#265 - HEY MOM! You Are Raising World Changers!

Proverbs 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Let's just be honest, if you are a mom with kids in the home, it can sometimes be overwhelming. I had that day the other day when I felt like all had gone awry, and it looked like I had gotten nothing accomplished. A "Favored One" (what we call our kids instead of "yayhoos!") had spilled juice - so MOM got to clean the table and floor, had to change kids clothes because they got wet, had to change my clothes because they got "spit up on", had to give kids bathes in the middle of the day because they got sandy, sticky syrup all over sippy cups and the table, pretzels & waffles under the table.... not to mention just preparing meals.... by the time one meal was done and cleaned up (which could take hours between all the interruptions and distractions) it was almost time to start on preparing the next meal.... and the list goes on! If you are a mom, you may very well know just what I'm talking about!

On days like this, it is good to remember two important conversations I had regarding my kids. One with the Holy Spirit in my quiet time one day and one discussion I had with my husband.

1) Holy Spirit: On one overwhelming day... I had asked the Holy Spirit how to do a good job as a mom. Not just ANY MOM.... but a Christian Mom wanting to raise up kids that will make a difference. WHAT does that Mom do? How does that mom model her day? There were so many voices coming at me! Watching other mom's do the job of "Mom'ing." You may know some of them.... those moms:

• The Overly "Involved in my kids Preschool" Mom   

• The "I make the classmates at my kids preschool awesome cookies, gifts and crafts" Mom  

• The "Have my kid in lots of sports" Mom  

• The "Go to activities with my kids all over town" Mom

• The "Uses Scissors and Glue and does crafts at home" Mom! (argh... ahhhhh) 

• The "Go to the library and read 100 books in 2  days with my Kid" Mom (ok, slight exaggeration, but u know the mom who has her kid counting and reading when they are practically still an embryo! ) 

• The "ambitious teach my kid how to ride his bike, go to the park, go to the zoo, go to the Lowes Building workshop, go to... go to.... go to...." Mom! 

You know.... THAT MOM!!!! Granted... on my more ambitious days, I may do some of those things, but I found myself looking at everyone else's best days and comparing them to my frazzled, no make up on, dishes piled up in the kitchen sink, fly-away hair kind of days.

So, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit one day, I had to be reminded of my MOST important job. And what He had told me was this, "It's not the activities, the busyness, the "things" you can get caught up in, but it is the atmosphere you create. What is the atmosphere in your home." 

2) My Husband - In our conversation, he basically reminded me of the GREAT IMPORTANCE of my job! I am raising up WORLD CHANGERS! YOU, fellow Mom, are raising up WORLD CHANGERS! For my kids, it is my job to teach, prepare and instill things into them that will allow them to make a difference in this world for Jesus! Whether they grow up to be the President of the United States or the President of the Girl Scouts, a business owner or a missionary, a musician or a ballet performer.... MY JOB right now in this season is to RAISE UP my kids learning the Word of God, learning principles from the Bible. At ages 4 and 2, those principles may simply be "sharing" or "being kind" or "talking in a kind manner," whatever it is based upon their age, MY JOB is to mold and shape the World Changer in each of my children.

So.... on those days, where I feel frazzled or while washing 'the sticky' off the kitchen table I wonder, "What I'm doing, does it really matter? I'm not shooting out Corporate America emails. I'm not dealing with winning a new multimillion dollar account. I'm not meeting with the CEO of XYZ Corporation. Is what I'm doing really important?" The answer is, YES! Wiping noses, washing peanut butter and jelly off the light switch, cutting sandwiches into 1/4th's,  peeling off the apple peel, giving smooches, tickling kids, chasing them around, jumping on the trampoline, and practicing Bible verses.... despite that fact some of these tasks seem insignificant all are important tasks of this Mama.

And what YOU are doing raising your kids, IT MATTERS TOO! YOU Mom, YOU are raising up kids who are going to change someones life! When Jesus' Mom, Mary, was changing the equivalent to a poopy diaper, she may have felt that task was insignificant, BUT Mary, that mom, was raising up a WORLD CHANGER! Friend, YOU TOO, are raising up someone very special. YOU TOO are raising up someone who can make an eternal difference in the life of someone else.

Mom, your job is important! YOU ARE RAISING WORLD CHANGERS! 

#216 - "But I'm Not Good Enough"

Proverbs 10:6 - Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God)...

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Proverbs 24:16a - For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again... 

Have you ever read the Bible and come across a scripture and thought, "But, I'm not righteous. I've messed up. I guess this verse doesn't apply to me." With your head hung down a bit in defeat, you just accept that maybe the "blessings" in the Bible don't apply to you because you are just "not good enough."

As I began reading Proverbs this morning, I honestly couldn't get past Proverbs 10:6. I got a whole SIX verses into reading the Bible until I had to stop. "Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous." I sat and pondered that word, righteous. Racing into my head came all of the most recent times I've messed up. Maybe done something that I shouldn't have done, maybe having not been as patient as I should have been, maybe I said something that was 'off-color', maybe I acted out of selfishness. Immediately, the enemy wanted me to reject Proverbs 10:6 for myself, to hang my head in defeat and just accept the fact that the verse is just not talking about me.

I decided to look up "righteous" in the Hebrew to see what the original meaning was talking about. The same Hebrew word was used for both Proverbs 10:6 & Proverbs 24:16. Tsaddiyq. It's pronounced, sad-eek. Tsaddiyq in the original Hebrew means right in one's cause or righteous in conduct & character. I was interested to find that no where in the original meaning for this word did it say "PERFECT."

"But, I'm not perfect. I've messed up. How can I be considered righteous? 

How can these verses actually include me??" 

I have good news for you! Proverbs 24:16 says, For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again. The righteous. The tsaddiyq man falls. Falls. What does "falls" mean in the original Hebrew? It is the Hebrew word naphal and the definition includes "to fall short, to fail."

