be joyful." -- With joy comes a peace, an understanding, that only Christ can bring. Because it is a joy that goes far beyond the happiness of this day. It is a joy that we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt we know, that when life is over for us on this world -- this cruel evil world that is in the hands of Satan -- that we will spend eternity with the one who created us and who loves us. Those beautiful, innocent children are in the arms of Jesus today. I pray the others are there with them. It is a tragedy, but there is joy in knowing they are safe and they are loved.

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"Never stop praying." -- Well that one is easy. The hearts of people all over the world, whether they are Christian or not, whether they believe in God or not, are praying and sharing in the pain of this unbelievable loss together. I will never stop praying that love with overcome evil. I will never stop praying that God will bring justice upon the sins of man. I will never stop praying that forgiveness is the way to turn a tragedy into a  greater faith that can change the world.

"Be thankful in all circumstances." -- This tragedy is one circumstance that it is quite difficult to be thankful in. But God calls us to be thankful in all circumstances. That includes even times like this where darkness covers everything and evil has corrupted our world. What is there to be thankful for? I am thankful that those precious lives were not taken in vain. There is a greater purpose working here, God always has a plan to teach, to love, to save. I am thankful that innocent lives are destined to walk with Jesus. I am thankful that God is watching over us and can begin to heal the hearts of the loved ones left behind. I am thankful because I have faith in my Heavenly Father who will right the wrongs of this world and will triumph over evil in the end.

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"For this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." -- God's will for us is not the tragedy we face, it is that we may have joy because we know we are safe in the arms of Jesus, we will never stop praying because we share in the joy and the pain of those around us, and we can be thankful in all circumstances because God help us overcome the pain. By having Christ Jesus in our hearts we have the tools and the faith to move beyond the hurt to the purpose. God always has a purpose. This is a tragedy that affects us all, but it is an opportunity for belief. If you have no faith, then this tragedy may consume you, but with the hope that God provides, there is more. There is a light in the darkness that no evil can extinguish. There is a way that no foe can hide. With Jesus, the evil of this world will be crushed and peace shall reign in entirety again. 

Matthew 11:28 -- "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 147:3 -- "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds."

Dear Lord,

I pray for the families of this tragedy. Please help them grieve and give them peace that you are greater than any evil the world can muster, you are greater then even death. I pray that you find justice for this evil loosed on precious, innocent lives. I pray that purpose will come from your hand and that fear will not grip us because you are in control. Lord, I pray that we can heal and grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ. And I pray that the love of those around them will draw others to your light that do not know it. I pray that all will find peace and that we can always be joyful, never cease praying and be thankful in all circumstances because it is Your will for us to so for all of us who belong to Jesus. Amen.

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Finally I want to share a poem I wrote in response to this tragedy:

God Bless the Little Children

Little angels fly to heaven

Our little children, must they go?

Our hearts are broken, our world crashes down

As tears fall freely down the halls

Where's the justice? Where's the love?

What a world this has turned out to be

God spreads out his arms to welcome his children

Tragedy strikes but reasons must be

life maybe lost, but love will spread

A purpose must come from this tragedy

With heavy hearts and bowed heads

we come together to share the pain

Innocence may never be restored

but love and faith will grow forevermore

Through forgiveness and grace we can forge a path

to rise out of the darkness and become the light

God bless the little children

all the children of the school

let there be justice in you sight

for each little life

and redemption in the souls of the world.

Amanda McCusker

Advent: Awaiting Jesus Christ

I love the Christmas season! The countdown for Christmas is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. I wanted to take a moment and really think concentrate on what this time of year really means. What is the Christmas season really all about?

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What is Advent all about?

The countdown to Christmas is often called the Advent. But what does that mean? “Advent” means “arrival,” usually referring to an important thing or event. At Christmas time we are awaiting the “arrival of Christ!” Knowing that, it makes me even more excited to celebrate the Advent!

This is the time to ready our hearts and home for Christ. It is time to celebrate with friends and family, but also a time to quiet our hearts for repentance, examination and introspection. Christmas and the celebration of the Advent is a time like no other where we can truly find rest in Jesus, quietly alone and with others.

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The Messiah is Coming!

Isaiah 7:14 -- “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah over and over again. God promised a Savior, a King and a way out of the oppression the people faced. The Old Testament prophecies gave hope to His people then and assurance to us now. God does what he says he will do and he will continue to.

