Ready, Set...WORRY?

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

Every time I've logged into my email the past few days, there are pictures of stressed, ragged-looking people on the news feed.  It's the poor folks who work in the Stock Exchange (why anyone would want to do that is beyond me).  These people look like they haven't slept since the market tumbled last week and then some random credit guy lowers our national rating to top it off.  I'm sure their countenance is reflective of a lot of Americans. 

I must say I actually feel sorry for them.  They've placed their hope and trust in monetary value.  Some have pinned their hopes on the government, while others have run out of someone to trust in.  I'm sure some of these people are believers.  If we are living as He commanded us, then we should place our hope in nothing else but Him alone.  Not money, material things, security, our family--only Him.  This is one of the areas where Satan can sneak in and destroy lives.

All it takes is someone thinking, "But surely He wants me to prepare for retirement."  Or, "My family will suffer if our country doesn't get a debt-deal."  Is that what God promised us?  NO!  He told us to store our treasures in heaven, not on earth.  He reminded us of how He cares for the sparrows and how much more He cares for us.  He clothes the lilies of the fields with splendor.  We should not fear, worry, or hide our heads in the sand.  We should lift our eyes to Him who is our Help.  

The world is ripe for answers, hope, and a solution.  Guess what?  We have one in Jesus so let's share it!!! 

Free to Dance

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds...  James 1:2

As most of you know, I had the privilege of attending the She Speaks Conference several weeks ago.  One of the breakout sessions I attended, led by Whitney Capps, was on Spiritual Warfare.  Upon returning home, I found Spiritual Warfare for Women:  Winning the battle for your home, family and friends wrapped up like a present in my mailbox.  God speaking maybe?

I'd say, yep, think so!  I started reading the book this week on vacation and He has really opened my eyes to the warfare stuff.   My struggles with fears I think are silly are not from Him, or from myself even, but from my enemy the devil.  He is out to get what he can from me, my testimony, my joy.  I've known this in my head, but upon reading this book by Leighann McCoy, my eyes and heart have been opened in a mighty way.

She warns to be on the alert when you figure out what Satan's doing, it's then he comes on even stronger.  I choose to claim the promises of God and declare Satan is not welcome in my thoughts or my life.  One central truth Leighann emphasizes is:

Every attack from the enemy brings with it a divine invitation from the sovereign hand of

God to learn by experience what love does.



What a concept!  If we can truly grasp the fact that everything the enemy throws our way can be an opportunity to experience God like we never have before...wow, what freedom we could have.  Free to dance...free to live...free to love...just free....I plan to keep muddling my way through this book and I plan to catch the devil in his schemes against me.

I was sent a copy of this book for review by the publisher (and I am SO glad I did-thanks God)! 

Happy Birthday to Charlie!

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  Psalm 127:3-5




5lb 12oz @ 34 weeks--miracle boy!




Big Brothers...mama went to work, next time they saw me-I had this!



So little,  so cute



Loves him some camping!



Redneck baby



Happy Birthday to me!



Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2

Continuing to count my one thousand gifts...

11)  First birthdays

12)  the sweet baby smell that I'll soon be missing

13)  dirty feet on 2 big brothers

14)  God's faithfulness

15)  Women's Life Fellowship

16)  Completing Moving from Fear to Freedom

17)  Bi-lo gas perks

18)  peaches growing on a old tree in the backyard

19)  watermelon vines coming back and producing melons no one likes

20)  Grace...grace...grace

What are you thankful for today?

Word Filled Wednesday

A Riddle

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  James 3:6

Got a riddle for you:  What is the one muscle we exercise the most that needs it the least?  Give up?  The tongue (the verse kinda gave it away).  Why is it we seem to think one of the smallest muscles in our body needs so much exercise?  We flap it all day long. 

Most times, we need to use this little organ, but then sometimes...oh my.  It'll get us in trouble in a minute.  I know this well.  You could count on me to tell everything I knew and some things I didn't.  This grew into little white lies as an adult.  No biggies, just little ones that no one knew but me and Him.  What about gossip?  Oh girl, I work in an office full of women.  I try to stay out of the talk, but sometimes you really just can't help it and that muscle just takes off for a little bit of an extra workout.

James wasn't kidding when he said the tongue can corrupt the whole body.  It not only can corrupt you, but your relationships and your witness to others.  Guard your tongue people.  This is one of the hardest things I think we'll ever do  as a Christian.  Sometimes, I wish I had a delete or mute button, but God didn't bless us with one of those.  So, we have to commit to taming this wild thing.  I want a lazy tongue, how about you?

Moving On

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4

This is a picture of me Moving from Fear to Freedom.  Above, you'll see my oldest son, Zach, and my hubby jumping off 'the rock' at Lake Joccassee.  They're about half-way down from where they jumped...so you can imagine the height was way above what mama would've deemed as safe.  As if climbing up a rock wall and jumping off it would be safe at any height? 

I was in the boat minding my little one with no desire to watch the boys climb and jump...climb and jump...until Zach entered the picture.  My mama instincts kicked in- heart pumping, short of breath, hands ringing- and I closed my eyes and hummed (yep, hummed).  It was then God spoke to my heart and said, "Girl, I have got this one in my hands.  Have you already forgotten what you learned.  Let him go."  I did. 

I know He has all of our days in His hands.  He can take care of my boys better than I can.  I can't quench the adventurous spirit He's given Zach and wouldn't want to if I could.  He may use his sense of adventure and love of God to shape the man he's to become.  I don't want to be the one to stand in the way of His will for my child's life.

So, mama opened her eyes and watched her two big boys climb up...up...up and then with a few encouraging words from Dad-JUMP!  Then Papa Butch and D marked riding the tube at 30mph behind Pat's boat off their bucket list...another story for another day!  Thank you Lord for the ability to  move on, look up, and face fear head on.