Lost & Found

Six years ago on my 35th birthday, my husband gave me a beautiful bracelet. I love jewelry and this bracelet was made even more special to me by the giver (my husband) and the occasion (my birthday). So imagine how I felt 3 years later when I lost it! I was devastated.

It was insured, so we filed a claim and later I purchased a replacement bracelet. I got over the loss and life went on. Until my daughter pulled all the sofa cushions off of the sofa to build a tower with them and exclaimed "Look mom, I found your bracelet!"

Now some might think I was thrilled by this news, but actually my first thought was "quick, stuff it back into the sofa!" We'd already filed the claim, gotten the money and spent it on another bracelet. Not very graceful, huh? Of course I had to let the insurance company know, and we had to repay the money. So my first thought was not to be thrilled. (I am happy now to have it back. And having 2 bracelets isn't so bad when you realize you have 2 precious daughters whom you can pass them on to).

We are blessed to have a God who is more committed to us and finds us more precious, than I did that bracelet. If we become lost, he doesn't just replace us with a new believer. He continues to try and bring us back to him, regardless of the cost.

What once was lost, now is found. That is God's grace to us. Isn't it amazing?

Matthew 18:12-14 -- If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Luke 15:3-7 -- Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Thankful Thursday - 5/14

Here are my 5 things, big or small, this week.

1. That you guys were so understanding about me dropping Wednesday for blogging. I used that writing time to do 2 articles, and submitted them for publication. Now I'm in the waiting phase.

2. I'm still faithfully going to the gym, only missing a few days since January. And boy are you guys good on accountability. Most of you gave me big grief for missing last week. But I'm all better and back to the gym!

3. School! I admit it. I enjoy the time while my kids are at school so I can do writing, meet with my friends, or even just do housework ALONE. I'm especially conscience of this now, as my 5 yr old only has 1 more week of school.

4. My kids! Yes, I enjoy my time without them, but my life wouldn't be complete without them! They are my heart & soul and I love the stuffing out of them. THANK YOU GOD FOR MY CHILDREN! (& my hubby).

5. My life. Don't you know your life isn't yours alone, but a gift from God? He came to give us life so we could live it abundantly! I am so thankful for my life through Jesus! Thank you Lord!

What are you thankful for today?

Good Intentions or Good Character?

Once upon a time I was in a committee meeting. (I've sat through a LOT of committee meetings in my time). On this particular committee we were deciding who should fill an open spot. A name came up, and I immediately thought it was the wrong name. I sat for a moment thinking how I could politely say that this person lacked follow through in my experience with them.

As I was formulating my thoughts, another committee member voiced their own reservations. I concurred. Then another, and another. When all was said and done, every person in the room shared how this person, while having the best of intentions, had failed to do what they promised.

After the meeting I wondered if this person realized how often they let people down. I wondered if they realized that they had become characterized as someone who had good intentions, but lacked follow through. Then I wondered how I would be characterized in a room full of people.

I realized that day, that your character is not defined by some epic moment in your life. Rather it is the sum of your daily actions. Are you characterized as reliable or unreliable? Are you characterized by being prompt or late? Are you characterized as caring or impatient?

Because people are noticing, whether you realize it or not. Your every day actions define your character.

What are your actions saying about you today?

Ruth 3:11 -- And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

Acts 17:11 -- Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Corinthians 15:33 -- Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Fear of Rejection

As this year began, I was delusional excited as I began my goal to write a devotional book. I set the goal to write regularly. As I began working on my book, I hit a logistical snag. So I emailed a literary agent that I follow on blogger with my idea and questions.

The agent was gracious and generous enough to respond and answer my questions. Not only that, she said she really liked my idea and said she would like to see it once I got in written. I was dancing around the house in glee! Now one would think that I would immediately write my book and submit it to her. Actually quite the opposite happened.

You see, right in that moment of time, I had a small success. Right then, "she liked me, she really liked me!" But what happened if I wrote the book and she found that my ideas were better than my writing. What if the initial idea was good, but my formulation wasn't. What if I got rejected? No, not me. If I just stopped right there, I could sit in the comfortable place of having a good idea without risking rejection.

I didn't even realize I was doing it, really, until I was emailing with a new blogger friend, Heaven (Yes, that's her real name) at Heaven's Journey. She said something that really hit home with me. She said:

When we are seeking acceptance and praise from others, it's because we are not able to receive our acceptance and praise from God alone. You can have "head" knowledge that God thinks you are great and loves you, but if you don't have the "heart" knowledge of really "knowing" God loves you, then you seek the acceptance and praise elsewhere. You always walk around with a hole in your heart, saying "fill me, make me whole, say something to make me believe that I'm worth it." The bad thing is that you can fill that hole up with praise from others, and ONE person comes along and says something negative, and it totally drains the hole that you just got filled up. You start ALL over.

Now I know how much Jesus loves me, but I really want everyone else too also! But I can't count on that. I have to find my worth in Christ alone. So this week, I submitted my book query. It might get rejected, but it's okay because I took a step in faith. Because whether I'm the best writer or the worst writer (or somewhere in between) what matters most is Jesus loves me. And that is enough.

Accepted or rejected, I hope that when you look at me you see my faith shining through.

Psalm 27:1 -- The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Matthew 10:29-31 -- Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (NIV)

Philippians 4:13 -- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJ)

Thankful Thursday - 5/7

Here are my 5 this week:

1. I'm thankful my 5 yr old is over her virus...and for decongestant medicine since I caught it.

2. I'm thankful that my accountability partner skipped the gym this morning so I could too, guilt-free.

3. I'm thankful that my nephew is out of the hospital (pneumonia) and that my niece (his sister) got her cast today (after braking her arm on Saturday.) Yes, it's safe to say my sister, ET, had a bad week this week. But it's getting better.

4. I'm thankful for encouragement from bloggy friends. You guys make my day.

5. I'm thankful that y'all will let me get by with only 4 things this week, cause my head is stopped up and it's hard to think. I think I'll go rest on the couch. :-)

Blogging Schedule

I'm not wonder woman! (This is what the tag line on my blog used to be.) My blog was called Wonder Woman Wonders. I used to try to do it all, but I've come to realize I can't! And that is a good thing.

The school year winds down for my preschooler in just 3 weeks, and for my elementary aged daughter in just 5 weeks. With the end of the year comes lots of field trips and school productions. My schedule is jamming up. I need to cut back some where.

So effective immediately, my blog will be going to a reduced schedule. My plan is to post on Mondays and Fridays for devotions, and post Thankful Thursdays as often as possible. If you follow my blog, you'll always know when I post! (You never know when I'll get on a roll & post extra!) So if you don't follow, just click the "FOLLOW" button on the right to make sure you don't miss anything.

To my bloggy friends, please know I'm still jumping around & visiting as much as I can, but for the next few weeks I may not comment as much.

Ready for Summer Vacation -

Lucky 13

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary. Now supposedly 7 is a lucky number, and 13 is unlucky. But in marriage since 7 is supposedly unlucky (7 year itch), than 13 must be lucky right??

So in honor of my lucky 13th, here are 13 Things I've Learned in 13 Years:

1. My husband is not perfect. And neither am I.

2. I can't change him, and I'm basically okay with that.

3. It's not all about me, no matter what "it" is.

4. How to cook, and I'm pretty good at it!

5. What ELSE I want to be when I grow up (besides a wife & mother...a writer!)

6. Believing in God in not enough, I want to live my life for him.

7. Minivans are cool. (Humor me on this one.)

8. I won't be a size 2 forever, and that just means there is more of me to love. (*wink*)

9. I finally concur with the Bible's take on submission...I didn't say I was good at it, I just said I agree with it.

10. Gifts aren't important! I'm happy with just a card and spending time together. (Really, honey, I'm not kidding!)

11. It takes work to make a marriage last or to be a good mom, and I'm up for the task.

12. I'm not always right (but I still want to be).

13. I still have a lot to learn...and always will.


Colossians 3:13-15 -- Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.