Counting the Costs

Last September I joined Weight Watchers. I counted points with great dedication, and by November I'd lost 15 lbs. In January, by keeping the weight off I achieved "Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers."  And by staying within 2 pounds of my target weight, I've maintained that goal.

Fast forward ahead to May. I became complacent in my weight management system. I stopped counted points, and estimated in my head. Suddenly it was the last day of May and I had to weigh in. And there it was. 

.04 lbs over my 2 lb weight gain limit. But then the weight counselor said, "I'm not going to charge you. Just get it back down by next month's weigh in."  I couldn't believe it! She gave me grace, even though I'd stopped counting points.

But now it is up to me to get back to counting, and back to my goal, for this month there will be no more grace.

Most people don't set out to sin. No, initially as Christians we are vigilant in our plan to follow Jesus. But at some point we become complacent, and we stop counting the costs. We slip into sin, accidentally.  Suddenly we find ourselves weighed down. Thankfully, Jesus too offers grace! He forgives our missteps and slips into sin. When sin increases, grace increases all the more. But does that mean we should keep on sinning?

As the Apostle Paul states, "By no means!" We are dead to sin, and need to live a life of righteousness.

So I'm back to counting points, trying hard to stay on track so that when I weigh in this month I reach my goal. And in the same way, I'll keep counting myself dead to sin but alive in Jesus. Because following Jesus is what counts, most of all!

 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6:11,12

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

My Promotional Video

I'm so excited to debut my new promotional video for my speaking and writing ministry! 

(If you are reading this via email, you may have to visit my blog to watch the video, so come on over!)

As a member of the Christian Women Affiliate, and their "Review Crew," I got this video in exchange for an honest review, and I can tell you I honestly cannot be happier!

The CWA Video Service, and the fabulous Evonne Mandella, work with you to make the perfect video for your needs.  (Evonne has a Master’s Degree from Bethany Bible Collegeand Seminary. She currently enjoys working with Christian Television Network to provide uplifting high quality videos year round. She has made Cinema Quality Videos for leaders in the Christian fitness, Magazine, and Christian television industry.)

All you have to do is send her whatever photos or graphics you need, as well as a video or audio clip, and she puts together something fabulous (as you can see).

I sent her a few things, and she took the initiative to visit my website, and get a feel for "who I am" and used some additional text from there. She worked with me to make the edits I wanted (you all know I am picky). And she worked tireless with me to find just the right music. (Let's just say I was particular here too).

And each time Evonne came back immediately with something to put a smile on my face. She was so wonderful to work with, I can't recommend the CWA Video service enough.

So if you need a promotional video for your ministry, book, etc., etc, check it out. Here are some details:

For Only $50 you will get:

• A custom made, high resolution video, specifically created with your taste and customer base in mind.
• The highest quality of music in the industry to find just the right song to match your product.
• High resolution video clips to further enhance to your product.
• Your own download-able mp4 version of the video to share, email, post to youtube, vimeo, whatever you like- it is yours.
• You will receive an embed code and link to your own personal video page. 

I hope you will check out the CWA Video Service. I think they’ll make you as happy as they have made me. 

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

Seal of Approval

The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval has been reassuring consumers about their product-purchasing decisions for over 100 years and is one of the most recognized consumer emblems in the market today. The Seal is an emblem of the magazine's Consumer Policy, which promises a refund or replacement for defective products within two years of purchase. As consumers, we know we can trust things with the seal of approval.

Did you Jesus has a Seal of Approval? Not by Good Housekeeping (GH) magazine. But by God himself!  John 6:27 states, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." (Emphasis mine).

God's seal of approval tells us many things. It tells us that Jesus was tested and found to be the best. Just as the a GH sealed product has been tested against other products to prove it is the best and earned the seal, we know that Jesus too was tested. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tested by the devil. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus was able to refer to scripture and reject the temptation. No other person on earth has ever been able to live a sin-free life. So we know that Jesus earned the seal by being tested.

The seal tells us that we can trust Jesus. Products with the GH seal are guaranteed. If they fail, GH stands behind them to replace them. As sinners, we fail every day, and because of the failure, we are separated from God. But Jesus is that guarantee, stating that when we fail, he replaces our sin with his perfection (by his death and resurrection) so that can spend eternity with God in heaven. Jesus is a guarantee of eternal life.

Finally, the GH seal produces peace of mind for it's consumers. Jesus too offers peace of mind. We know that when we believe in and follow him, that we will have the peace that passes human understanding! We find hope in Jesus, when there is no hope. 

Jesus has God's seal of approval! And we too have been marked with a seal. Because of Jesus, we have been marked with God's seal of ownership - providing us the ultimate lifetime guarantee.

He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:22

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

Mediocre Mothering

I read a popular "mommy blog" the other day.  She had great writing, a funny topic, and was completely relatable. But that smart, savvy, writer mom dropped the *f-word* three times in her blog post. Three! And it made me very sad. Not because I know her or even know anything about her, but because I didn't understand why.

Don't get me wrong. It's not like I've never heard the word before. I may have even said it before, so I'm not judging.  I just think motherhood deserves more. We should be in awe every single day of the gift we have in our kids, and show motherhood a little more respect.

Another popular Christian blogger recently blogged about her failings as a mom, and how she "used to care." She's tired. And I SO get that, because I am exhausted and she has more kids then I do. But I can't stop feeling that motherhood is sacred.

Then we post funny graphics like the one in this post, and we all laugh. Because "keeping the kids alive" is the new standard. When did we embrace mediocrity in motherhood?  It likely all started innocently enough. Someone pulled down the veil behind us trying to achieve perfection -and failing every single time - and shared that they were messing up. And we all breathed a sigh of relief, because we could relate!