Micah 5:2-4 --
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,
one whose origins are from the distant past.
3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.

Micah was writing during war torn Israel, a time where hope often felt lost to anyone. But He speaks of a Savior to be born in the small town of Bethlehem that would restore God’s people. Micah wrote to warn the people about the judgment waiting if they did not turn back to God, but also of God’s love and justice for us all. Even through the troubles of the time there was hope, a hope in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

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Jesus is Born!

Luke 2:7 -- “She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords had a very humble beginning. He was born in a stable because there was no where else for him to go. I was wrapped in the spare cloth they had on hand. He shared a room with horses, donkeys and sheep. He had his mother Mary and his worldly father Joseph to welcome him into the world. He was joined with others who saw and followed the signs: the shepherds, the Wise Men and the angels. Yes, it was a humble beginning for our Lord just as it would be a humbling life and a humbling exit. However, Jesus did not come to be a part of the world, he came to save it.

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The World would Never be the Same!

John 3:16 -- “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Through humble beginning he came, but Christ grew and fulfilled His Father’s purpose -- He saved God’s people. He shed His blood on the cross to overcome the sins of the world. Anyone who believes and gives their lives over to Christ will have eternal life in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. Now that is Good News!

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The True Meaning of Christmas!

Christmas is not about stressing over gifts and holiday lights. It is not about making everything perfect or trying to get everything done. During this inevitable busiest time of year we need to stop and remember what it is all about. It is about Jesus!

We honor his birth in this season, but the story doesn’t stop there. Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s entire life, His purpose and His sacrifice for all of us. By knowing Christ we can have peace and joy not only at Christmas Time, but also throughout the entire year! Christ loves us no matter what, the Advent is a good time, amongst the business, to remember that. By knowing Christ’s love we can share that love with others everyday.

Amos (Bible in 90 Days)

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Amos is proof, once again, that God can use any one to speak his message. Amos was not a priest or well-known prophet, he was a Shepard and tended the land in the Judea countryside.

However, when Amos saw a vision from God and the conviction to spread the message, he left everything he knew and fulfilled his purpose in God.

Amos traveled through all of Israel proclaiming God’s judgment for the people’s complacency, idolatry and oppression of the poor. His message impacted many and is still extremely relevant today.

While Amos preached people cheered when neighboring cities were denounced, but every city had their own judgment proclaimed on them and were less enthused. A priest named Amaziah, even tried to stop the preaching, but Amos bravely continued retelling God’s vision. 

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The judgment of the nation was fierce, but God wants us to know that all hope is not lost. Amos ends his message with hope and the promise that God will one day restore his people and they will be great again.

God doesn't want the show or the mindless ritual while his people still have sinful hearts—he wants to be close to his people and love them on a personal level.

“I hate all our show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos 5:21-24

Wordless Wednesday: Zoey in Action

Zoey in Action

Our Elf on the Shelf Adventures

We are doing Elf on the Shelf this year, and I have to admit, I am having as much fun with it as Zoey is! I wanted to share our first week with the Elf, he has gotten into some fun mischief!

24 Days Until Christmas!

Meet our Elf

23 Days Until Christmas!

Elf in a Chair

22 Days Until Christmas!

Elf with a message

21 Days Until Christmas!

Elf with Baby Jesus

20 Days Until Christmas!

Elf in a Fort

19 Days Until Christmas!

Elf playing Lucky Ducks

18 Days Until Christmas!

Elf and Minnie Tea Party

I hope you are having a wonderful Holiday Season! It is a special time of the year, where each day holds a little bit of magic. I would love to see some of your Elf on the Shelf adventures and other Christmas traditions! Post your links in the comments and enjoy some holiday cheer!

Joel (Bible in 90 Days)

The end of the world is near—that’s what Joel preached. Little is known about Joel, but the prophet made his mark with this short, but powerful book.

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Joel insistently warns Judah of God’s judgment and that one day we will all be judged for our sins. He urges the people to cease their sin and turn back to God.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments, return to the Lord your God, for his is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” Joel 2:12-13

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The beautiful thing about the book of Joel is that within the powerful warning of God’s wrath, including an army of locusts, you can really see God’s love for his people and His desire for them to choose him over their wicked ways.

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:32.

Simply Thankful

At the end of the week, I like to stop for a minute and simply be thankful for the little things in life. There are so many people who do not have shelter, food or clothing. I may not have all that I want, but I have all that I need and more. Today I am being Simply Thankful.

Zoey

I am always thankful for Zoey! She is a light in my world that shines even when she drives me crazy, which let's be honest is fairly often. I love how much she enjoys drawing and creating things. I love when she laughs and even when she challenges me. I love how much she enjoys every little bit of life, it is an inspiration to me all the time.

Best Friends

We have met some really awesome people recently. I love that Zoey and I have found some fun people that we get along with swimmingly. It makes all of life a little more enjoyable to share it with a friend. On this subject, I also want to include my friends that have been with me for a long time. Even though many of them live in another city or we may not see them as often as we like, I am thankful they are there to help remember the old times, how far you have grown and to be there whenever you need a friend. 

Preschool

We are still doing preschool at home. Zoey is loving it! She gets really excited when it's time to work together. She is learning how to write her numbers now. She is getting pretty good. She can already write her name. I love how much she loves learning, it makes me feel happy inside. I am so proud of my little girl!

That the Elections are Over

This election year has been brutal. I am thankful that it is over. I feared that the battle lines drawn between the two parties was going to split friends, communities and even the nation. I do no remember a campaign being as intense as this one (of course I've only been actively aware of three now.) I want to pray for Obama as he enters into another four years in office. I pray for peace in the country, that we can come together as a nation and rally for the betterment of all the people. 

Family

I am so thankful for family. We are spending time with my parents this weekend and Zoey is so excited to see her Granny & Pops. I love this time of year because we do spend more time with family. I can't wait for thanksgiving in a couple weeks, that week we will get to see both sides of the family and it will be a week to remember. I am thankful to those who take care of us and love just for being who we are, there is nothing more special than that. 

I am Simply Thankful.

I also want to take a minute and pray for the people in New Jersey and the surrounding area still struggling for their basic needs due to Hurricane Sandy. I pray they all find shelter, clothes and food and can find hope amidst the destruction. I want to thank all of the volunteers and organizations that have gone up to help in anyway they can. There truly is something beautiful in people working together to overcome obstacles.

I would love to hear what you are thankful for! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hosea (Bible in 90 Days)

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The bible uses many parables and illustrations to explain lessons and express God’s love. Hosea is one of those examples. Hosea married Gomer by God’s instruction. However, God told Hosea before they wed that she would be unfaithful to him. And though she would bare many sons, they would not all be fathered by him. Hosea accepted this and living by God’s example continued to love his wife and eventually redeemed her and brought her home again.

Hosea dramatically portrays God’s constant and persistent love. Hosea represents God and Gomer represents God’s bride, his people of Israel. Though God loves and remains fully committed to his people they are unfaithful and turn to false gods and live lives full of sin. But God doesn't give up on his people, he disciplines them and wants them to return to him just like Gomer was redeemed and came home to Hosea.

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“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12

Hosea is a love story, honest, tragic and true. Through this illustration we see God’s infinite love for a sinful people and that he is waiting for us to return to him with open arms.

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Wordless Wednesday: Giraffe Friends

Giraffe Friends

Learning God's Lessons

Life is full of struggles. Sometimes our trials are small and sometimes they are life changing. Even when you are surrounded by love and support, you can feel alone. That's how I felt a couple months ago. However, during this time God has been working on me, I can feel it.

My last miscarriage took a toll on me. It hit me hard physically and emotionally. However, I have felt God beside me, holding me up the whole way. It has been a struggle where I have felt isolated and confused. But it is in the roller coaster of emotions, the difficult journey, where God teaches us. It is in time of struggle that God challenges and molds our character into becoming Men and Women of God.

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Elijah provides a perfect example of growing into a Man of God through isolation and struggle...

1 Kings 17:1-7
“Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.”

Elijah comes on the scene at a time of great struggle for Israel. The country was in a bad state thanks to the poor choices of seven kings straying further away from God. Elijah came seemingly out of nowhere to deliver a message to King Ahab (the present king)--There will be no more rain until Elijah says otherwise. What a bold statement from a young prophet. However, just as quickly as Elijah appears, he is gone.

It is easy to assume that God wanted to protect Elijah from Ahab'a wrath during the upcoming drought. However, there is more to the story than simply hiding out. During Elijah's isolation by the brook, he is able to form an intimate relationship with God who teaches him how to pray and become a true Man of God.

