Got Passion?

Edie over at Rich Gifts posed the question "What's your passion or passions? What has God given you a heart for or about? How is it revealed in your life?"

I've thought and I've thought. (Of course, I had to participate - she was the only person who linked to my Tuesday Tips, except my personal friend, Mrs. Patterson 5.) I've come to a conclusion. I am a passionate person.

I am passionate about my faith. I love God. I am excited by learning revelations about him. I enjoy singing worship songs. I love sharing the message of faith to others. I believe evangelism is my spiritual gift and I am as comfortable talking about God, as I am writing about him.

I am passionate about my children. All my life, all I've ever wanted to be is a mom. It has always been my hearts desire. Some days are better than others, but for the most part, it is my life's dream come true. I enjoy raising them, teaching them, guiding them, and I enjoy their company...most of the time. 10 days until school starts.

I am passionate about my husband.
I am passionate about my volunteer activities.
I care deeply for my friends.
I adore my dog, Buddy.

I guess an easier question to answer would be what am I not passionate about. Housework. Yuck.

Thanks for giving me a chance to link up, Edie.

If the rest of you haven't been to Edie's blog, check out the beautiful FREE scripture tags. I've posted one on my side bar.

Practicing What I Preach

Wow - Wednesday was a little exciting over here at Chatty Kelly's blog. Thank you all so much for your positive affirmation! I'm overwhelmed by your support. Even though I know you all would give me tons of tips for Tuesday Tips next week (you'd be scared not too after this week!), I really feel like I'm going to let it go. I don't want to pressure all my girlfriends (YOU!) to come up with a tip, week after week, and I want my focus to be on God. That's what you've come to expect. And He does too!

*****
My oldest daughter takes piano lessons. As she played the "Laughing Song" for her teacher this week, the teacher noted that in one measure, my daughter was coming in on the 3rd beat, instead of the 4th beat. My daughter started again. One-Two-Thr**- whoops, she came in on the 3rd beat again. "Let's count it out loud together" suggested the teacher. One-Two-Thr***. Whoops, again my daughter played on the 3rd beat. It wasn't that she didn't understand to wait. It wasn't that she wasn't trying. (She was trying very hard). But she had been practicing it wrong all week at home, and now she had a bit of a habit to break.

Of course, you know where I'm going with this one. Do you have any habits in your life? We start off in life doing something that we don't realize is wrong. Many people who don't grow up going to church say "Oh my God!" all the time without thinking about it. But once you realize it's wrong (taking the Lord's name in vain) you need to stop. But it isn't that easy. It's a habit.

For me, my independence can be a habit. I grew up in an alcoholic home. I didn't feel cared for, so I learned to rely on myself. As such, I am utterly and completely reliable, and relatively self-sufficient. Ask anyone. I have a hard time asking for help or relying on others. Even God.

If there is anyway I can do it myself, I try. But I'm learning more every day to rely on the one who made me, who knows the number of hairs on my head. Who, when I blog "without him" (Tuesday), makes sure I receive few comments. When I confess and give it to him on Wednesday - 25* comments and counting!

I know who to rely on, and it's not me. I just have a habit to break. And just like my daughter, I'll have to practice, practice, practice, until I get it right.

Psalm 121:1,2 -- I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Matthew 7:24, 25 -- Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

1 John 4:16 -- And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.


*I just changed the comments number to 25 from 24...luckily I was still awake to read Edie's comment. Imagine if I had left her out AGAIN! And in case you didn't know I write my blogs the night before and set them to auto post in the morning.

Good Idea!

**Notice** On September 8, as part of a blog Book Tour, I will be hosting an author interview with Rebecca Ingram Powell on her new book: Season of Change: Parenting Your Middle Schooler with Passion and Purpose (see sidebar for book cover). Considering the fact that Rebecca was one of the folks that rejected my piece for ParentLife Magazine, I believe this shows real fortitude on her part, don't you? Seriously, Rebecca is a nationally known author and speaker, and I am thrilled to be part of her Tour. So be sure and read on September 8, for one hum-dinger of an interview!

Now on to Today's Blog Posting - -

Tuesday Tips was a bust! I mean a big loser yucko bust. I expected to get 10 links the first week, jump to 20 by week 2 and by the end of the month....the sky is the limit. "Works for Me Wednesday" over at Rocks at My Dryer had 352 people link up. The Nester had 151 people link on window treatments. Window Treatments?!?! Not that I'm comparing. (But you may notice I didn't link to them. I think they have a big enough following without my help!)

I thought I had a really good idea. A good plan. What happened?

