Refocused!

Well, if you are so kind as to check my blog from time to time, you have obviously observed that I have not posted in a month. It has definitely been a month to remember. Following the student ministries retreat in January, our family set off for four straight weekends of watching our oldest daughter compete in Miss America preliminary pageants. From Athens to West Georgia to Macon to Dalton, it has been a whirlwind of gowns, shoes, luggage, hotels and cars arriving from all corners of the state. Coupled with the women's ministry Kick Off 2008 at FBCJ, which was a spirit-filled morning to remember.

With much gratitude, perseverance and due diligence, our daughter did win the title of Miss Carpet Capital 2008 and has earned her first trip to Columbus, Georgia to compete in the Miss Georgia Pageant in June. Congratulations, Lydia!

This past week has been filled with many plans for gown shopping, listening to possible talent music, and attending the Miss Fulton County Pageant last night.

All of this flurry of activity has reminded me just how important my quiet time with the Lord is and how easy it is to become distracted by the "things" of this world. So my determined purpose this day is to refocus my priorities and renew my mind in the Lord! My teaching retreat, The Offerings of My Heart, emphasizes the crucial importance of getting into the Word of God, daily, and renewing your mind. When we fail to do this with determination and purpose, we allow the MOST important relationship in our lives to slide to the back burner.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." This butterfly will retreat to her cocoon for a time to be renewed and refocused.

As I challenged my daughter this morning, I would like to challenge myself and each of you to practice Colossians 3:1-4:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Even good things can be an easy distraction to the pursuit of holiness, this day I choose to pursue holiness!

God Bless!

Bella Butterfly!

What a busy time and it is only the 14th of January, 2008. I can hardly believe that just a few days ago I was recording my personal goals for the New Year and working hard to get all of the remaining glitter of Christmas off the hardwood floor.

You may wonder why this blog entry is entitled "Bella Butterfly", so I would like to share that with you. This past Friday night and Saturday morning, I had the great privilege of teaching a retreat for some of the young ladies from my church youth group. Prepared and a little stressed from the preparations, I was totally blessed by this special group of young ladies who gathered to study God's word and grow in their relationships with each other and God's word. The retreat was entitled "Bella Butterfly" which means beautiful butterfly. It was exciting to see these very beautiful young ladies who were eager to learn from God's word.

For over a year and a half, I have studied and taught the 12th chapter of Romans to various groups and at retreats, and I am amazed at how God has continued to teach me new truths from this passage each time I prepare to teach the scriptures. Hopefully, the truths that were shared and the scriptural priciples that were presented will have a life changing impact on those who attended. Great joy comes when you see the "light bulb" of revelation and truth sparked in the life of someone, especially a young person.

May God produce in each young girl who attended a transformed life that will not only grow into a fully matured, bella butterfuly, but also strengthen and encourage them through the truth of the Word to be the beautiful, godly, young lady that He has created them to be each and everyday. Remember, the only evidence of a transformed life is a transformed life! Be kind, be at peace with everyone, overcome evil, don't get revenge, love the Lord God with all of your heart, mind, and soul!

To my bella butterflies, your sweet smiles and joyful hearts are a blessing! Serve the Lord, well, today and everyday of your life!


Email me and share the random act of kindness that you have done since the retreat!

Happy New Year!

As 2007 comes to an end and we await the arrival of 2008 in just a few hours, may your new year be filled with the grace and mercy of the LORD, as He directs your steps. Walking by faith is a challenge for everyone, my personal prayer is that I may embark on this new year with renewed faith and purpose to obey the will of God, each and everyday of my life.

Happy, happy new year and I pray that you will have true JOY for the journey in 2008!

Finishing Well in 2007

Christmas 2007 has come and gone, praise the Lord! It was a very strange Christmas season for me this year. Most of 2007 has been a blessing and a success as we were striving with excellence to pursue the path that God had set before us. The Christmas season was no different. Our priorities were examined and the plans were made, but the "feelings" of Christmas were strangely different. I wonder if I will ever know why.

