Blog Contest Finalist

The blog contest is over and the finalists have been announced over at Edie's Design Blog, Rich Gifts & Graphics, click HERE to head over.

The winner picked from the finalists will be announced tomorrow.

Thanks for all who played! We had a very hard time narrowing it down!

TGIF

"Thank God it's Friday!" According to Wikipedia this is a common U.S. expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend. It has come to have little meaning other than "I'm glad it's Friday!" or "It's the weekend, let's party."

Take a closer look. It says THANK GOD it's Friday. I don't know if I've ever actually thanked God it was Friday. I may have thanked him that a rough week was over, I'm not sure. But why not pray to God right now praising him for today...and then if someone says to you "Thank God it's Friday" you can say "I already did!"

Isn't it ironic how we take sayings such as this for granted? Our money is printed with the phrase "In God We Trust." Do we? Economic times are hard right now, when you are paying your bills are you saying "God I trust you" or just "Oh my god."

I heard the Battle Hymn of the Republic today for the first time in ages, and actually listened to the words. "His truth is marching on." That line is referring to God. It says HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON. Is it? Are we marching in the truth, passing it on? This military anthem is truly an anthem to God. One of the verses says:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

It is suggested that if you are not military you change the lyrics from "let us die to make men free" to "let us LIVE to make men free." I hope someone sees Jesus in me today. I hope I am living to make men and women free. Free to live a life for Jesus to praise him and thank him in all things.

Thank you God, it's Friday!

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To see a moving video of the Battle Hymn Republic with lyrics & inspirational photos, you can click here.

False Idols

**Don't Forget To Enter my BLOG MAKEOVER contest HERE**

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I'll bet most of us, at first glance would say we don't have false idols. I know I don't have any golden images around my house that I worship. At the same time, I know that anything I put before God can be an idol, so I try to be careful to make God the most important thing in my life. I don't "idolize" my kids. I try not to be the mom that thinks the sun rises and sets on my kids' heads.

However, in a recent bible study we learned that anything that can rob your joy (the joy of the Lord) can be an idol. Do my kids have the ability to rob my joy when they bicker, argue, beg, nag or misbehave. I'm sorry to say yes. I don't have the ability to let things roll off of my back and just smile and say "behave darlings." No, my head spins and my eyes glaze over. If you choose to ask me that moment if I was joyful, I'd probably slug you in the arm. Thankfully, I do have the willpower to just send my children to their rooms, while I recover from my irritation, but why can't I remain joyful when they're not?

My kids have become an idol. I can't believe it, because I tried so hard not to let them become one. Yet, they absolutely control my mood. I'd like to add here that I have the formula to stop it. However, if I did, I wouldn't write it here, I'd write it in a book, which would become a #1 best seller, and you all could say "I knew her when she was just a newbie blogger." The fact is, there isn't a "fix" for my kids behavior. They're kids. They're pretty good actually. The problem is me.

Oh, how I hate to type that last statement! The problem is me. Ouch! I need to continue putting my focus on God. I thought I was, yet here I am confessing otherwise. I must daily rededicate myself to God. Then perhaps I will have a better ability not to let my mood be controlled by my children. Or the rude check out clerk. Or the driver who cut me off in traffic. Or...you get the idea.

So today, I try again to focus on God. I challenge you to do the same. And if you have the formula to make it happen, can you give the rest of us a hint in the chatty comments section?

Thank you.

Ephesians 5:5 -- For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Habakkuk 3:17, 18 -- Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

BLOG MAKEOVER CONTEST

First the formal stuff..."Many will enter, one will win."

This contest is open for blogspot bloggers only.

~ BLOG MAKEOVER BY EDIE AT RICH GIFTS & GRAPHICS
~ CONTEST HOSTED BY CHATTY KELLY
~ CONTEST JUDGES ~ LEA at SHABBY OLDE POTTING SHED, EDIE at RICH GIFTS & GRAPHICS and me, Chatty Kelly~

~ CONTEST RULES ~

Contestants must write a fun and goofy poem to express why they want a makeover and what they want in it.
Submit your poem entry in the comment section of this post each day.
Leave a comment at Rich Gifts & Graphics. Tell her what you like!!
(Feel free to pick up a Free Scripture Tag while you're here.)
Contestants may enter once a day every day while the contest is running, but must submit a different poem for each entry.
Contest begins Monday, 10/13/08 and ends Friday, 10/17/08.
The judges will each choose the poem they believe is best. A very tough job. The three finalists chosen by the judges will then be put in drawing to select which one is the winner. Winner will be announced on Sunday, 10/19/08.

And to show you I'm in the spirit of things - here is MY poem:

Here at Chatty Kelly's
we have a contest
The prize by Rich Gifts & Design
It's one of the best.

Is your blog looking dusty
is your blog looking old?
Do you want something different
Do you want something bold?

Or maybe more subtle
is more of your speed
You can get what you like
it's just what you need.

Just enter this contest
and write a cute lyric
now don't take too long
just write something quick.

Put it here in my comments
write something to win!
Then head over to Rich Gifts & Design
and comment again.

At her post please enter
what blog makeover suits you
What color do you want,
Red, pink, purple, or blue?

Edie made my blog over.
Isn't it so pretty?
Now you can win one!
Just write a little ditty.

You can enter daily
but only once a day.
So come on - get started.
We want you to play!

The contest begins Monday
and on Friday it will end.
so write a poem daily,
A new blog you might win.

Three judges will each pick their favorite.
Then we'll will randomly draw from a hat
Then the winner will receive a new blog layout
and that will be the end of that!