This righteous person, right in his/her cause, righteous in his/her character & conduct MESSES UP, FALLS SHORT, FAILS! Usually this righteous person has good intentions, but the bottom line is that he/she falls short and sins. Here is where grace & faith come in. Romans 3:24 & 28 remind us that we are justified FREELY by God's grace... man is justified by faith.

Though we may fall, we can KEEP GETTING BACK up! Though we may sin, the grace of God is there every time to forgive us and draw us back into right-standing with Him! Matthew talks about how many times you should forgive... not just 7, but 70 times 7. Forgive your brother over and over and over. If he/she is willing to come for forgiveness, forgive! And God is the same. If we are willing to come and ask for forgiveness, he will heed His own Word! He will forgive. Restoring us to a place of right-standing with Him.

What of the Proverbs 31 woman? She excels them all.... but just by knowing Romans 3:10 & 12, we know she is not perfect. "There is no one righteous, not even one... ALL have turned away...." Even the woman who appears perfect, she was not. She has also messed up! She too, needed to cling to grace & forgiveness.

You are deserving. Jesus went to the cross for YOU. You are the child of the Most High God! Being a child of the Most High God, makes you an HEIR! Have you ever thought about the rights of an Heir? Not just ANY heir, but the heir of Jesus. A "co-heir with Christ" as it says in Romans 8:17. Because of the grace of God, you ARE good enough! Receive the blessings that are yours today. And if you mess up, go to the throne of grace & receive the forgiveness that God is waiting to give you. He desires your humility to Him. Your humble spirit. He desires to forgive no matter how great or small the sin. Don't let Satan talk you into thinking you are not good enough! Because of Jesus, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH! Go out today and be blessed!

#192 - Focus on Obedience

Good morning! :) It's a beautiful day out here in Columbia! Birds chirping, a cool breeze and blue skies. Let's get started in the Word because Junior will be getting up soon! :)

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Matthew 6:27,31 - And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life. Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? 

This morning I had a some questions for the Holy Spirit... primarily on specific direction. I sat, in my mind I felt a little bit scattered, like I was just saying, "Well, what about this? What about that? Should I do this?" It was as if my thoughts were running out ahead of me to try to answer the questions. My thoughts were hurried and seemed chaotic. I slowed down enough to listen, and from that comes today's main theme, "Focus on Obedience."


The root of my 'firing of questions' to the Holy Spirit stemmed from anxiety or worry, but it was as if He had to slow me down. Re-focus me. Re-ground me. Remind me of my current tasks at hand, projects He's told me to work on. As I hurriedly listed off all the things that I had questions on and seemed to feel a bit of stress rising up on the inside, I just heard that still small Voice say, "Just focus on obedience." An area, where just two days ago, I had to ask forgiveness.

Columbia summers are hot, humid. Sometimes just walking out of the house or car, it feels as if the air is sucked out of you for a split second until you get acclimated to the heat & humidity. Once you adjust, it's usually OK... but a summer without a pool would be tough down here. Our development has a pool conveniently about 100 yards from our house. It's very nice to just be a short walk away. Well... we had not paid for our pool pass for the summer yet. We still had our key-fob that would allow us to get in, but just hadn't paid or gotten the newly issued ID cards with our picture on it. Not really thinking about Proverbs 31:29, and her "strength of character," I proceeded to periodically scope out the pool to see if the "pool man" sat checking ID's. I found that there was normally no one there in the morning. Confession time. So, a few times Junior and I rode our bike by the pool, seeing no guard, rushed back home, got on our swimsuits and headed to the pool for a few hours of refreshing, cool swimming.

I know, I know. Some of you may be laughing and my deceitfulness... some of you may have gotten your stones out already! Well... let me tell you the rest of the story. No, I did not get caught. No, I did not get in trouble. Honestly, if I weren't telling YOU publicly right now, I don't think really anyone would have known. I reasoned that, we were going to buy our pool pass soon, we just hadn't yet. Once we did buy it, it wasn't even going to be pro-rated, we'd pay the same price as everyone else. We just hadn't paid it yet. I reasoned that it was OK for now. I didn't really like having to sneak. It felt dishonest, which isn't typically a quality I hold. Tyler and I joked about me "not being a rule follower" because he has always been pretty straight and narrow... I have usually been the "spontaneous" or "adventurous" one of the two of us. I'd joke about "not following the rules" and getting in to the pool, he would chuckle a little, but shake his head. Monday after dinner, Honest Abe Tyler, Tyler Jr, and I played outside in the backyard in the sprinklers. We did have a blast. Tyler Jr was loving it! He just ran around laughing, getting soaked, it was definite entertainment! Before bed I was reading and that's when the conviction began. I couldn't shake that what I was doing was wrong. We hadn't paid for the pool, so I shouldn't be going. Tuesday morning I made up my mind. Tuesday at lunch, I told Tyler I wasn't going to the pool anymore until we paid. Junior and I would just play out in the sprinklers or the hose, or stay inside where it was cool. And... I had to obviously ask for forgiveness from my Father. Tyler was surprised about my newly-found "pool honesty" and our day continued.

Wouldn't you know it, Tuesday afternoon, Tyler told me that he was going to surprise me but that I could go down and pay for the pool passes and get my picture taken! I was so excited! Yippee!!! Would it have happened if I had continued in deceit? Or would it have been another few weeks?

So, this morning when I was reading about the Proverbs 31 woman, and read about her "strength of character," I couldn't help but think about my temporary relapse. It's hard to be blessed when walking in disobedience or walking in a lie, even if it seems like a little one. A lie is a lie. I thought about her. Her strength of character stems out to even her honesty. Someone with a strong character is honest, trustworthy, they do the right thing.

"Just focus on obedience," I'm reminded of the Holy Spirit's words this morning. I don't know what it is for you. Maybe it's something like my "confession" above. For me, this morning, it was about being obedient to the things that Holy Spirit has directed me to work on. It was about being obedient to the current tasks He has me working on, not trying to bring on other things to do, but just focusing on the few things HE has directed me to do. Spending my time doing those things. If I do that, my daily accomplishments will not be in vain, they will actually be fruitful and purposeful.

What was the last thing the Holy Spirit told you to do? Are you working on it? Are you working towards completion? Have you gotten distracted with other things that seemed good to you? Have you forgotten what the last thing the Holy Spirit directed you to do? Maybe it's time to re-visit. Maybe it's time to check again, are we on the right track? Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I being diligent? Am I focusing on obedience?

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Here's Tyler Junior and I at the pool yesterday! GUILT FREE! Having a great time! Look at how brave he is!!! Tyler said, "Maybe an Olympic diver?".... any cheerleaders out there know that it actually is a pretty good extension! :) (Though, I'm not speaking my son is going to be a cheerleader! HA!)

#187 - Excel Them All!

Good morning! It's so good to be back! I'm enjoying my screened in back porch, the breeze, the sounds of birds & the aroma of hydrangea's & gardenia's. Wow. They smell amazing! I have finally started to get my sense of smell back. Being pregnant, for about the last 4 weeks my hormones have been a bit off and I haven't really been able to smell. Don't get me wrong, that was nice when it came to changing a dirty diaper.... but unfortunate for Junior, he would probably run around a little longer with it because I couldn't smell that it was dirty. Anyways.... smell is good! Something that I definitely realized I took for granted.

We had an amazing vacation and enjoyed a lot of time in the water and in the sun! Tyler Junior has been a little fishy for the last 9-10 days, and he definitely has a cute little tan (despite the fact that he had spf 60 on all week!) I'm excited to get back into the word with you, and today seems like a perfect day. The 31st. It really allows us to dive into the whole chapter of Proverbs 31, who this woman really is, and discovering our role in it all. Let's jump in.

Proverbs 31:1 - THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him...

Proverbs 31:30 - Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Proverbs 9:10 - The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

Proverbs 31:27 - She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. 

I believe as women, when we read Proverbs 31:10-31 and we begin to understand a little bit of the depth of this godly woman, our first instinct is to want to work on ourselves. As we read down through the verses, we want to work on becoming all we can be, striving to mirror the attributes of this Proverbs 31 woman, this Ultimate Woman. I think that is the first and most obvious take away as we read this chapter. One that may not be quite as obvious is one that takes us back up to verse one in Proverbs 31. Who is the speaker & who is directing these thoughts & descriptions of this woman? It is a mother speaking to her son. The obligation of a mother to share with her son what he should be looking for in a woman, ultimately his wife. King Lemuel here has taken heed the advice of his mother, he has obviously recalled it because he is able to recount it, so his mother must have made it a priority to teach & re-teach the godly characteristics that he should be looking for in his wife. The message here to us? The obvious, work on ourselves and becoming this godly Proverbs 31 woman. Secondly and often not practiced as much, teaching who this woman is to our sons. Teaching who this woman is to our daughters. Taking the time, as we raise up godly little warriors in our boys, to teach them what exactly they are looking for in their mate. Sure, it may be 20-25 years before they will really be applying the things they have learned, or looking for these qualities, but as with King Lemuel being able to easily recount what is mother had taught him, repetition in who "she" is will allow our sons to one day marry a strong partner, a godly woman, a woman who does "excel them all" (Proverbs 31:29).

Who is she? She is a woman who fears the Lord, respects the Lord, worships the Lord. As we look at Proverbs 31:30, we can see that, but more importantly, we can go back to Proverbs 9:10 and see the significance of it! Reverent & worshipful fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of Wisdom! The chief part of Wisdom! This reverent & worshipful fear of the Lord leads our Proverbs 31 woman to gain Wisdom. To gain the most important attribute that essentially leads to almost all other things, decisions & outcomes. The fact that she has attained Wisdom, allows us to know in her daily dealings with purchasing real estate, working with people, planting a vineyard, whatever she is doing on that day she is proceeding with Wisdom. Wisdom attained by fearing/respecting the Lord.

I remember hearing a quote that is pretty powerful by Eleanor Roosevelt, one that I'm sure our Proverbs 31 woman also abides by, it says: "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people." Proverbs 31:27 tells us that this Ultimate Woman does not take part in gossip, in talking about other people. She does not take part in idle chatter, but steers clear of it. She does not even allow herself to wallow in self-pity or discontentment. She straps on her boots & just "gets over it!" Surely she addresses situations that need addressed, but self-pity is not something that she allows herself to take part of. She changes her situation. By Wisdom, she allows herself to be directed to make the necessary changes so that self-pity & discontentment does not have to be a part of her life. She is led & directed by Wisdom. The outcome? A life that she loves. A life that she can enjoy. A life that she can "taste & see" that it is good (Proverbs 31:18)!

Wherever you are at today, take an evaluation. Are you a mother? Are you single female? Single male? Father? Single women, married women, take the time to daily work at becoming this woman. Take the time to seek out and attain the reverent fear & respect of the Lord so all your dealings can be done in Wisdom. Take the time to work on becoming this Proverbs 31 woman, not just for success but to be an example. If you have children or plan to, one day your son will be looking to you for an example in what he wants or does not want in his wife. Mothers, it's never to early or to late to begin teaching your sons & daughters who this Proverbs 31 woman is. What a son should one day look for in his wife, and what a daughter should aspire to duplicate. Fathers, you're not off the hook. You can equally teach your sons  what they should be looking for in a wife and teach your daughters the values in striving to become all God has called her to be. Like the Proverbs 31 woman, aspire to excel them all! With Wisdom ALL things are possible. With God, ALL things are possible! Today, begin to teach your children the qualities of a godly young man or a godly young woman. It's never to late to teach them the godly way to excel!

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Vacation Pictures 

What fun!

#68 - YOU were called to make a DIFFERENCE!

Good morning! A beautiful morning! :) I have a little brown lizard running around on my porch right now. He's pretty cute. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't touch him... but it is pretty interesting to watch his little legs run so fast! That was one thing I didn't see growing up in Indiana! No lizards up there! Well, it's better than a spider! *deep breath* YUCK! 


Ok... well, let's get going and see what the Lord has to say right today. 
Oooh... just looked off my porch... I have a nice red tomato on my tomato plant! Yummy! Ok... focus Amy, focus!


Today's Reading Schedule: Proverbs 14, Psalms 14, 44, 74, 104, 144, Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 14:34 - Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Psalm 14:2, 5, 6b - The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, dealt wisely, and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital necessity]. There they shall be in great fear [literally--dreading a dread], for God is with the generation of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright and in right standing with Him).... but the Lord is his safe refuge.

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

I believe if we were all honest about it... whatever country you are living in, we would like to see God BLESS our country. We would like to see our country be elevated and favored? Well.... YOU make a difference in that happening for your county! Do you live in the US? Canada? Denmark? The UK? YOU MATTER!


I've heard before this statement, "You can't change God's mind." BUT.... through reading scripture, I believe you can! Let's take a look back in the old testament, you all probably remember the story of Sodom & Gomorrah. Let's pick up where Abraham is talking to God in Genesis 18:23, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?"


The Lord goes on to say, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."


The conversation continues.... Abraham asks what if there are only 45 righteous? 40? 35? 20? 10? At each question, the Lord says basically, Ok... I will spare the city. If you remember in the story, the city did get destroyed because of the great wickedness, the righteous of the city are spared. But the point I want to make is this, we CAN cry out to God, we can plead with Him. On behalf of OUR righteousness, He will hear our cry! We can, like Abraham CONVERSE with God (the Holy Spirit). We CAN make a difference on behalf of our nation. And it all begins with OUR UPRIGHTNESS. OUR RIGHT STANDING with God. OUR INQUIRING of Him and REQUIRING Him to be the center of our lives!


God is with the generation of the RIGHTEOUS! The RIGHTEOUS need not fear, because WE have a place of REFUGE in the Lord! 


BUT... let me ask you this? Are you not happy about what is going on in YOUR COUNTRY? Do you not like the way things are going? Then, YOU BE THE RIGHTEOUS so that YOUR nation is elevated! Like it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."


Today... make a difference in YOUR nation. ONE person can make a difference! You may not think it... like I recently heard a family member tell me, "One person can't really make a difference." I disagree. One person CAN make a difference. Recently my business mentors saw a need for a Christian School. No one was doing anything about it. They decided to take it upon themselves to be DIFFERENCE MAKERS! They said, "There is a need in our area for good Christian Education, no one is doing anything about it, so WE are going to step up to the plate and do something!" THEY, Doug & Amie Weir, began the process, learned about education, began campaigning, started a 2 year project of STARTING A SCHOOL!!! Well, this fall, August 23rd the doors of their school were opened. They filled their first year to capacity with over 100 students, and have a waiting list already of over 100 more students. ONE PERSON CAN make a difference. Because of Doug and Amie, over 100 families are going to be impacted with a positive Christian education. 


You may not open a school, but YOU CAN make a difference. Praying for your country. Choosing to be one of the righteous. Praying for your family. Friends. Or, just listening to God to MAKE SURE you are following HIS CALLING for YOUR LIFE, and not just going through life "Ho-Hum" living by YOUR agenda. 


YOU WERE CALLED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! YOU ARE A WINNER! I mean think about it.... excuse my analogy... it's kinda interesting to think about... but when your parents came together and your mom got pregnant, YOU were the fastest little swimmer! YOU WON! You beat out all the "other little guys" who were swimming trying to find the egg! YOU were the fastest! I know... I can see my sister Kimmi laughing at me now... but from the beginning of time, when you were even born, you started out a WINNER! NOW, LIVE LIKE ONE! 

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Random Health Tip: Are you drinking enough water? Half your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces. Did you know, that drinking water can help you to loose weight and stay healthy! Water helps flush things out of your system. It can also help to get rid of a cold, or prevent you from getting one to begin with. Water does a lot of good things! Fill up a bottle of water and take it with you today! Then RE-FILL it and drink another!

#58 - The Power of a Card

Good morning. A full day ahead, so let's get movin! :) 

Proverbs 26:23 - Burning lips [uttering insincere words of love] and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel covered with the scum thrown off from molten silver [making it appear to be solid silver].

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

What has been going on in my mind about this? Well.... a few things. The Power of Sincerity. The Power of a Card. The Power of being YOU! During this time being home with my family in Indiana, we have seen the true power of sincerity! It has come in so many shapes and sizes. It's come in tears, in cards, in drawings from children, in phone calls, in hugs, in love. We have seen how truly loving and sincere people can be. I know that Proverbs 26:23 talks about the scum & wickedness of insincerity....but, I want to focus on the opposite. The power that lies in sincerity. The power that lies in love. And the power that lies in a card. 


As I have been at my parents house, what a blessing it has been to see the mailbox full every day. Full of cards with condolences. Cards of sympathy. Cards of love. My grandpa has come over and told of the same scenerio at his house. His mailbox full of cards every day, wishing the condolences of his loss from his love of 62 years! What power that lies in a card. A hand written note. With email and text messages, cell phones & skype, twitter & FaceBook... sometimes the art of a handwritten note sent in the mail is lost. But... if you think about it, it is the most special. When you walk to the mail box and sort through the mail, what are you looking for? You are looking for a handwritten note or card. At least I know I am. Everyone loves to get cards... letters... personal mail! Then, you filter through all the bills and junk mail, when you pull up that card, all the other mail is put aside and you open the letter addressed directly to you. The neat cursive writing of your long lost friend, or close family member calling you in to open it! 


