In Search of a Teachable Spirit

I just started re-reading the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver for our summer book club at church.  I remember it being so good about ten years ago when I first read it, and I know that God desires to use it to shape my heart for Him as I read it again.  When I think about Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 a calm sweeps over me that I long to have each day.  But too often I am like her sister Martha - scurrying about to get things done and missing some important moments in front of me!

Over the last year especially I have felt God prompting me to simply "be still" before Him (Psalm 46:10) and allow Him to speak into the seemingly mundane moments of my day as well as the frantically busy moments I have often.  But I still continue to fight being still!  In contemplating Mary's spirit before the Lord, God has prompted me with the reminder to have a teachable spirit before Him as I seek to learn to be still.

Do you know people who don't seem to really possess a teachable spirit?  I have encountered them in many different places, but I guess I have found it most frustrating to encounter them when I've been teaching piano lessons, or in counseling, or even in my 4 year old son.  I mean, there aren't many things I claim to know more about than others, but in the instance of teaching piano, I do hope I know a little bit more than my young students just starting out.  And when it comes to cutting paper I think I know a little bit more than my stubborn son still in his first years of using scissors!  (Obviously this is what is fresh on my mind today!)

It can be easy to spot an unteachable spirit in those who may know less about certain subjects than I do, but can I admit to not always having a teachable spirit before the Lord?  

Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?  So here is where humility has to step in.  In order to have a teachable spirit before the Lord, we have to humbly admit that He knows so much more than we can possibly even begin to fathom with our human brains! (See Isaiah 55:8-9).  And we as humans do not like to admit our shortcomings.  But it is there in our weakness that Christ is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).  And we are made strong as we allow Him to do a work in our lives for which He alone knows the blueprint (Ephesians 2:10).

It can seem so ridiculous to me when my son is unwilling to listen to me for help with things he is just beginning to learn, so I can't imagine God's thoughts when I am too stubborn to just listen to Him for infinitely greater wisdom.  Don't you just love it when God gives you a picture of yourself in a small child?  Ugh!

Lord, help me to have a teachable spirit that can be molded by you, ready to be used for you!

The Nativity Story, part 2

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 

Matthew 1:18-21 (ESV)

The Nativity Story, part 1

[Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat]

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

(Luke 1:46-55 ESV)

livin' on cruise control

I got in the car today and headed to the next town, but something just wasn't right.  My car didn't want to stay at the same speed today, it just kept slowing down.  I'd speed up again and set my cruise control, only to have the car slowing down again.  Then I realized what was wrong.  My cruise control wasn't working.  I tried at least 5 more times to get it to work, but as much as I wanted it to, something was just not right.

Pretty much anytime I'm driving on the interstate, I set my car on cruise control.  Even if it's just for a few miles, it's become somewhat of a habit.  I set the car on cruise and just relax my foot for the drive.  Too often I find myself just letting my brain go on cruise control as well and that's when the problem starts.

I remember the last time I was pulled over was on a Sunday morning.  Yes.  It was about a year ago and I was taking the very familiar drive to church, about to turn on the interstate when I saw the flashing lights.  And it felt as though my heart just stopped.  And when it started again I realized I had been completely lost in my thoughts, just letting the car drive me to my destination.

Bad things happen when we just let ourselves mentally "coast" while driving and in life.  Thankfully, that morning, the "bad thing" became a good thing because it came in the form of a warning.

If you were to look up cruise control on wikipedia,  here's the "definition": 

Cruise control (sometimes known as speed control or autocruise) is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.

Yes.  This is just a definition about a device, but I think the key is how something else "takes over" the course that the driver has set.  When I use cruise control, my foot is essentially not in control of the speed of the car for as long as I let the cruise control it.  

It's funny because I really use cruise control to keep me out of trouble by keeping my speed in check.  But when I let my mind wander, there's where the problem comes in.

And this is what I was thinking about today...when I was jolted by the fact that my usual way wasn't working...for too long I have been on cruise control spiritually.  We were never meant to cruise through life without consideration.  In fact, we are warned in 1 Peter 5:8 to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  

For me, I'm realizing now how I have been on cruise control in several areas of my life.  Food is a big one.  So now, I'm having to be on extra alert to make changes that would have been more apparent had I been watchful for the enemy trying to fill me with physical pleasures instead of the spiritual pleasures I was made for.  I can tell this is going to be a tough journey because cruise control has become my norm.

So as you pray for me, I will be praying for you. What areas of your life have you placed on cruise control?  Together, let's be watchful of how the enemy is seeking to devour areas of our lives that belong to God!  I'm right there beside you trying to keep my foot on the pedal...or better yet...letting God take control.

mid week momfessions!

My momfession this week is...I want my child to be organized!

And he seems to be jumping on board...I love it!  When I thought Elijah was playing with his trains in his room this morning he was actually organizing his train accessories and his cars.  Reason #3498 why I love that kid!

Mom disclaimer...I actually did not teach him to do this...

Have a "momfession" of your own?  Join in at my friend Sheila's blog!

One down...

To tell you the truth, I'm not doing so well with my goals for this year.  And yes, I know it's only the 13th of January.  At least since it is the 13th of January I still have hope for the rest of the year.  It's as if I wrote down these goals and every lazy bone in my body (all of them) decided to kick into full gear.  Ugh.

BUT...I have completed one goal!  We went to a great concert Sunday night.  Justin and I had talked about going to Winter Jam and I'm so glad we did.  We paid extra for VIP open seating and ended up on the FRONT ROW!  It was just so great to be out with my husband for a night...enjoying time together and worshiping beside him.  I love that he's a worship pastor, but I do miss getting to sing beside him in church sometimes.

ANYWAYS...here are some pictures we got at the concert.  *Spoiler Alert* if you're planning to go to Winter Jam this year!

Chris Sligh

Chris August

Sidewalk Prophets

Red

Newsong

Francesca Battistelli

David Crowder Band

Us waiting on the final two groups!

Kutless

Very genuine group...loved them!

Michael Tate of the Newsboys

Newsboys drummer...hilarious!

I felt kind of old hearing some of my favorite Newsboys songs from "back in the day" that not too many people around us seemed to know!  But at the same time...going to great concerts makes me feel younger....It was a great concert and time of worship!

Being Intentional

Investing time purposefully 

iN order 

To be 

Everything 

that God

iNtended for me to be! 

This takes planning, sacrificing my desires, and being 

Interested in the things that really matter each day.  I can 

Only do this with God's power at work within me.  

Nothing I do in my own strength has ever helped me to 

Accomplish being intentional in the things that are most important in my 

Life.

Heavenly Father, you know that I desire to live with intentionality and quit only having good intentions in every area of my life.  Help me to rely on your strength each day, taking one day at a time to intentionally accomplish what You have placed before me to do.  You are so patient with me and I'm humbled again and again that You will even allow me to be a part of Your great plan in people's lives.  Help me to make my life matter for your kingdom by living intentionally with your purpose each day.

Amen

Phillipians 4:4-9

Here is the first passage I am starting to memorize this year.  Feel free to join in and let me know that you are working on memorizing scripture as well!  These are some of my favorite verses to use in counseling, so I decided to start here.

[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

(Philippians 4:4-9 ESV)

Welcome 2011!

I'm sad that the 2010 Christmas season is over because I think it was one of my favorites.  Our family enjoyed witnessing Elijah's first glimpse of the live nativity at our church, Justin and I got to lead the music at our first ever church Christmas Eve service, Christmas presents for our little man mostly involved trains and the names Thomas...and Emily...and James...and Henry....and Edward...(if you know what I mean!) and we were blessed by a sweet time of worship at our home with some musician friends and their families which we hope will be a first annual tradition.  I'm blown away by God's goodness in our lives in 2010 and I really could enjoy another month just like our December was.  

BUT I'm ready for 2011 as well.  I'm entering this new year with great expectations for what God has planned for our family and how He can help me to reach some lofty goals I have set for myself!  I want to share my goals with you for this year. I feel like they have been constantly on my mind, so I'm ready to get them in print and hit the ground running.  Please join me in praying that we become the women (and men) God wants us to be in this new year.  If any of these goals are similar to mine, let me know and we can check in on one another!

Personal Goals...

• Memorize 30 scripture passages
• Read every chapter in the Bible (though not necessarily in order because I have failed at that so many times)
• Read 10 books (that I already own but haven't read)
• Establish a consistent morning routine (exercise, prayer, reading God's word)
• Establish a consistent nighttime routine (cleaning up the house, early bedtime)
• Stop biting my fingernails
• Go to a concert (or two!)
• Merge this blog and my family blog (look for this in the near future!)
• Establish consistent hours for counseling
• Create monthly goals to accomplish as well

Household goals...

• Not be embarrassed when anyone shows up unexpectedly (keep the house presentable!)
• Find 2 more ways to be a little more green - and start doing it
• Save for a new dining room table and chandelier (quit just wishing they would appear!)

Family goals...

• Intentionally have guests over 2 times a month
• Look for or make items to use for our Jesse Tree/Advent Calendar
• Read Elijah's new Bible with him each day before breakfast and watch the DVD
• Have many more times of family worship in 2011 than we did in 2010

If you are making your own goals this year, I'd love to hear about them! Also, feel free to print out a goals worksheet here.  This is what I plan to laminate (with my laminator I got for Christmas!!) and put on my bathroom mirror for daily reminders of what I would like to accomplish this year.

Happy New Year!

musical monday

I know I have shared how Keith & Kristyn Getty's music is such a blessing to me.  They are "modern day hymn writers" from Ireland and God has truly anointed the words and music they share.  We were blessed to see them in person at Southeastern Seminary and I'm so excited to see them in a few weeks as they help the choir at my parents' church, First Baptist Charlotte, lead worship for Christmas.

This song, Speak O Lord, is one I could and should sing or read everyday before I spend time in God's Word.  It is a prayer for God to use His Word to penetrate us, challenge us, and change us. It is a reminder for me personally to read God's Word expectantly, and not casually.

I pray that this song will bless you today.  I chose to share the live version of them singing at a church, even though the video quality is not best, because I love to watch Kristyn Getty sing.  May God's Word penetrate, challenge, and change us each day!

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

fall sensory tub

Here's another fun activity we did with Elijah surrounding pumpkins. In fact, I have never seen Elijah get so excited over an activity, so I will be sure to expand on this one!

I have read about several sensory tub activities over at this website, but I just didn't get around until making one until last week.  I had a lot of papers that I needed to shred, so I thought this would be the perfect time to hide some small pumpkins and gourds I had around the house in a "shredded paper sensory tub" for Elijah.

He literally played with this activity for about 45 minutes.  And every pumpkin he found was accompanied with squeals of delight.  I (of course) was so pleased and Justin and I had the best time watching him.

We had been outside earlier, which had turned into a major acorn-collecting adventure, so I decided to add a few acorns to the tub as well.  Elijah had to have help with those, but again, he was SO excited every time he found another object.

Basically, you can use items such as rice, beans, or shredded paper like I did to serve as the main substance in a plastic tub.  (It's also nice to have a lid so you can close it up for storage and use it again). Then add some larger items that can be hidden in the tub, preferably a themed object, to add focus to the activity.

We put a bowl beside the tub for collecting the items, which allowed us to encourage Elijah to count how many pumpkins he found.

I really was amazed at how much Elijah loved this activity.  I should have videotaped his reactions as he found pumpkin after pumpkin. Hopefully your toddler will enjoy this activity.  I highly recommend giving it a try!  ...And it wasn't really as much mess as I had expected!

musical monday

The children at our church sang this yesterday and it is so powerful.  I couldn't wait to share it with you because it is one of my favorites. My husband hopes for the kids at our church to sing this at least once a year because it is such a short and clear message of the Gospel - the Good News in one verse.

If this message has not yet impacted your life, but you want to know how it can, ask me about it!  And if the message put to this song has completely transformed your life, please share in the comments!

The Gospel Song - Sovereign Grace Ministries

a little craftiness

I found this great idea for an easy and inexpensive Fall wreath here and here the other day, and since my doors are completely boring everywhere I look in my house, I couldn't wait to try it!

Too bad I actually found the brown coffee filters (which I had no idea existed), but our Wal-Mart did not have the styrofoam wreath ring that I needed.  Since it was 10 o'clock last night and I had no other options of stores and being crafty was on my mind, I opted for a styrofoam ball and figured that I would attempt a coffee filter floral-like ball.  (Whatever you want to call it!)

Here's how it turned out...

And here's how I did it...

It's not my favorite, but it was pretty easy and I can't wait to make the wreath version of it when I get the styrofoam ring!  I just don't have a great place to hang the ball version of it.

Meanwhile, Justin was working on this...

His pumpkin version of David Crowder, who looks like this: 

I just can't compete with that talent!

But, I made these while I was waiting on Justin to finish:

That's about as good as my pumpkin carving gets!

Yesterday, our little family came up with this:

So now my house is a disaster and I'm off to clean!

how to get the most out of swagbucks!

If you haven't yet signed up for Swagbucks, you should do it!  Go ahead, just take my word for it - sign up here!

But if you're still skeptical, here's the deal with Swagbucks.  SB is an easy way to earn free stuff.  If you use internet search engines often, then you should definitely sign up with SB as soon as you finish reading this!  By searching through Swagbucks, you will randomly earn Swagbucks' "digital dollars."  These can accumulate quickly in you SB account to allow you to save up for great free stuff (or swag).

So, here's my view on how to get the most out of Swagbucks once you sign up:

1. Use Swagbucks.com as your search engine.  You will randomly earn different increments of Swagbucks as you search.
2. Definitely download the Swagbucks toolbar to make it easier to search through Swagbucks and keep up with your own account.  You get one Swagbuck just for having the toolbar when you first open your browser each day, although this doesn't work in Google Chrome.  
3. Take the daily poll on Swagbucks to get one extra Swagbuck per day.
4. Refer people to Swagbucks.  This is the best way to earn more because you will get every Swagbuck your friends get, up to 1,000 SB.  This really helps the SB's add up!
5. Choose a Swagbucks banner like those here to add to your blog or website so that others can find out about Swagbucks and start helping you earn more.

6. Become a fan of Swagbucks on Facebook to keep up with current codes to win more SB's.
7. Watch videos on Swagbucks TV to earn more SB's.
8. A new feature that I saw today - Sign up to receive 50 SB's every year on your birthday!
9. Check out the Swagbucks blog for randomly given codes that can be entered to earn more SB's.
10. Add  a Swagbucks widget to your blog or website in order to refer friends and keep up with new codes to earn more SB's.

There are even more ways to earn that you can read about here.  You can also find answers to frequently asked questions here.  Read more tips about earning SB's here.

If you still aren't convinced that earning SB's is easy and profitable, then check out the possible free stuff you can get here.  I have always bought Amazon gift cards with my Swagbucks, so those are my favorite!

Don't wait, start earning Swagbucks today!


Any other ways I missed?  Any questions? - Just ask me!

musical monday

I've been listening to our choir's Christmas CD nonstop in the car to prepare for our "cantata" coming up in a few weeks.  This is one of my favorite songs, so I'm so glad Justin chose to include it this year.  My favorite part is the repetition of the line, "things will never be the same" into "we will never be the same."

Indeed, Christ came and things were never the same.  I pray that you have experienced Christ's forgiveness through salvation and that things have proven true to never be the same in your life!

Here are the words and music in video form.  Don't worry, the first 30 seconds is a completely black screen!

commentary in a box

For the longest time, I was completely baffled about how to manage the growing pile of sermon notes I accumulated each Sunday at church.  These 1/2 sheets of paper, full of great biblical wisdom from our pastor, stayed in my bible until I cleaned it out, made their way into various piles around our house, fell out in the car, slipped into drawers, but they were never where I wanted them to be when I wanted to reference them.

Enter a new system which I have dubbed Commentary in a Box:

Bible commentaries can be expensive, especially when wanting a complete set.  If we are in church about 52 Sundays a year, those are basically free commentaries from our pastor!

Our pastor creates fill-in-the-blank notes for us each Sunday that are in our bulletin, so they have very practical information, but are not very practical for putting in a notebook to keep (unless you have a good idea to share with me).  I wanted an easy way to house my sermon notes, including lots that I took when we attended chapel three days a week in seminary.

Just a plain (brown because I love brown) photo box was the answer for me.  It just took a little time to round up my notes from piles around the house and then put them in order according to the Bible.  Now, when I'm studying a specific section in Scripture, I have this extra commentary easily accessible.  This works especially well because our pastor preaches mostly topigetically (somewhere between topically and exegetically for those who care).  I found this fun to say made-up word here!

(Here are the first few in my box!)

Sermon notes could also be kept topically, though that might be a little more work to organize.  Or they could possibly be ordered chronologically, especially if you write the date in your bible when your pastor preaches on a specific passage, like I have seen some people do.

I just wanted to share what I have found to work after years of keeping sermon notes but never fully utilizing them as an ongoing resource.  Do you have any differently sermon note systems that have worked for you?

pumpkin decorating for a toddler

I found this great idea in Family Fun magazine yesterday and couldn't wait to make it!  Elijah has enjoyed a pumpkin decorating activity we found online here, so I knew he would like this magnetic version.  It hardly took any time to make and so far he's loved it.  I can't wait to make a snowman...and maybe a turkey?!  This is a great activity for focusing on shapes and faces!

Here's all you need:

• 2 adhesive magnetic sheets (mine were about 5x7 that I already had and I think they're pretty cheap)
• orange paper (I raided my scrapbook paper!)
• black paper
• scissors

Here's what you do:

• Attach the orange paper to the magnetic sheet and cut the paper down to size.  Cut out a pumpkin shape!
• Attach the black paper to a magnetic sheet and cut out several shapes for eyes, noses, mouths, and anything else you want!
• Put it on the fridge and see how long it takes your child to find it!