Party of 1, Part 3

This week's focus has been on my serving God. Today I'd like you to think about how you are serving God. What is your gift? Romans 12:6 says we all have different gifts according to the grace given us. They include serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. It then goes on to encourages us to use our gifts.

We are also blessed with the gift of talents. Music, writing, cooking...the list is endless. One of my friend Sue's many talents is playing bells. I encourage you to view this link of her bell solo. You will be filled with joy of seeing God's gift used to his glory. It is amazing.

But what if you feel like your gift isn't as great as all that? In 1 Corinthians 12 we learn that different gifts are all important. The feet are as important as the hands to the body. So each gift is important to the body of believers. So what is your gift? If you're not sure, try this spiritual gifts on line quiz. It can point you in the right direction.

It is important to know your gifts and talents, so that you too can be doing the good works that God prepared in advance for you to do. There is quote that says "look out for number 1." I encourage you to, yes, look out for Number 1 - the number 1 God and creator that is indeed looking out for you. "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more." Psalm 121: 8

Jesus quoted Deut. 6:13 in Matt 4:11 and Luke 4:8 , when he said "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." Are you serving a party of 1?

Party of 1, Part 2

Monday's blog focused on serving a party of 1, God. Matthew 5:16 says "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." But are my good deeds pointing people back to God?

Monday I mentioned a comment about shinning like the moon. How does the moon shine? (and here's a hint, if you google "moon shine" you will not get any references to the moon, but to alcohol.) But one web site described the moon shinning like this "The moon shines by reflecting sunlight. Without the sun, there would be no moonlight."

Without the sun, there would be no moonlight. Without the Son, would I be able to shine? Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. " Prepared in advance for us to do? You mean it was God's plan all along that I do this blog? To glorify him? Letting my light shine so that YOU may see him through me.

I pray you are seeing God through this blog. That you are encouraged, uplifted, filled with the Holy Spirit as you read God's word. And I, too, am encouraged. Because even if no one reads this blog, I am glorifying God because I am obeying him.

I AM serving a party of 1. I am serving God, just like he planned.

Now Serving Party of 1

One of the blogs I visit has a subtitle under their title that says "Read by Tens of People Every Day." I think that is so funny. But here I am aspiring to just have ten readers, let alone "tens." It can be frustrating. Especially when I write something fantastic! (Yes, my four readers, I know you are asking "when was that? I must have missed that day!")

I have to ask myself what am I writing for? Am I writing for me? Well, kind of. Hopefully having the pressure to consistently write will improve my craft and make my writing better.

Am I writing for you? Well, kind of. I am hoping to inspire you, make you laugh, and keep connected. I'm glad you're here!

Am I writing for God? Whoops, there it is! Am I writing for God? The bible says "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" in 1 Corinthians 10:31. God should be glorified in everything that is done. Am I writing for God? I hope so. I try to point all my blogs back to him.

A comment by "Susan" on my Friday post said "my daily goal is to 'shine like the moon.' I desire to be a reflection of the Son and to claim no light of my own." Am I glorifying God? Am I shining...but like the moon, reflecting the Son and claiming no light of mine. Am I making a difference for God? I don't know.

But I know my focus needs to be on serving a party of 1 - God.

***And the random winner selected by drawing names from a cup by my 8 yr daughter is Susan! Congrats Susan. Enjoy your 1 year subscription to the Proverbs 31 Magazine. And Anonymous MJT and Patterson 5, thanks for commenting!***

Happy Anniversary!

To my husband, Happy Anniversary and thanks for 12 wonderful years of marriage! Thanks for being an encourager and urging me on in my writing career. I love you!

What's Your Goal?

I have exciting news to share! I have been accepted for publication in a magazine! So in honor of this goal achieved, I am giving away a 1 year subscription to the Proverbs 31 Magazine. Leave me a comment and I'll randomly select a winner over the weekend and announce Monday right here on my blog!

But it makes me wonder, what are your goals? Have you set any? Are you so bogged down (or blogged down!) with day-to-day that you don't have any goals? Dictionary.com lists "purpose" as another definition for goal. What is your life's purpose?

I turned 40 in March, and started setting new goals for this new season. My 30's goals were to have kids, be a mom and my life has revolved around that. It is a blessing! But now my kids are 4 and 8, and becoming more independent. My new goal (in addition to losing 10 lbs for my 40th birthday) was to become published. I have accomplished both! My next goal is to become published again...and again...and again.

I've also failed at goals set. It seems like a constant goal is more patience with my kids. (They seem to know exactly what button to push to make me lose my patience!) I also continue to battle my mouth...THINK before you talk, THINK before you talk. It's my mantra. Oh, but I fail.

The bible tells us of another goal to set. Paul tells us in Philippians 3 that our goal should be to have a relationship with Jesus. The Message bible puts it this way "I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus."

I'm no expert either, but I have the same goal. To grow in and know Christ. I wish the same for you, my friends. Or as Paul puts it in Philippians 4:1 "My dear, dear friends, I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God."

So have you set a goal? An earthy goal? A goal to know Christ? Share your thoughts or just say hi, and I'll announce the subscription winner on Monday.

Cooking Co-Op - Works for Me!

Today I am joining a blog carnival over at "rocks in my dryer." I will share with you a tip that "works for me." You can then go over to the carnival host here to find other tips. (My tip will be there - #106).

My tip is cooking co-op. I got together with 3 friends with like-sized families. We each submitted 6-8 meal plans and voted on 4 of our favorites from each person. Then we made a monthly menu and ta-da, we were rolling. Monday is my cooking day, and I cook for all 4 families, and deliver the meals ready to be re-heated. We deliver at 2:30ish because thats the time the worked well for us and didn't interfere with the actual dinner time. Tuesday friend #1 cooks & delivers. Wednesday we either have dinner at church or leftovers. Thursday friend #2 cooks & delivers, and Friday friend #3 cooks & delivers. We usually have leftovers for Saturday, and Sunday I can cook or get take-out.

I am averaging cooking just 1 day a week! That leaves so much free time for me to blog, bible study, exercise, spend time with the kids, do laundry...or relax on the sofa. Not that I'd ever do that. (wink, wink). Your grocery bill goes down because you buy in bulk, and you also have less impulse dinner purchases ("I didn't defrost anything, let's order pizza.")

Cooking Co-Op does start out scary ("What if they don't like my cooking?"). But quickly you get into a pattern, your cooking improves because let's face it, we want to impress our friends and their husbands and you feel so good when you get the voicemail that "my husband went bonkers over your banana bread pudding."

We've never eaten so well, my husband is thrilled, my kids are trying new foods and I am only cooking one day a week! This works for me!

Thanks for visiting. Come back Friday for a chance to win a 1 (one) year subscription to the Proverbs 31 Woman magazine. (Visit proverbs31.org to read a sample.) I'll select a random winner from everyone who leaves a comment on Friday (May 2nd) and announce it via blog on Monday.

I am With Child

Now before anyone gets too excited about my title line, I better explain myself. I think the bible was first in using this term to describe a pregnant woman. In the NIV version of the bible, it first uses the term in Genesis and uses it seven more times throughout the bible to describe pregnant women.

But anyone with preschoolers knows that you are more WITH child after they are born. In the grocery store, I am with child. In the bathroom, I am with child. And even in the middle of the night, I often wake up with child...child wanting water, needing the bathroom or to be tucked in.

So today I thought I'd share some of the fun and funny moments of being with child - a 4 year old child.

Friday at the grocery store she saw these tiny bananas. She exclaimed "Look at these baby bananas. They must have just been born." Ironically, when I looked for the tag to tell you what they are called, they were indeed labeled Baby Bananas, but they are also called oritos.

A few aisles later, I was checking out the canned goods, with my eyes off of her for no more than 3 seconds, when I hear a loud crash of breaking glass. There she stands in front of the biggest glass jar of applesauce they make, which is shattered on the floor.

"I didn't mean to do that." she calmed stated. I simply found one of the cashiers, and I kid you not, I looked him right in the eye and said "clean up on aisle 3." He saw that I was "with child" and just turned on his microphone and announced "Clean up on aisle 3!" (I did apologize as well).

Here are some other funny quotes and mis-quotes that come from being with child:

When I told her to behave she answered "I am being hav."

Singing: "Who built the ark? No-one No-one" (the actual lyric is of course: Noah, Noah)

"I obey myself." - She just piped up with this one from the backseat one day when we were driving down the road.

"I have a little dog barking in my heart." This is another original thought she just piped out with. I have no idea why. She then said "I like little dogs."

But my favorite quote was when we were driving home from preschool one day and say said to me, "Mama, Jesus came into my room last night." I responded "He did?!" and she said "yes, and he stayed with me all night so I wouldn't be afraid of the dark."

I believe Jesus did just that. Matthew 11:25 says "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.' " Jesus speaks of having to be like children to get into heaven, and not hindering children from him. I believe on that night he gave comfort to my little girl.

It is never a dull moment, when you are "with child." I often think I am learning as much from her, as she is from me. But, I'm still not sure about that little dog barking in her heart.