Several weeks ago, Dr. Henry Blackaby challenged our church family in a Sunday morning sermon, to purpose to "finish well" in 2007, before we even began making plans, lists and/or goals for 2008. Personally, I love a challenge, so I have been as busy as a bee checking off everything on my 2007 list that needed to be completed in order to finish well. I still have a few small tasks to complete before the new year rolls around.

One of the challenges from Dr. Blackaby was "to take a Spiritual Inventory of your life." It so happens that 5 months ago, I felt lead to order 4 copies of a Spiritual Inventory Quiz from a ministry called Ephesians 4 Ministries, along with a leadership style test, a Marriage Communication Test and a Spiritual Gifts Inventory.

In addition to all of the normal activity that surrounds a week of Christmas festivities, my family has been challenged to take these inventory tests. Of course, the girls and I have completed our tests and had many interesting disucssions about what God is doing in our respective lives. Hubby will take the tests when he has the time.

The point to all of this is that it is important to STOP every now and then to evaluate your life. Not just to see areas that need improvement or attention, but also to thank God for the work He is doing in your life and for the progress that you are making in the process of santification (being ever conformed to the image of Christ).

I challenge you to pull out your copy of the Word of God and spend a few moments reflecting on God's amazing grace in your life. Ask yourself the hard questions that will count for eternity, like:

Am I abiding in Jesus Christ?
Am I bearing fruit, the kind that counts?
Do I love others like Jesus does?
Have I been faithful to my church?
Have I been a good steward of all that God has entrusted to me?
Have I repented of my sins lately?
Do I pray enough?
Have I read the Bible today?
Have I hidden God's word in my heart that I might not sin against Him?
Am I a shining light and a reflection of God's glory?
What will I do to make 2008 count for Christ?

Happy New Year! May the joy that comes from serving a risen Savior be yours today as you look to the new year with anticipation and HOPE!

Merry Christmas!

My sweet daddy reminded me this morning that I had not posted since the first of the month. It is December and a very busy time for all. May our Great God of mercy, bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you this Christmas season, as you celebrate His birth!

Merry Christmas and may your 2008 be filled with all JOY!

"Tis the Season"...or so they say!

The Christmas season is officially here and as a believer I ask myself this question:

If Christmas "tis the season to be jolly", as the secular song goes, then why are there so many unhappy, frantic, stressed out people running through Walmart and the local shopping malls with apparently no joy, no peace, and no genuine anticipation of this great day of celebration?

That is a long question so allow me to break it down as I see it from a biblical perspective. First, Christians and non-Christians have lost sight of why there is a Christmas celebration every year. When the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the true reason for this celebratory occasion, has been removed from the season, then there is no reason for joy or peace or celebration. Acts 4:10-12 says, " It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Second, the Christ of Christmas came to this world to testify to the truth. John 18:37 reads, "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the Truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." When we become caught up in the activity and stress of a "holiday" we are buying a lie from Satan that sets itself up against the true knowledge of Jesus Christ who is Truth and came to testify and bear witness to Truth. When "holiday" stress moves in to confuse and exhaust us then we are buying into Satan's lies that dilute and mask the Truth of Christmas.

As you prepare for this season of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, please I implore you to not buy into the lies of Satan who wants to confuse you, stress you out,cause pain and rob your joy.

Purpose in your heart to proclaim the Truth as Christ did and desire above all of the hustle and bustle of the season to give Christ alone the preeminent place in your heart, your home and your holiday!

JOY!

True joy comes from embracing the circumstances and the season of life where God has put you and accepting the responsibilities that go with that season! This quote came from a screen saver on the Nancy Demoss website.

How true it is to know that real joy-- the putting Jesus first in your life, others next and yourself last, comes when we learn to be content and accept the place of responsibiltiy and difficulty that God has placed you in.

Joy is not about being happy, because happy means blessed. We are blessed by being a child of the most high God. Joy is that place of perfect peace we have when our minds are "stayed on Christ"! Joy is a very uplifting word, something we need more of each day of our lives.

Take a JOY break today, find that place of perfect peace that God has already given to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose!