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Titus 2:1-15

New International Version (NIV)

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

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PHOTO A DAY

Return: home

"ET phone home"

"There's no place like home"

Home is where I return when I need to rest and renew my spirit!!

Deuteronomy 7:6-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁶ For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His ^[a]own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the ^[b]earth.

⁷ “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, ⁸ but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of ^[c]slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. ⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps ^[d]His covenant and ^[e]His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; ¹⁰ but repays those who hate Him to ^[f]their faces, to destroy ^[g]them; He will not delay ^[h]with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. ¹¹ Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.

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Amen

They really do listen!! SOMETIMES. Sometimes they don't listen when we want them to. Sometimes they listen when we don't want them to. Sometimes they are listening when we don't think they are!

Last night we attended the Ash Wednesday service. Before the church service, the monsters were full of questions:

Do we have to get ashes? (I told them it was up to them.)

Do we have to leave it on if we get them? (Only until we get home, but if you want to leave it on, you can. It will show your classmates that you believe if any of the ashes are left on your forehead tomorrow.)

Can I bring my DS? (No, but I SHOULD have said yes...AAHHHH!! Keegs is usually the only monster that sits with me for the entire church service. Having Camille and Keegan vying for my attention for the whole hour was trying (exhausting)!)

One of my awesome, beautiful, wonderful friends met us at church with her monsters and we attempted to keep them (SEMI)quiet during the service.

When we started the responsive part of Communion, Keegan whispered in my ear: Can you say "amen" for me two times?

I looked at him puzzled and agreed (mostly to shut him up). Does he mean that he wants me to say "amen" for him when he takes Holy Communion; the gift of His body and blood?

We continued with the responsive reading and he whispered again: Mom, it's not REAL blood, right?

He is talking about the expected reponse when you receive Communion!  No, bud, it's not real blood.  It's just supposed to remind us that Jesus died for us.  It's actually juice.   

When he's not whispering in my ear, he's kicking Cami and drawing elephants. The people around us would have NO CLUE that he's actually listening.  But, he's not only is he listening, he's trying to comprehend! My handsome, crooked-smiled, accident prone, monster is trying to grasp a concept that many adults don't understand.

Finally, it was our turn to take Communion. On the way up to the stage area, he squeezed my hand: I will say it, Mom.

AND...he walked up, waited for Denny to say "the body of Christ, given for you" and he answered "AMEN".  He walked over and waited for Linda to say "the blood of Christ, given for you" and answered "AMEN".

I MUST remember what a handsome, wonderful, Christian boy he is the next time he wets his pants. When we all sat down, they tried to decipher if their ashes were in the shape of a cross...or an elephant...or a jet plane.

The only thing I could think in that moment:

AMEN!

PS: My kids wore their pj's to church again.  I'm not sure how some people feel about pj's at church, but my kids think it's awesome:)  I think it's awesome to have baths and pj's on before 7pm, too! 

Photo a Day: Who am I?

http://rethinkchurch.org/lenten-challenge

JOIN ME!!  Even if you do it on fb or instagram and I can't check it out until Easter, it will be fun!

Day One: Who am I?

Sharpie: permanent, bold, in print: Princess (TO THE PRINCE OF PEACE!! Sheesh, I don't think I'm really a princess!)  A friend sent me a quick note yesterday telling me how refreshing it is for someone to speak openly about their love for God.  She said I am a princess to Him and I love it!  I'll probably start wearing a crown soon;)  I want all to know that I believe.  I put it in print in big, bold letters for all to see and share.

Pencil: I Love to write.  The release achieved when I write my thoughts out is wonderful, but unless I'm talking about my love for the One above, I use pencil.  I make mistakes...I NEED erasers and white out.  LOTS of white out.  When I write AND in life.  Every day I need erasers and white out and I need to re-write the story so that all of the characters suceed.

My life revolves around these three beautiful faces.  They give me a purpose and meaning to live to my potential.  Each and every day they remind me of the beauty in this world and push me to be a better person.

 

Post it: if I don't write a note to myself, I forget.  I try to maintain 1,200 things at one time.  I have to write it all down.

WHO AM I?  Depends who you ask!  Some would still call me a bitch.  Some would say that I'm amazing.  I think I'm somewhere in between. I'm pretty confident that anyone that would be questioned would have to admit that I am growing as a person and it's a result of my faith.


Join me for the photo a day challenge!  You don't have to write why you selected the photo if prefer not to explain.  Just post a picture!

I decided to do a scripture reading a day because Cheryl is and I'm a follower;)

I picked this site: http://stthomaseustis.com/Uploads/Assignment_Sheet_2013.pdf 

My favorite part of the Psalm reading today:

"May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun."



 

I choose Him

Game time

who wins

what's the prize

all chips in

 

so much to gain

so much to lose

in this game of life

 we all must choose

 

defeat or on top

whatever your fate

make the best choices

choose love, not hate

 

stop running in circles

just do your best

in all that you do

and in every mess

 

win or lose

there is only One

when all of it's over

and everything's done

 

I choose Him

He wants us to win

make the right decisions

 turn away from sin

 

I choose Him

the One who knows best

yet forgives when we lose

and loves us nevertheless

 

 

 

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Days Without Number

Jeremiah 2:32

New International Version (NIV)

³² Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.

 

Have you ever went through the motions for an entire day or a week or a month or a year or an entire season in your life?  Doing all of the things that you need to do, all that you're expected to do, often more, but you're too busy to stop and notice? Continuing to fulfill all obligations while cursing the activities and errands and meetings. So caught up in the list of "to-do's" that you're unable to contribute the way you're supposed to?  Unable to share the good pieces of you because you're focused on the next obligation or the next thing on the list?  Instead of sharing your light, the people you are with are left with the dark pieces of you.  What's left; what remains when you use your light to focus on 'what's next' or 'what time is it' or 'what can I wear' instead of being present.

 

I'm really trying to slow down and be more present. I'm consciously saying 'no' more often in attempt to live a more simple life.  Less rush here and fly there like I was doing and more eye to eye conversations with little monsters. I'm saying "no" to the time consuming, always running, self-induced activities that I try to maintain and balance. (I am really good at balancing and maintaining them, I'm not going to pretend that I'm not.) 

Yet I want more; I want to BE there for all of the moments and LIVE them, too.  We've all heard the slogan: make the days count. I want to live and breathe with purpose.  For Him.  I want to do more than just pull the strings and make the characters in the play move from behind the scenes.  No longer do I want days without numbers.  I want to be full and also to fill.  I understand that to be full I need Him.  I know that to fill, I need Him.

 

I need to listen to His whispers

on that chronic Christmas Eve.

I need to know that He forgives

when I stole something of His

that should've been free.

 

One of my friends has pointed out to me on a few occasions that my mood often sets the mood for others.  He can tell when I'm distant and not focused.  I suspect others can tell as well, but he's brave enough to point it out.  Usually he tries to restore my energy by giving me some of his positive energy: a high five, a crazy face, a "are you ok?" under his breath.  Sometimes that works; sometimes that's enough.  Sometimes he gives up and lets me live in my distant universe and waits until the next time he runs into me to ask how it was in my alternate world.

 

I understand that I'm like this when I have too many things going on at one time.  Usually it's not even too many activities.  More often it's too many thoughts racing through my mind.  I chase them and attempt to tackle them and try to connect them and it's exhausting.  But, it's what I know.  It's comfortable.

 

I also understand that in order to grow, it's often required to be uncomfortable. 

 

Honestly, the 'weekends in' are kind of difficult for me; a little uncomfortable.  I'm used to the busy, the rush, the feeling of being needed and wanted.  I have to really concentrate on being present when my mind starts to chase the thoughts.  I have to really concentrate on putting a number on the day, each and every day.  So that I am able to use the gifts He blessed me with each day.  Direct my thoughts to the important task at hand, whatever it might be.   Looking Cami in the eye 10,000 times and reassuring her that I love her and she's wonderful and perfect even if she's not brave enough to complete a tumbling class or sharing my good light with my volleyball buddies on the court instead of bringing all of my wandering thoughts to the game.

 

Sometimes it's easier to do what you know, what you've done all your life, days without number. But, I enjoy numbers.  I want my days to have numbers.

 

 

 

Connect the dots:  The yoga instructor played this song tonight.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  Looked up the video and the eye with flames was just too perfect for this song, at this season in my life.  It was only a couple weeks ago when I posted a picture of my broken eye.  I started my true faith journey on that chronic Christmas eve. I've been struggling with days without number.  Every day I feel a deeper calling and need to spread light.   I want to make something beautiful.
 

Conversations with Crackheads: Ma-weed

Me: Hey Twinkie, what time are we leaving?

Jess: I was thinking 730ish since it doesn't start til 8, but if you old bittys need to leave earlier than that, we can:) 

Ok, come over anytime after 6:30.  We don't care when we leave:P  Is Bryan coming to play with us?

He's debating, but he was pretty excited when I told him you guys were riding with us.

Good:)  I like to make fun of him!  Tell him I'm wearing tight jeans!  He has to come!

Haha!  He is fun to make fun of!  I am fun to make fun of, too.  That's why we are ma-weed!  He better not flip you upside down in to the tight jeans. They might rip!!

Love Ma-weed!  It reminds me of Miracle Max from the Princess Bride:)

I know it!  Did I tell you my uncle did an entire scene from that movie during the wedding rehearsal at the church?  Mawage...mawage is what bwings us togetha...hahaha...he talks like I spell!!

Bahaha!  I love you:) I threw a princess bride wedding shower for Laine:)  I love that he read that at the rehearsal!!

I know!! I think it threw PJ off a bit, but it was freaking awesome!  So the day of the wedding when he stepped up to do the reading, he winked at me and I had the hardest time not busting up :)

That's so cool:)  I don't think it would throw Jen...she already knows we're crackheads!! Now I'm scurred to wear my tight jeans though!! Might have to wear my mom jeans in fear of being bent over!

She ended up thinking it was funny, but her face at first was what made me laugh:)  I know it's going to be fun!  Maybe you should bring a spare pair of pants just in case!

I think it's more likely I'll piddle in my pants than split them!!

If you pee your pants, I'll just splash some water on mine so you don't fell left out!

Cracking up!! My co-workers probably think I really do smoke crack!!

You don't smoke crack!?!  Man, tonight's not going to be as fun as I thought it was!

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