In his book "Me, Myself & Bob" Phil Vischer (the creator of VeggieTales) shares his own "big idea." He reveals that he was working on his vision instead of God's vision for Phil. He shares from Henry Blackaby's devotional on leadership he was reading. It said "If you start something and it does not seem to go well, consider carefully that God, on purpose, may not be authenticating what you told the people because it did not come from him, but from your own head."

Phil's vision was to be the Christian version of Walt Disney. He was hugely talented, and by all appearances he was successful. But somehow, he ended up going bankrupt, selling off the love of his life (his company, Big Idea), and becoming empty inside.

At that point he came to realize that his literal & figurative "Big Idea" had been an idol. He says "The more I thought about my intense drive to build Big Idea and change the world, the more I realized I had let my 'good work' become an idol that defined me. Rather than finding my identity in my relationship with God, I was finding it in my drive to do 'good work.'"

I am a devotional writer who's goal is to lead people to God through my writing. I take every day occurrences and through real life, with a little humor thrown in, try to show that Jesus is always the answer.

Tuesday Tips was not about God. It was about me. Growing my blog, increasing my numbers. To reach more people for Christ? Well, that would be great, but my thought process was more about growing my numbers. And I think perhaps God, on purpose, was not authenticating it. Because NO ONE linked. That is perhaps a statistical impossibility. (But nothing is impossible with God.)

I did a test link to make sure it was working (because surely SOME ONE would have linked). And sweet Mrs. P over at Patterson 5 did a sympathy link when she saw how bad I was failing.

So I need to pray about Tuesday Tips. I need to reflect on my heart motive and give it to God to clarify the decision. The blog carnival was a good idea. But maybe it wasn't a God idea?

Proverbs 19:21 -- Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Psalm 33:10-12 -- The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

2 Corinthians 1:17 -- When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

Tuesday Tips

Welcome to Tuesday Tips - The First Edition! I am so glad you came by to post a tip. Instructions will follow. But here is my tip...

My kids (ages 4 & 9) often interrupt me with "I'm thirsty!" and I have to stop whatever I'm doing to make them a cup of water. My husband asked the other day "why don't you make them get it?" And I told him "They can't reach the cups." So he said wisely "Move the cups." (um, duh. Why had I never considered this??)

So now all my kid cups are on the bottom shelf, and the kids help themselves to water whenever they want. Easy, but so time saving for me.

What's your Tuesday Tip?

Put your name, with your tip in parenthesis, example: Chattykelly (kids help themselves). Then link to your page. To do this, write your tip at your blog & publish it. Click on your title of your posting, and then copy & paste it here in Mr. Linky. Easy. Can't wait to read your Tuesday Tip!
If you don't blog, feel free to leave a tip in the comments section!

Happy Birthday - 9 yrs old

Nine years ago today, my first born child arrived. I prayed so much for this little girl. I prayed that she would know God and love God. I'd rather know that she was a Christian, than for her to be president or an Olympic athlete.

Friday evening was her birthday party with friends. We had a pool party. (The picture above is at the pool clubhouse). The party was scheduled for 4:30. At 2:30, the lightening and thunder began, and the rain fell. Tears also began to fall from my precious daughter's eyes.

I suggested lots of alternative ideas for party fun at the pool clubhouse. I suggested she go upstairs and get her CD player and CDs, so we could limbo or dance. She ran upstairs. A while later she comes back downstairs, without the player. Of course I fussed. (It's typical I send her to do something and she "forgets.")

She said "I was praying, and I forgot about the CD player." What a joyful noise to my ears. On her own accord she went upstairs to pray about her party. And soon, the clouds disappeared, the sun came out, and we had a beautiful pool party.

I am so proud that my daughter knows and loves God. She trusts him to answer her prayers. (She does understand that sometimes he says no.) She loves God, prays often, and has a beautiful spirit. I couldn't be prouder.

Happy Birthday, precious Daughter.

Proverbs 10:1a -- A wise son brings joy to his father. (Chatty Kelly paraphrase version, "A wise daughter brings joy to her mother.")

Proverbs 22:6 -- Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Luke 11:11-13 -- "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Share about a special childhood birthday you or your child celebrated. Click "Chatty Comments" below.

Don't forget - tomorrow begins "Tuesday Tips." Be thinking of your tip to share!

Sunday Funday

I stopped by 2nd Cup of Coffee this morning, and she had this cool quiz. Seems her inner hair color was red. Mine? PURPLE?!? Can you believe it? Me, with purple hair. It says "your always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights." Hmmm. Well that is my goal.

Anyway, it was fun. So if you're surfing the net looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon...(Cause I know you're at church on Sunday morning, right? smile.), take the quiz and let me know what color your hair is. I'm off to dye my hair purple. (NOT).

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?