Our Proverbs 31 friend excels all the women out there! She is the friend when one needs a friend. She is the shoulder to cry on when a shoulder is needed. She is the ear to listen when an ear is needed. She is what she needs to be to the people she loves. She is a friend. She is a sister. She is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a granddaughter.... she is a blessing. She excels them all. Why? Because she knows how to look to the needs of others. She blesses them. Her focus is outward and not inward. Her focus is on blessing others. 


The Power of Sincerity. The Power of a Card. Reach out to someone today. Who can you encourage through the power of written words? As you pray, who comes to your mind that might could use a kind word? It may be someone completely unexpected... you may think of them as someone who has it together. Well, the Holy Spirit knows best. Maybe they are struggling in a time that no one knows about. Encourage them today. Don't email or text, leave them a voicemail, but drop them a note in the mail. Allow them to keep that with them, to carry it around, to go back to it, that it may encourage them long after the first day they open it. 


Send a card this week!

#50 - A Man Will DO More & BE More When....

Buenos dias! :) This afternoon we are going to pick blueberries again with some friends. It seems like "Thursdays" have become our fruit picking day! :) Well, I am going to believe now that it will be great, cool with a light breeze, and NO wasps, bees or fire-ants (or any other biting/stinging creatures!)


I had a nice DOR yesterday! I went to the $2.00 theatre and watched Karate Kid! :) It was really good. Jaden Smith does a good job as the little Karate Kid. :) Some good lessons in the movie about "respect", and language in the movie was good (only about 2-3 times the word a** was used in the beginning). So, overall, a good flick for kids too. :) 


Let's begin our devotion... get your steel-toed boots on today. :-/ 

Proverbs 12:4 - A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Well, today's word stems from a few bits of conversation that I had with Tyler this morning as he was leaving for the day. If I were to guess.... I would anticipate many of you have had similar conversations with your spouse. Maybe different words, but the same context. Just to give you a bit of background... Tyler just downloaded a "To-Do/Task" matrix on his cell phone. It allows him to keep up with tasks or "delegate them" to someone else, date them for a future completion, etc, etc... Let's see if you can relate... 

T: Hey, I'm going to forward you an email of a few things to do.

A: Well, I'm not going to guarantee that it gets done today. I already have a lot of things I'm going to do. 

T: Well, you didn't even see what it is. It won't even take long. 

A: Well... I just know that I have lots to do, and if it was a lot of tasks that had to get done today, I just wanted you to know I didn't know if I'd get to them. But I can probably plan them into my calendar for later.

T: All I was going to do was ask you to drop off the dry cleaning. I have all my shirts laid out on my chair upstairs.  (*bit of frustration in his voice*)

A: Oh. Well, I can do that when we leave to pick blueberries. (*feeling a bit bad that such a big deal was made out of something that would be so easy to do now that I knew what it was* - Now outside, as he's walking to the garage.)

A: And ,your welcome for packing your lunch. (*A bit of sarcasm since he didn't say thank you.*)

T: And, Your welcome for me going to my job, making money and providing for our family. (*frustration in his voice because of feeling under-appreciated*)

There ya have it! :) The perfect world of the McCart's. :) It seems pretty small... but even just the "tension" in the air of our conversation wasn't a great way to begin, or set the stage for the day, for having a good day anyways. Then... of course, the Word continues to correct, teach, rebuke and help. All good things since we are all continuing to learn and grow. Correction is all a part of a believer who wants to grow. 


Proverbs 12 talked about being a crowning joy to her husband and of course that is something that I always want to be. A blessing. A joy. An encouragement. This morning was a good wake up call to the power of appreciation. Or the power of a lack of appreciation. Then as I continued to read in Proverbs 12, it talked about the wife who makes her husband ashamed, how she is as rottenness to his bones. Rottenness stinks, rotten breaks, rottenness brings fruit flies & bugs. There is nothing real good about rottenness. And I definitely do not want to be any of that to my husband. As I meditated on the word ashamed, I really came across ways that a wife can do that, can bring shame to her husband.


The wife can cause the husband to feel "Shame" or be "Ashamed" in several different ways....


Ashamed in Himself:

• Lack of Appreciation - Feeling like he is not appreciated. What he's doing goes over-looked as he goes works with the people, makes the sales calls, deals with "drama" that may come up with work. Deals with client problems. Deals with numbers, emails, voicemails, to-do lists, projects to complete, #'s to grow, $ income to increase, people to please, boss to make happy, and the list goes on. As he goes through ALL this, and rarely gets a "Thank You" for all he is doing to provide for his family. Lack of appreciation can cause dissatisfaction with work & disunity with the spouse.
• Lack of Accomplishment - Through her lack of appreciation, it shines light on their "Lack of Accomplishment". Sometimes causing him to feel shame in  how far along they are not. They have not gotten in life as far as they anticipated. They thought they would be further along in their goals, but they are not. She may mention or remind him of this with her attitude or words.
• Lack of Attainment - Through lack of appreciation, this can also make him feel like what he has provided doesn't make her happy. Even though he's doing everything he knows how to do, nothing is making her happy. 
• All of this making him feel like he is Not a good Provider - A man wants to know he is that "Hulk", "Mufasa", "King Kong", "He-Man". He wants to have the feeling of "beating his chest with his fists" and crying out "Oughhhh Oughhhh"... kinda like the "Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor" would do on his show. Lack of Appreciation partnered with Lack of Accomplishment, then can cause a husband to feel like he is not a good provider. Then self-doubt sinks in. And the OPPOSITE begins to happen, instead of looking at where he can go, he may begin dwelling on what he is not. Who he is not, or has not been. Dwelling on failures and self instead of WHO GOD IS and WHAT GOD CAN DO through him. All of this self-imposed, or wife-imposed does not help the cause of progress, but directly can move them backwards. 

Ashamed in Her:

• Actions - Non-productive. She does things that are un-prayed about and un-productive. She focuses on self. Doesn't serve him. "The least will be greatest. The one who serves is the one who is great." - This statement doesn't show through her actions. She does not serve. Her actions are not helping to move their family forward financially or spiritually. Lazy. Unkept house. Lack of peace.
• Attitude - If she has a negative attitude all the time. Looks at the glass always as half empty instead of half full. Sharp tone. Sharp glares. Sharp words.
• Attire - Dressing sloppy... or doesn't wear make-up or do her hair for him.  Dressing in a way that would be too revealing. Wearing clothes that are either too short, tight, low-cut or just inappropriate. Causing him not to take pride in showing off his wife. "Wearing her around as his prize when he is out in public." Like he is showing off a gem. 
• Advancement - In her spiritual growth. In her physical fitness growth - being fit for HIM, to look good for HIM. In her PERSONAL growth. Reading books. In her fiscal growth - aspiring to make them money or save them money. Her not being a "shop-aholic" and spending money on things she and they do not need. 

WORK WITH YOUR MAN: 

• A man will do more and be more when he is VERBALLY appreciated. 
• A man will do more and be more when his wife treats him like her HERO. 
• A man will do more and be more when he is loved. 
• A man will do more and be more when he is RESPECTED. 
• A man will do more and be more when his wife's actions show that SHE is in agreement with him. She takes action towards their goals, you see her "buy-in" to their goals by what she does because she is moving in the same direction! Their actions are in unity!
• A man will do more and be more when he is served & treated like the King. She is the queen of the castle, but he wants to be her King!

I hope you didn't feel like this dwelled a lot on the negative. But... my goal is to avoid the negative and have my life dwell on the positive. Sometimes in order to do that, we need to know what the negative is. Are we inadvertently being negative in some way? Well... I know that I need to be more proactive with the POWER OF APPRECIATION! Actually with everything that was mentioned. I STILL have my work cut out for me. (I'm not even going to proof-read this today... arghhh!)

To Do:

Pick one thing today that you can apply. 

Prayer: 

Lord, In JESUS name, help me to be the help-mate to my spouse that you created me to be. Help me to encourage and lift up. Help me to serve even when it may not be "convenient" or fit into MY schedule. Help me to focus on loving and serving and being a spouse that allow my husband to MOVE MOUNTAINS because I believe in him. Through my words and actions, help my husband know that I believe he can do ANYTHING!! May I empower him to do great things! And may I help him to do great things. Prepare us Lord for what YOU have in store. For the GREATNESS you have for us! We thank you today for your protection according to Ps 91, and that we go out in FAVOR FAVOR FAVOR according to Proverbs 12:2. We love you and praise you in JESUS name, Amen!

#37 - What is #1 in Leaving a Lasting Legacy?

Good morning. It's so fun to be a parent. Tyler and I walked in to "the boys" room this morning, as we frequently do... just to look at him. He was face-planted in his bed with his butt in the air. He is so funny! His sleeping positions make me laugh. And now... as we speak, it's funny to hear him... he just started moving around in his bed. He's playing with some toys and listening to himself make noises. It's so funny! He totally makes me laugh!! What joy a child can bring. 

Proverbs 20:11 - Even a child is known by his acts, whether [or not] what he does is pure and right.

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

So... as I was reading this morning, as these verses jumped out at me, I felt like I had a few obvious observations. Like... if a child is known by his acts... what does that say about me? I am known by MY acts. Right or wrong, people look at me and judge me by what I do. People judge me by what I accomplish or don't accomplish. Am I responding in a situation or "off the cuff" reacting? Like a child is known by his or her actions, I am known by my actions also. What do I want to leave for this world to remember me by? 


Tyler & I have talked and thought about this. We know that we will one day, in a ripe old age, leave this world and go home to be with Jesus. Well... when that day comes, and we are home with Jesus, what will we have left for the world to remember us by? What will we have left for our great, great grandchildren to remember us by? Will we leave a lasting legacy? 


I have heard a lot lately of interviews done with older people in their 70's, 80's & 90's. One of their big thoughts & questions is, "What is the lasting effect that I have had? Has my life counted for anything? Am I leaving a mark?" I think of this because as Tyler & I have talked about it, we reflect on what we know of our great grandparents... or great great grandparents, and it's very little if anything. I'm sure they did good things, but I do not know them nor do I know what they did or if they did anything great. Tyler and I want to be the great-great grandparents that stories are told about... in year 2190 when little Gracie Jo is sitting on her mom's lap, she looks at the picture above the fireplace and asks her mom and dad again.... "Mommy, tell me some of the stories about Great, Great, Great Grandma Amy & Grandpa Tyler. Tell us again about the things they did... about the people they helped and how they changed lives. Tell us one of the stories about them. Please mommy, please." I want to leave a mark that meant something. 


SO... that was my "obvious" take-away... and what jumped out at me. BUT... that was what I saw on the surface. As I started asking the Holy Spirit... he took me a bit deeper and in a completely different direction. To do virtuously, nobly & well... what does that take? Let me share with a story....

A former president was interviewed. As he opened up about some mistakes he had made, some very key factors were revealed in why some catastrophic mistakes occurred. He talked of working late hours, of sometimes staying up through the night to try to handle some of the major decisions that were needed to be made. He made decision after decision, some nights only going off of 2, 3 and 4 hours of sleep. During these critical times some of the major mistakes took place. The reporter asked him if he could change anything, what it would be. He said one thing. One word. One activity. He would change one thing. Sleep. At the time of his most critical points of decision, he messed up partially because he was not alert, he was not sharp. He messed up because he was running on empty. He was running on lack of sleep. He tried to accomplish too much and it caused mistakes. 

There is a great tip to be learned in all that. Accomplishing is important... but rest plays a valuable role in accomplishment. As I was reflecting on this, the Holy Spirit said to me... 

People need permission to take a break. Permission to rest. Resting is important. Some people are too tired, they just need to rest.If the enemy can just get you to KEEP going, he knows when you are tired, he can get you to sin. He wants you working off of fatigue. 

I know for me, firsthand, this is the case. When I am tired, physically and mentally fatigued, I am walking in a danger zone of sin. I need to take a nap. 

So... if it was a Word you needed today... if you are running on empty, take it as a word to you! Take it as the Holy Spirit talking to you. Today, when you get home from work, do something different. Go take a nap (and don't feel GUILTY about it!)


Go take a NAP! There is something not only refreshing about it, but freeing! Especially when you do it GUILT-FREE! NAP! NAP! NAP! 


Do you want to leave a lasting impression on this world, leave a legacy that is a positive one, that generations to come remember you? To do so may mean taking a nap, getting your rest. Or, like the president... you may leave a lasting impression but it was due to the mistakes you made because you were too busy to sleep. Don't make the same mistake and be remembered for your major pitfalls. Get your rest and let the Lord lead you to accomplish what you were called to do! Leave a lasting legacy and start today by going to take a nap!


OK... I'm going to go give the boy his bottle and take a NAP! :) YIPPEE!

#31 - NOISE CHECK

Good Morning. 
You know those mornings when you have a lot to do? You are kinda in a hurry? The mornings when you just don't even think about it, but you expect everything to just go as planned. Well.... this morning, IN THE PAST (moving forward it's going to be perfect, IN JESUS NAME) 45 minutes, my morning has been interesting. Laptop #1 battery.... no juice.... try to rig up for cord to reach to my Quiet Time spot... nope. So, go to Laptop #2... go re-rig Laptop #1 to put Pandora on inside with Tyler's Worship Music station, begin with Laptop #2 outside at "MY" Quiet Time spot. 2 minutes, BLACK. Laptop #2, out of juice. (I'm so excited to upgrade this laptop....it's about 10 years young. :) ) SO.... rig cord through the window, Laptop #1 - NOW WE ARE IN BUSINESS!!


So... what all that "rigger-morol", as they say in the south, I'm finally beginning. I actually considered not doing a post today. My parents and niece, Kassidy, will be here soon and I have some quick errands to run. Planned on a 30 minute post.... haha. It's been 45 minutes just dealing with laptops! HA! What do I say, "HA HA HA! I laugh at you Satan! HA HA HA!" lol! Funny. So, let's cut to the chase and roll on.... 

Proverbs 9:13 - The foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she [willfully and recklessly] knows nothing whatever [of eternal value].

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

When I first read Proverbs 9, the word noisy just kept jumping out at me. NOISY. NOISY. NOISY. I shudder at the word NOISY. Noise to me is equivalent to "Competition with the Holy Spirit." Noise. I anticipate the "noisy woman" was ranting and raving... being loud. The louder she could be the more likely others would miss listening to logic. Even before the Holy Spirit was given to us as a guide..... people in the Old Testament, or those before Jesus left earth, ALIVE, to be at the right hand of the Father.... though people were yet to have the BENEFIT of the Holy Spirit to guide them... they could still ask logic.... from past study of the holy Scriptures, from their experiences of what is right and wrong. What is according to the "law" back in that time. But, I anticipate the "noisy woman" was doing all she could to be loud enough where they couldn't even hear themselves think. NOISE. 


What is "NOISE" to you? To me, "noise" is TV. Brace yourself.... by choice, we haven't had cable in 10 years. Our whole married life we have not had cable. So American Idol, all the TV shows... etc, etc... our lives have not revolved around, "Oh, it's Monday night, my show is on." Or, "Oh, it's Wednesday night, gotta get home before my show starts." The Noise of TV, we have not missed it. I LOVE IT! To me, it feels like our home is always just peaceful. Whether it is just the peaceful sound of nothing.... of quiet. It is just peaceful. We may have Pandora streaming with worship music.... we may be playing a business CD, or success CD... we may be playing a ministry CD.... or, it may just be quiet. 


As I was asking the Holy Spirit, what Proverbs 31 verse would accompany our Proverbs 9 verse, He directed me to this one. He directed me to the woman who excels them all. I thought about what characteristics it talks about in Proverbs 31... she looks, she speaks, she makes things, she buys, she tastes & sees.... but, this verse, she excels all women! It says the foolish woman in Proverbs 9 is open to all forms of evil. I began to think about it... as our Proverbs 31 woman "looks well to how things go in her household"... and ultimately, she excels them all. I came to the conclusion that she is excelling this foolish woman, she must be protecting herself from being open to all forms of evil.


What would or could be forms of evil? Good question, glad you asked. Let's just cover a few:

