Be Careful What You Grow

I don't garden. I don't know the right time to plant certain flowers. I don't know the pruning schedule, and I only recently learned that "dead-head" is not only a term for those who listen to certain types of music, but also refers to caring for flowers. I don't know much about gardening, but here is what I do know. You don't plant weeds.

Those that garden know that time and care is spent preparing your soil, and planting your flowers. They also know that regardless of the care and planting, that weeds will come. It seems odd that you have to work for flowers, but that weeds come with no effort. The work comes in the weed removal.

Our thought gardens are the same way. If we want to have lovely thoughts, we must plant them. We must prepare our mind and work to maintain healthy and happy thoughts. Seemingly not so with the negative thoughts. Like weeds, they come on their own. And like weeds, if we allow them, they will take our thought garden over.

Weeds not stopped spread, choking your yard or flowers. Negative thoughts not stopped spread choking your mind. Suddenly your marriage, your situation, your life is filled with negativity. Like weeds in your garden, you can stop the negative thoughts, but it takes work!

Pull those thoughts from your mind, whenever they spring up. Cultivate your positive thoughts. Fertilize your dreams and goals. Deadhead your setbacks, and keep tilling!Your may have to work to make your thought garden bloom. But not only will you enjoy the harvest, but those around you will enjoy the beauty that comes from growing good thoughts.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Being Bold in Prayer

Last Friday my older daughter tried a new eye product. On Saturday morning she woke up with her eyes swollen, red and running. She looked terrible! We gave her an antihistamine and put cold compresses on her eyes, but they really didn't look any better all day. We threw out the eye product, but it seemed that while through out the day her eyes would look better, by the next morning they'd go back to square one.

Finally on Tuesday we decided we'd better take her to the doctor. I called the doctor on Tuesday, and they said call back Wednesday at 8 am, and they'd fit her in if they had a cancellation. In Bible study that day, I asked for prayer that the doctor would be able to fit her in on Wednesday. But the gal that prayed asked that my daughter's eyes would get better.  

When my daughter came home from school that afternoon her eyes were greatly improved, and this morning they weren't swollen at all. I thought about my prayer request. I always ask God for the least thing I can. I am not one to boldly go to God and ask for big things. Is it because I don't trust him? Is it because I don't feel worthy? It is because I want to give him an "out" if he decides to answer "no" to my request?

James 1:6-8 in the Message Bible says this:

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

I thought the woman who prayed at Bible study was asking too much, yet God answered. What I learned is that I am asking too little.  Are you going to God boldly in prayer? He may say no, but it doesn't mean he doesn't have to power to say yes. Trust God today to answer your bold prayers, for his glory.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

A Letter to Teenage Me

Dear Kelly,

You are dearly loved. Not by him. By Him. By Him who created you, who knit you in your mother's womb. He, God, delights over you with singing! He wrote your name in the palm of His hand. He sent His only Son, His dearly loved only Son to die to pay the price for your sins, so that you could have eternity together.

That's right, you grew up to be a Jesus Freak. But it's okay! You see God isn't that scary God who sends you to hell, that you've worried about and tried to please (and failed) your whole life. Yes, he does judge, but He doesn't anxiously wait for your to mess up so he can send you to hell. His desire is that all should come to know Him and have eternity with Him. He is slow to anger, and quick to forgive.

My advice to you, young Kelly, is to remember that love shouldn't have to be earned. And love shouldn't make you fear. As a matter of fact there is no fear in love - but perfect love drives out fear. Don't be afraid. I know you feel alone, unloved, worthless. But even if no person on earth ever loved you, God's love is enough. (But - spoiler alert - you have a loving husband, and two precious daughters who adore you....not to mention lots of amazing friends).

I know you feel lost. But Jesus came for the lost. I guess what I am telling you is ALL the things you are so concerned about don't really matter. Believe it or not, Jesus is the only thing. You will have trouble, but Jesus overcame the world so that there is a happy ending...happily EVER after.

My advice to you is hold you head up, and live. Don't try to fix people. Those that want to change, do. You can't make people change, sad as that may be. (It's that whole free will thing. If you feel bad, imagine how God does will people reject all He is offering.) No matter what you do, Kelly, your mom isn't going to change. And it's not your fault. You are lovable. She is not loving. Realize the critical difference in those two points.

You are dearly loved. You don't have to earn it. You never did. Love yourself. Jesus loves you, and you are worth it.

*signed - the much Older and slightly Wiser version of you.*

What would you say in a letter to your teenage self? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Note: Emily Freeman at chatting at the sky has a new book for teenage girls called Graceful: Letting Go of Your Try-Hard Life. She is offering an invitation for bloggers to write letters to their teenage selves. Teenage girls need encouragement and love more than anything. Visit Emily’s blog for links to other letters.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

*GIVE-AWAY* - I Am...Gabriel movie

If you read my movie review last week of I Am...Gabriel, then you know how much I enjoyed the movie. I think it should be a part of every Christian family's movie collection. That is why I am so excited that I can help make that happen for two of my readers. 

A. Larry Ross Communications, who provided me the review copy, has now provided me with two additional brand new DVD copies of the movie for giveaway!

So leave me a comment on this blog post telling me why you think you'd enjoy this movie. (The comment must appear here. Email entries cannot be accepted). I will randomly select two winners to receive one copy each!