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Elijah is first described simply as a man from Tishbe in Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). But after his time of isolation and struggle, Elijah is openly transformed into a Man of God (1 Kings 17:24). During our times of struggle God teaches us how to fully rely on him. The isolation gives us a chance to focus wholly on God and not on the distractions of the world and of Satan.

Elijah trusted God when he lead him to a brook so he would have water when the drought began, and he ate thanks to raven that God commanded to bring him food. Even when the water from the brook began to dry up thanks to his earnest prayer for no rain, he did not cease. Even through the increasing struggle, Elijah continued to trust God and follow through with his mission. These struggles that come through prayer often mean that God is working on something big in your life. Life is never going to be full of pleasantries. Instead, it is full of good and evil, but it difficult to really appreciate the good without the bad to keep you in perspective and teach you God's ways. It is very difficult to learn God's lessons without struggle.

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God teaches in these moments of vulnerability. He teaches us to pray, to love, to sacrifice, to trust him, to rely on him and how to rise above our circumstances. By keeping our hearts focused on praising our Almighty God, even through struggles, we transform into Men and Women of God.

While I went through the many emotions and pains of miscarriage, I felt isolated, even though I knew my family and friends were praying and supporting me. I felt like no one could possibly know how I felt--I'm not sure I even knew how I felt. But God did. He took my hand and led me, sometimes carrying me through.

Even though I prayed earnestly to have a healthy baby, God had a different plan for me. God taught me a great deal during my struggle. He taught me:

• Life is a miracle that should never be taken for granted or ignored.
• Whatever God carries you to,  he will carry you through
• Sometimes the answer to prayer is no, but only because there is something greater in store
• Pain is fleeting, but love, knowledge and understanding carry on forever
• There are blessings all around all the time, we just have to open our eyes to God to see them

I have always felt a call to counsel and guide others. Perhaps for me this is the direction that calling with manifest. I hope that my struggles and lessons learned from God can help others understand and deal with loss and miscarriages. I know I also still have lots to learn at the feet of Jesus, but I do know that most struggles serve a higher purpose. I pray for all of those who have gone through loss or are going through it now, I pray that you listen as God teaches you through this time of struggle and for God to cover you with peace and love.

Are You Ready for Election Day?!?

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Tomorrow is a very important day for our country. Tomorrow we vote for the new leader of the country! I encourage you to become informed on each candidate and to make your voice heard. I encourage you to vote!

I am not here to sway your vote one way or the other. It is important to read through the information yourself and make an educated decision. The two primary candidates for this are President Barack Obama (Democrat) and Mitt Romney (Republican).

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Voting Information: A non-partisan Website with all the details about voting from the National Associate of Secretaries of State.

Information on the 2012 US Presidential Election: Includes the structure of the election, electoral college changes, and links to all of the party conventions and debates. 

On the Issues: Includes the candidate's stand on major issues brought up in the debates and the news.

Democratic National Committee: The official Democratic Party Website (endorsing Obama).

Grand Old Party: The official Republican Party Website (endorsing Romney).


I believe it is important to always pray for the leaders of our nation at all times. I can not even imagine how much stress and pressure our president has to endure every day. They need constant prayer to keep the people in mind as they decide on the direction to take on social and all issues. They are in office to keep us safe and be a diplomat and commander for the entire nation. I pray that whomever wins the presidency for the next term has wisdom and discernment to lead our nation righteously and honestly.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Daniel (Bible in 90 Days)

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The world is full of tragedy, heartbreak, social pressures and seeming chaos. But through it all God is in control. He watches over those who love him even in the gravest circumstances. When Jerusalem fell, Daniel was among many faithful Jews living in captivity under King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule of Babylon.  Daniel found favor with the king by interpreting a dream that no one else could decipher. He was granted a prominent position in the Babylonian government thanks to his trust in God and delivering his message.

Daniel wrote about three of his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and their encounter with the burning furnace. I love this story, and thanks again to Veggie Tales, I have a fun visual when I read it.
King Nebuchadnezzar placed a huge idol of gold for everyone in his kingdom to bow to. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived faithfully for God and would not worship an idol. Nebuchadnezzar became furious and ordered the three Jews to be thrown in the blazing furnace.

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This is their response: “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

I cannot even imagine how much faith that response takes. They basically say you can kill us, but our God is stronger than this situation. Our God can save us, but even if he doesn't we still serve him. God is in control. They stand above pressures of society and do what is right—even if it means death.

They were thrown into the blazing furnace and God did save them:
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers “ weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly o King.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unburned and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25

It was a miracle. Even Nebuchadnezzar recognized that. He promoted the three in the Babylonian government and gave praise to God. (The entire story can be found in Daniel 3:1-30.)

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But that is only one of the incredible stories found in Daniel. He interprets dreams and writings, he plays an important role in the Babylonian government, he survived a night in the lion’s den and he sees visions of the future, the Messiah and the End times.

Daniel sees a vision foretelling the Messiah:
“In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the ancient of days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is and everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14.

Daniel ends with a vision of the end times, which is more detailed in Revelations. He also provides the allusion to the rapture, which is not mentioned in Revelations. Details are found in Daniel 12: 1-13.

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Daniel was a fierce man of God who stood up for his beliefs even in the worst of times. God saved Daniel from destruction and relayed a message threw him to four different leaders of the time. Even though the world can feel chaotic, God is still in control directing nature and nations and caring for his people.

National Novel Writing Month

Today marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo)!!!

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What is NaNoWriMo you might ask? I didn't know anything about it until last year. It is a group of people coming together locally and online that support each other while they write. For anyone (including myself) who has ever thought about writing a novel, this is the perfect challenge. It focuses on writing everyday for one month. The goal is to write 50,000 words (about 175-page novel) in 30 days. That would mean averaging just over 1500 words a day. It sounds intimidating, but it is actually a wonderful experience!

I participated last year and managed to produce about 40,000 words. More than the volume of text you write, I enjoy NaNoWriMo because it immerses you in your characters and setting. By writing everyday it is easier to envision your thoughts turn into a novel instead of the chaos often found in your mind (at least that's how I feel it works in my mind.) The best part about participating with the program online is that you can collaborate with other writers, plan your novel and track your progress on the NaNoWriMo Website.

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This year, I am going to try something a little different. I am looking to write a devotional book. So for NaNoWriMo this year, I am going to add a little more each day. This is a project I have been wanting to pursue for a while now and NaNoWriMo is just the motivation I need to get started. I had such a wonderful time last year, I am very excited to participate once again!

Is anyone else participating in NaNoWriMo? Would anyone else like too? I will post updates on my progress and experiences, I would love to hear from you! You can learn all about NaNoWriMo at www.nanowrimo.org!

I hope you have a wonderful November!

Happy Halloween!

I've always enjoyed Halloween, it can be a lot of fun! This year, I have enjoyed Halloween even more because Zoey is really getting into it. She loves the pumpkins and will point out all of the Halloween decorations we see with bright, excited  eyes. It is more fun to see the mystery of Halloween through Zoey's eyes.

Zoey chose her own Halloween costume this year. Ever since they first put them out, Zoey has gravitated to Snow White. Not just a princess, but Snow White specifically. If you ask her who her favorite Princess is, her answer (9 out of 10 times) is Snow White. I was excited that we were able to provide what she wanted the most. When we first brought the costume home, she was on cloud 9 all afternoon while she was wearing it.

We did go to one Halloween party. In the spirit of Snow White, I dressed up as the evil Queen and Stephen was Sleepy Dwarf. It was fun to be part of Zoey's imagination. Even if she called me "Mommy Witch" and her Daddy "Naptime Superhero" all night, I think she understood we were doing it for her.

The best part about this party was the creepy spider that swung down with a cackle hiding in the bathroom. Yes, it was scary, it was suppose to be. But Zoey saw it and laughed, saying "silly spider." We did give her a little warning, but still, her reaction was priceless. After a night full of cupcakes and play, she said her favorite part of the party was "the dancing spider in the bathroom!" I think she has this Halloween thing down pat.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween! Trick or Treat!

What a Week!

Zoey and her friend is a rare moment of quiet during a long afternoon of play.

This has been a week-- a crazy week. We have been fighting sickness, while beginning preschool, and helping out some friends too. I feel exhausted and ready to sleep for an entire day. However, I will instead take a sip of hot tea and try to make sense of this erratic week.

Preschool is going well. Zoey is enthusiastic about it and I am having a blast watching her learn. This week we were distracted by a cold that has now reached the entire family, but we still learned some fun things. We covered the letter "A" and colored lots of alligators. Zoey also pointed to and named many other words that started with "A." We also began some pre-writing sheets to help her get control over her marks to eventually begin to write letters. She does really well with this, but I am having trouble getting her to hold her pencil correctly. We also focused on the bible story of creation. She liked the part where God created the fish and birds and then when he created all the animals.

Thankfully, none of us got really sick. It was simply that head cold, stuffy nose, I don't want to do anything but sit here sick. I think I am getting it last so hopefully we will all be back to our silly selves by next week.

I read two books this week. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend either of them to you. The first book was "Fallen in Love" by Lauren Kate (book 3.5 in the Fallen series.) I love the series, but this particular book was a collection of stories for each character. I thought it was lacking and unneeded. I am looking forward to reading the last book in the saga though, "Rapture." The second book I read was "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James. I have no idea what the hype was about. I didn't like it. It is horribly written and the story is lacking at best. You can read my review of it on "Goodreads."

Love Like Jesus

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Jesus is love. I believe most Christians can agree on that. He represents love in the most real sense. Not only did he protray the best of humanity's capability of love on earth, but he also depicts God the Father's unlimited, merciful love. Jesus loves believers as much as non-believers. He loves saints as much as sinners. He has the capacity to over power any temptation or sin with love.

As Christians, we are to walk in Jesus' footsteps, to strive to be more like the perfect example God sent to us.

"For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps" 1 Peter 2:21.

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So why do we refuse to love others as Jesus does?

It seems like such an easy thing, to love. Most of the time we have no problem loving our family, our kids, perhaps loving a friend that we like to spend time with. But what about loving those we don't get along with. What about loving that co-worker who gives us a hard time, or the acquaintance who always tries to be better than you, or the one who doesn't share you opinion on any matter. Let's take it one step more. What about loving those people who steal, who have abortions or who live a way different from yours. All of a sudden it isn't so easy to love is it?

But Jesus did.

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Jesus loved sinners because they were still God's creation. He loved prostitutes, he dined with thieves and he even anointed a tax collector as a disciple.

"But God showed his great love to us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" Romans 5:8.

Inviting a thief to dinner does not mean I will begin to steal. Hugging a prostitute does not mean I will begin to work the streets. Doing these things does not even mean I condone the behavior--which I don't. However, it does mean I put my judgment in God's hands and continue to love the person behind the sin as Jesus did.

"Do not judge other, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in  your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help yo get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:1-5

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In my devotional series "Beautiful Battle," I am exploring the idea of spiritual battle. Mary DeMuth states my opinion splendidly in her novel which my series is based on...

"And we give sin more power when we name it, focus on it, and forget about Jesus' power to overcome it" (DeMuth p53, "Beautiful Battle.")

Jesus is the one who resisted all temptation from Satan. Jesus is the one who sacrificed himself, the perfect lamb to cover the sins of all humanity. Jesus is the one who went to the grave and rose again to strip all authority away from Satan and doom him to the fiery lakes. Jesus has the power to overcome sin. By focusing on the Savior the details Satan holds so dear falls away. The cycle of judging others is one of Satan's many tricks to come between us and the outstanding power and love of Jesus.

"For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, "God has put all things under his authority"...Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God's authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere." 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

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It is not always easy to love. It is difficult to look beyond the hurt someone has bestowed on you. It is complicated to look beyond someone's life choices to relate to the soul. It is challenging to relate to someone  who is completely different than you. However, that is our call. We are summoned to forgive sins, to counsel and reassure, to teach and comfort. Above all we are meant to love, as strongly and openly as Jesus did.

"I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of your more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him." 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.

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This is not an easy charge. We are not perfect. As humans, we falter, we sin, we fall short of the glory of God. The beauty is, Jesus is right there picking us up, brushing us off, forgiving our sins and sometimes literally carrying us forward. Love is a powerful thing. It is so strong that it can lift someone up and tear someone down at the same time. To love one that the world tells you to hate is hard. Jesus shows us the way, he whispers inspiration and strength into our hearts. All we have to do if focus on him and let Satan and  the outside world fade away. All we have to do is love like Jesus. It is as simple and as difficult as that.

"A new command I give you! Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.