Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Charged Up

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3

I HAVE A RECHARGABLE VACUUM that is great for quick cleanups around the house. I say quick cleanups because while it starts off strong, after a while the motor begins to slow down, and the vacuum requires a recharge. It has to be plugged in for its battery to get more power. After a recharge its power is increased, and it’s ready again.

Our faith is like that vacuum. To find out how, join me over at Titus 2 in Action where I am a guest contributor today.

Titus 2 in Action


Chatty Kelly

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

She Speaks Entry


"Kelly is a top student, when she isn't talking."
"Does good work, but could cut down on talking."
"A pleasure to have in class. Talkative."
"Kelly is talkative!"


Those who know me well would not be surprised by these actual comments on my high school report cards. It seems I've always had a big mouth, and liked talking. And no surprise, my blog is called Chatty Kelly. It just fits.

But who could have imagined all those years ago in high school, that my "gift of gab" could actually be a gift from God? Not my teachers, certainly! Who could blame them?

Yet here I am! Just a chatty girl who loves Jesus! And who is using that "big mouth" to tell people about Him. And that's why I'd like to win the scholarship to attend the She Speaks Conference, Speakers track.

Three years ago, an older woman encouraged me that I should try to be published. She'd read my article in the Mothers of Preschoolers newsletter and saw something in me I had never seen in myself...potential. At first I thought she was just being nice, but after some more encouragement I sent off my first query letter to my favorite Christian women's magazine, P31 Woman. Imagine my surprise when they responded they liked my article...but it was too long!

Imagine that, "too wordy," they said. Me? Chatty Kelly? I cut the article by nearly 900 words, resubmitted it, and my first article was published, called "My Perfect Parent" in the November, 2008 issue. I've continued writing, but now hear the call to start my speaking ministry.

Proverbs 31 is very near and dear to my heart. I started blogging because I wanted to participate in Lysa TerKeurst's (P31's president) "swap and hop." I became a Lysa TerKeurst "groupie." My first article was published in P31 Woman magazine. And I attended She Speaks 2008 on the writer's track, where I learned the nuts and bolts of effective writing, which led to more publications, including a recent publication in Guideposts Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, Closer to God.

She Speaks sounds like the perfect place for me, because when people think of Chatty Kelly, they think "She speaks!" Seriously, I'd love to have the opportunity to fellowship with other Christian women who feel the same call in their life, and have a chance to learn from the gifted and talented P31 staff and their conference guest speakers.

I hope to be able to win the Cecil Murphey Scholarship this year. God gave me the gift of gab, and I want to use it for His glory.

Chatty Kelly

If you'd like a chance to win this scholarship, visit Lysa TerKeurst's blog post. To learn more about the conference, visit She Speaks.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Rain or Shine?

"You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put
on the new self." Colossians 3:9, 10


THE SKY POURED down a warm summer rain. My girls slipped on their boots and raincoats, and skipped out to play in the puddles. Soon their boots were filled and their clothes were covered in muddy water. I called them in, stripped off their muddy clothes, and put them straight into the bath. After they were washed, they put on clean, dry clothes. It would have been unthinkable to put back on their wet dirty clothes. It would have been like they’d never bathed.

As children of God, we too have been called in from worldly things. We have had the filthiness removed from our bodies, and put on our “new self.” Too often, however, we do the unthinkable. We put back on the filthiness. Lust, greed, anger and lying are some examples of our muddied past, our old self. Once we’re no longer clean, we have no incentive to stay out of the puddles of sin.

Accepting Christ means focusing on Him. No more mudslinging. We have to clean up our act. Instead of dressing ourselves in the muddy clothes of our past, we must instead clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. This requires daily cleansing through confession, repentance and God’s forgiveness.

Then we’ll no longer be tempted by the puddles, but instead will bask in the Son.

Spend some time basking in the Son today, even if it’s raining.

This devotion by me originally appeared in Light from the Word. Check out their devotions on-line!

Chatty Kelly

*Musical Monday is taking the day off. It will be back next week.*