Contest Dates: 10/13/08 to 10/17/08
Add This Button To Your Blog

<a href="http://richgift.blogspot.com"><center><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/ed77ie/my%20graphics/buttons/contest01.png" alt="Win a Blog Makeover at Rich Gifts Graphics & Blog Design" border="0" /></a></center>

Designed for What?

Jumping in on Edie's Random Question this week - which is WHAT ARE YOU DESIGNED FOR?

I love to talk. Can you imagine, Chatty Kelly is a talker? When I began leading my Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group two years ago, I introduced myself by way of reading my 9th grade report cards to them. Teacher after teacher wrote phrases such as "Kelly is an excellent student, but she talks too much in class." "Kelly does well in class when she isn't talking." "Excessive talking in class." I don't remember that I talked too much, but clearly I did. (Still do!)

I love to lead. My husband laughs that every group I join I end up the leader of! (I don't take over...it just happens!) I was president of my Junior Club. I've led the MOPS group for two years. I have led and continue to lead a bible study for 9 years. I love leading and have a knack for organization.

I love to write & blog! Writing is just talking on paper! I'm not a gifted writer, but I do enjoy writing and am learning the craft as I work on improving my work.

I love to teach! Of course that requires learning. My new tag line (motto) is "Sometimes Teaching, Always Learning." It's not that I am an expert, it's that I'm not afraid to facilitate. That is what a real teacher does, facilitate the group because everyone has something to teach the rest of us.

Put together all these things - and I think God designed me for ministry, specifically Women's Ministry. I love to write and speak and teach for the Lord. All my spiritual gifts tests always point to evangelism and shepherding. So that's why I'm here!

Finally, my heart's desire (different from my design perhaps) has always been to be a mom. I love being a mom. Some days I think I'm not too good at it, while others day I think I am the best. The truth is probably somewhere in between. But I love my girls and think I am raising them right. They both know and love God. Everything else is just stuff.

So -what's your design? After you blog about it, head over to Edie's to link up. Or leave your answer in her comment section or mine.

Follow Me...

First off - I'm getting a blog make over!!! On Monday, I'll be debuting my new, beautiful custom made blog by Rich Gifts and Graphics. You may know Edie from her blog Rich Gifts. Rich Gifts and Graphics is her new business. Check her out!

In conjunction with my blog make over, I'll be holding a contest here next week so that YOU can win a blog make over by Edie! Details will appear Monday so be sure and check back. And if you come by Sunday, I may be "under construction" so don't worry!

Now, about the Follow Me title today. Jesus said to those who he picked to be his disciples "Follow me" He says it in Matthew 4:19 to Peter and Andrew, and again to another disciple in Matthew 8:22. But that isn't what I'm blogging about today.

Today, I am going to ask you to follow me. What?! No, I'm not getting freaky on you. This is a new blogger tool. I'm going to leave behind my blog roll, and instead update my blog to a "Follow Me" listing. This seems to be the latest & greatest blog tool. It is similar to a blog role, only it allows me to see who is "following me" and then in turn I can follow them. Sometimes I teach you about God, today I'm going to teach you about blogger.

By following YOUR blogs, I can see from my blogger dashboard when and if you've updated, allowing me to read more blogs, because I'll only visit you when you've updated, and not on days when you haven't. So I can visit someone else on that day. It will save me time, and by following me you can only visit me when I've updated, and it will save you time too. Plus you won't miss if I do a "bonus" blog, because it will let you know on your dashboard when I've updated.

To Follow Me, simply click the pink "Follow This Blog" link under "Chatty Friends."

If you want more information - here is what blogger has to say on the subject:

What is Following?
Do you have a favorite blog and want to let the author and readers know that you are a fan? Well now you can do that and more with the Blogger Following feature! You can even keep track of the blogs you follow on the Blogger dashboard.

How do I become a Follower of a blog?
There are several ways to become a follower of a blog. One of the easiest ways is to visit a blog that has added the Following widget and click on the "Follow this Blog" link under the "Followers" widget:

You'll then see a popup window with the options to either follow publicly or anonymously:
Select how you'd like to follow the blog, then click the orange "Follow" button. It is that simple, you are now a follower of the blog!

So today, I'm hoping you will FOLLOW ME! Thanks! Have a great weekend! Look for my exciting new look on Monday!

More Free Stuff!

The really cool thing about the FREE gift of eternal life and the Holy Spirit from God, is that from the FREE gift, we become FREE.

Dictionary.com lists no less than 12 definitions of the word "free." One meaning is without cost. We received the gift of eternal life from God without cost to us - even though there was a large cost for Jesus it costs us nothing. It is truly a free gift.

Another definition of "free" is personal rights or liberty. That is what we receive when we accept the free gift. We are liberated from a life of sin, and free to be a child of God.

A third definition is free from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, etc.. We all have free will, and the ability to chose or reject the free gift of eternal life that frees us from sin.

Free can mean clear of obstructions or obstacles, as a road or corridor: The highway is now free of fallen rock. After accepting gift of Jesus, we are now free of old self, we are a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Free also means having immunity or being safe (usually fol. by from): free from danger. We are free from the eternal punishment of hell. Even though we continue to sin, we don't have to pay the price for our sins. We're free from eternal punishment.

Finally, free means set free, to release; liberate; The prisoners were set free. The Contemporary Christian song by Chris Tomlin says "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me."

If you are free in Christ, you are truly free indeed. (So act now, and join God today! You can become a Christian - For free!)

John 8:36 -- So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Psalm 116:16 -- O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ; you have freed me from my chains.

Psalm 118:5 -- In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.