But somehow the sharing of our failures stopped being about encouraging each other to keep striving for the good, and became an acceptance of mediocre mothering. And I think it's time to stop. Because our kids deserve better. (Click to tweet this.)

I mess it up sometimes. I forget to send in items to school. I forget to check the homework folder. I yell at my kids. I mess up and I feel bad about it...because I never forget how important I am to my kids. And how important they are to me. 

Motherhood can be hard...almost every single day! But there are so many women with empty arms and hearts who would readily dive right into my situation and take it over. I can't forget that. They'd love to have one "hard" day with kids, then all the hard days without them.

And so I mess up, and I get up, and I keep striving to do better.  I'll never be perfect, but I refuse to accept mediocrity. Because I am a mom. I'll never forget what a precious gift that truly is.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

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

Legalism or Training

As a recovering perfectionist, I try to avoid legalism. Legalism is defined as an excessive adherence to the law, or dependence on the law rather than faith. Growing up trying to "earn" love, "earn" forgiveness and "earn" acceptance, has forced me to really work (no pun intended) to realize that MY work isn't what saves me. The work Jesus did on the cross is all it takes.

Recently I was in a Bible study, and the week's "homework" was to set several alarms on your phone, and pray when the alarm went off. This smacked of legalism to me - praying at a certain time, versus as the spirit leads. When I shared my thoughts in class, the leader gave a different perspective.

"Are there any TV shows you watch regularly?" - the leader asked.  Of course there are. She asked if I found it "legalistic" that I set aside a certain time each week to watch that particular show. Of course I hadn't. Somehow saying "Every Thursday at 9 I'm going to watch Person of Interest" was okay. But saying, "Every day at 11 I'm going to pray" was legalistic.

Now I realize that there is a difference between training and legalism. Setting aside a regular time to have Bible study or prayer isn't legalistic. I set aside time to make dinner, watch TV, play with my kids - all the things that I want or need to do.  Even if I don't "feel" like it - I still make dinner.  The same principals can be applied to being faithful in Bible study and prayer!

I still need to watch myself that I don't just "check off" my prayer and study time as things on the to-do list. I need to apply them through out my day. I need to live out my studies and prayers.

I understand that these things don't "save" me. It's not my works, but the sacrifice made by Jesus. But I can still train myself to spend time in the word and prayer - without being legalistic. After all, if I make time for a TV show, I can certainly make time for Jesus.  Can't you?

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

Accepting Grace

One of my job duties is to prep the newsletter for my boss every Friday, for Sunday distribution.  The past Friday I dropped the ball. A family emergency came up,  preoccupying my thoughts, and distracting my focus.  I never even considered the newsletter until Sunday morning, when I saw the completed newsletter come into my inbox - prepared -but not by me.

I immediately emailed my boss, apologizing for the error and explaining what had happened. He immediately responded, "No worries, at all."  And I have no doubt he meant it. After 7 months of working together, and me not missing a newsletter yet, he knows my work ethic. Yet, as I sat there (in church no less), I couldn't accept the grace he so freely gave me. Instead I sat there berating myself for my mistake.

The irony of the situation isn't lost on me.  Jesus died to pay the price for my sins. In full. Yet, how often do I, instead of accepting His grace - and the peace that comes with it - instead continue to berate myself over my failures? As if Jesus wasn't enough.

This is a constant battle for me. Is it for you too? We try to do our best. We want to be known by our actions, not our "intentions." Yet, we aren't perfect, try as we might be.

Jesus paid the price for our failures, not that we shouldn't try to do our best, but that we accept His forgiveness (not to mention the forgiveness of others). There is freedom in His forgiveness and grace. There is peace.

I will continue to do my best for my boss. But, undoubtedly I will mess something up again in the future. I'm human. I'm thankful that I have a Savior who paid the price for my failures. (Not to mention a boss who doesn't expect me to be perfect.) Now, I need to accept that grace, and keep moving forward.

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6

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

It's Better With the Father

I love eating at my dad's house. Even the simplest things just taste better there. I can make the same recipes that he does, yet his still taste better. I finally figured out why! We may make the same dip, but I use low fat sour cream, and he uses the "real" stuff. Of  course, his ends up being richer, creamier and more delicious! That sandwich? While I use 100% whole wheat, he uses a thick white Italian bread. Yes, the whole wheat may be "better" for me, but his definitely tastes better.

There is also the joy of "being taken care of" by my father. As the person who takes care of everyone else in my daily life, it's nice to have someone take care of me for a change. (But don't worry - I do a lot of things to take care of him too!)

My Christian walk can mirror that example. I can look to other things to fill me instead of my time with Jesus. And even when they are "good" things, like volunteering, exercising, or even writing a blog post, nothing really fulfils as much as Jesus. He is the "real stuff" that is definitely better.

Not only there, there is joy in being taken care of by my Father - my heavenly Father.  He knows too well the time I spend caring for everyone and yet I am always in His sight and His is always there for me.

It's better with the Father! The biggest problems are smaller when you have the hope of Jesus, and the best days are better when you know Him. Spend some time creating the real relationship with your heavenly Father. It will be noticeable different than just knowing about Him.

If you don't have a relationship with your earthly dad, God can fill the role of loving Father for you. But if your earthly dad and you have a good relationship, why not give him a call, just to tell him you love him. And remember, God is always on call to hear that you love Him too.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, 

that we should be called children of God!

 And that is what we are! 

1 John 3:1

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