DETAILS:  To be eligible to win you must provide a valid email address with your comment, and if selected you must provide me a valid U.S. mailing address, within 14 days of my email notification to you.  Entries will be received until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16. The two winners will be announced here on the blog (and notified by email) on Monday, Sept 17.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Sin Watchers

A friend of mine was sharing with me her success on Weight Watchers. The program works by tracking what you eat. Each food is assigned a point count, and you are given an acceptable number of points daily to keep you in the healthy range. For instance, if you are given a target of 26 points a day, you could have 4 for breakfast, 8 lunch, 10 dinner and 2 snacks of 2 points each.

Counting your points is eye opening! While fruit has zero points (eat all you want!), a slice of chocolate cake has 14. You quickly learn that everything you eat has a cost, both literally and figuratively. But if you meet your goal, and stay within 2 points of it, you become a lifetime member.

As Christians, I can't help but notice sometimes we act like we are on "Sin-watchers." We have an "acceptable number" of sin points we allow ourselves to stay in the "godly" range. Telling a white lie might be 1 point, while jealousy is 2. But as long as we stay away from the biggies, like adultery (12 points) or murder (15 points) we're okay.

God doesn't see it that way. You see the acceptable point range for sin is zero. So every sin counts against us. Jesus said that sin is so offensive to God that lusting is as bad as adultery, and calling someone a fool is equal to murder! Still think you're in the "acceptable" range?

But Jesus died on the cross to pay the cost of our points. He took on all of our sins, so that when God see us, he only sees the fruits (zero points!) of Jesus' sacrifice. 

In some ways, it would be good if there was "Sin-watchers." We could watch our points accumulate and be more aware that everything we do wrong has a cost. We would take better care of our behavior, and be more appreciative of the sacrifice Jesus made so that our points don't add up against us. 

Losing weight is hard! And so is being godly.  But with Jesus as our Savior, when we step on the scales of justice they'll point to "forgiven" and we'll meet our goal: Eternal lifetime membership. 

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Mixed Up

My 8 year old made this bracelet for me. She strung each bead and presented it to me with pride. Of course, I love it! 

My 13 year old however later whispered to me, "Some of the letters are mixed up. You should take it apart after she goes to sleep and redo it." The funny thing about her comment, is that I too suffer from perfectionism and not too long ago may have entertained that same thought.

But not anymore. My younger daughter worked very hard on this gift for me. It is not perfect, but it is by her own hands. And when I see it, I am filled with love and I smile at her imperfections, because I know how hard she worked and that she did this for me. Even with the mix ups, you can clearly see what it was meant to be. "Kelly."

I believe that is how my Heavenly Father sees me. I try to do things for Him, but more often that not I end up mixed up. I might submit a devotional for publication that is rejected. I might tell someone the gospel, but they reject it. I might try to be godly, but gossip. I'm not perfect.

But because of Jesus, God knows I work very hard on my gifts for Him. They are not perfect, but they are by my own hands. And I believe, when He sees them, He is filled with love for me and smiles, because He knows I work for Him.

What failures are holding you back from working for God's glory today? He loves you even with your imperfections. You are more special to Him, that this bracelet is to me. You are His, and He made you! He forgives our mixed up messes, and sees what we were meant to be.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

I Am...Gabriel - Movie Review

From the DVD: "Promise, Texas is no place to raise a family: the fields are dry, businesses are failing, and kids can't wait to grow up and move away. Some folks say the town is cursed. Just when things are at their darkest, a mysterious boy wanders out of the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back and a strange mat tucked under his arm. He has a message of hope for the people of Promise, but it's hard for some to receive. The slow death of this small town reflects the condition of their own parches souls. When the boy demonstrates the love of God through signs and wonders, they begin to discover the power of prayer. Still, not everyone in town sees his presence as a gift, and the Sheriff is on a mission to expose who the boy really is. In the end, with his back against the wall - surrounded by skeptics - the boy is forced to reveal his true identity."

My review: I was excited to watch I Am...Gabriel,  produced by EchoLight Studies, if for no other reason that the star power attached to it. Directed by Mike Norris (Walker Texas Ranger - his dad is Chuck Norris), and starring John Schneider (the movie credits him with Smallville, but he will forever be known to me as Bo Duke from Dukes of Hazzard,) and Dean Cain (Superman in Lois & Clark), the movie has recognizable names that you often don't find in Christian productions. The movie and star power didn't disappoint! I Am...Gabriel makes several important points. 

First, "if you lose hope, you lose everything." The town is hopeless, filled with brokenness, emptiness, guilt, anger and sadness. The young boy, "Gabe," has the ability to speak truth to the town people's heart and give them hope.

Second, prayer is critically important. When Gabe asks a woman, "Do you talk to God?" she answers, "I go to church." "But do you talk to God?" he presses. The woman admits she really doesn't. He encourages her to pray, and make a prayer mat like his, not only for herself but for everyone in the town of Promise. Like many "good Christians," she sets to work making the mats and shares with Gabe in great excitement the number of mats the women in town have made. He gently reminders her, "Making the prayer mats is one thing. Using them is the most important."  As a Christian who often gets wrapped up in "works" and misses the relationship with God, I related to this interaction.

The Dove Foundation gave this movie a 5 out of 5 rating, and I couldn't agree more. If you are looking for an uplifting, inspiring, feel good movie for the entire family, I highly recommend I Am...Gabriel. It will become a family favorite that you're sure to watch again and again.

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Here is a video trailer for the movie. (If you are receiving this post via email, you may have to visit my blog to see the trailer.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

I received a free copy of this movie to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.