• Busyness - BUSY - Being Under Satan's Yoke - Busyness could be a form of evil. Are you too busy? Does your "busyness" not leave you time to spend in the Word... to seek out God. Busyness is MOST DEFINITELY one of the plans of the wicked one to pull people of God away from their ultimate purpose and destiny. If he, Satan, can just keep people busy enough to not have time for God, then they are succeeding. I choose to no longer be "BUSY", but to now be divinely productive. :) 
• Bad Content - What are you taking in? Content... in-flow.... what is coming in? What TV shows are you watching? Are they streaming with lust, adultery, killing, murder, acceptance of abortion, homosexual relationships. Is the humor off color to a degree that would be embarrassing if your Pastor was sitting with you? If Jesus was sitting with you? What books are you reading? Websites are you visiting? Take an inventory.
• Idols - Idols could come in many forms. An idol is anything that you are putting before God. I was reminded yesterday when I visited some old co-workers. The Regional President of the bank I worked for asked me, "Amy, you're not one of those mom's that worships your child are you?" No. Tyler Jr is definitely #3 in my life. First God, 2nd my husband, 3rd my son. It could be easy for parents to idolize their children, or put them above their relationship with God.... especially when their live revolves around their kids. Running from this practice to that, flirting with the "BUSY" plan of the enemy. (Don't get me wrong, I'm all for kids activities, if they are directed from the Holy Spirit to be involved. The moment those "activities" pull everyone away from their relationship with their Father is the beginning of where the line would have to be for me.) Idols could come in the form of "working out", worshipping your own body and what you look like. 
• Witchcraft - The appearance of "witchcraft" is now more "appealing" looking. With the Harry Potter movies, the "fun" little spell books, and witchcraft items you can get at Barnes & Nobles... I'm sure all seem harmless. But it is the beginning of evil seeping in. Just worth looking deeper. I haven't seen the "weegy" boards (spelled wrong, but you know what I'm talking about)... those were somewhat common when I was growing up. I never played with one, but it was a way to be directed by "Satan". Literally. A game, things on the game would move and it was being done by evil spirits. All things to be very cautious about and to steer clear!
• Strife - Eliminate strife in your life. It can be a way the enemy can gain a foothold. Once strife enters, the enemy is present.  

There are SO many forms of evil. The most important thing we can do to avoid evil, is to continue to "meditate on the Word, day & night" to continue to check our motives. To check our intake. What is coming in. We have all heard this frequently, "What comes in, goes out." GIGO - Good In, Good Out. Is enough of the "good" coming in that even when bad happens, the good still goes out? 

Our Proverbs 31 woman has excelled them all. She most definitely did have some "checks" in her life. As we read... she looked well to how things when in her household, she did not partake in gossip, she spent time in the Word. All these things keeping her free from being open to all forms of evil.

I have to check myself also! We are still normal people. We rent movies, we use Netflix. We still have to check OUR walk. We recently stopped watching a movie series because it just continue to have a "not right" check in our spirit. We wanted to keep watching it. It was sooooo good. It drew us in. We wanted to see, "What happened to so-and-so in this episode?" And, we even knew of a very prominent minister that we knew of who followed this "show." Why could HE watch it and WE couldn't? Well... all I can say is this... the Holy Spirit is directing US in this matter, specifically this show. And the Holy Spirit may direct someone else differently. Dragging our feet, pouts on, we stopped watching the show. :-(  But out of obedience. The Holy Spirit knows best. 

Do a check this today. What is the "NOISE" in your life today? Is there any? What is in the danger zone for you? Is anything getting close to opening you to all forms of evil? 

Do a NOISE CHECK today. 

#29 - The Time is Now

Happy 4th of July from The McCart's! 

Freedom, Unity, Patriotism, Love, Faithfulness, Sacrifice, Service, Duty, Independence... Some Gave All.

Veterans, we honor you, we love you, we thank you. 

The Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave. 

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

Good morning! It's a beautiful day here in South Carolina on this Tuesday morning! The week will end with a bang because my parents and niece Kassidy will be here! YIPPEE!!! :) Tyler Jr is excited to see them! Tell me, is that boy in the pix cute or what?!? Doll baby! That's all I've got to say. I wish he was smiling, but that's ok. :) 

So... you got past the "censored" post from yesterday?!?! Whew!!! Today's post will definitely be one that isn't so ..... hmmmmm.... what would we call it...... borderline?! Well... we are all adults here, and for those who watch TV or listen to secular music we hear and see the world talking about things all the time.... so from a Christian point of view, I think it is good to look at what the Word says about every topic. The world can often make things look polluted or perverted.... but like one comment said yesterday, God meant it for good! 

Let's go ahead and jump into things this morning....

Proverbs 6:20-22 - My son, keep your father's [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you]. Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck. When you go, they [the words of your parents' God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you.

Proverbs 31:11 - The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

Who is our Proverbs 31 friend? She is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a grand-mother. She is the Matriarch. The female leader of her family. In submission to her husband (if she is married), she leads the family in many areas. The children answer to the mother. The mother answers ultimately to the father, her husband, the Patriarch of the family. 


With our Proverbs 31 woman, why is the idea of "submission" not an abused term in her household? Because her husband trusts in her confidently. He not only trusts in her, but he relies on her. Even the idea of "relying on someone" shows a sign of dependence. He can not do everything on his own, nor does he want too. There are responsibilities and obligations that he is expecting & needing the help of his wife. This Matriarch of the family. She has strengths that are not his own. She moves with grace. She astounds her husband and he is utterly thankful for her. As a mother & wife, she not only is moving around taking care of the children, feeding them, nurturing them, caring for them, but she is also doing the same for her husband. 


Our Proverbs 6 verses discuss that of our Proverbs 31 mother teaching her children the ways, disciplines & attributes of God. She is teaching her children the law of God. Our Proverbs 31 woman is a teacher to her children. She TEACHES them the ways of God. She teaches them what it means to walk with the Lord. She TEACHES them spiritual principles. The busyness of life does not get in her way of TEACHING her children what is most important. And her husband is RELYING ON her to teach them. He knows of her depth in her relationship with the Lord, he knows that she is more than capable to teach their children, he completely TRUSTS IN her ability to teach them and raise them up in a godly manner. 


Teaching children is not merely a "Sunday" activity. It does not say, "Mother's allow the Sunday School teachers to teach your children each week at church." It is a responsibility given to the mother's & father's. It is something to be done continually. So much so that the Holy Spirit and the Word is a constant reminder to you as you go about your daily dealings. Imagine a big necklace or hanging a book around your neck.... you would be constantly reminded as it flops and moves as you go about your day. That is how the Word should be. The goal would be to get to a place in your walk with the Lord that you have spent time meditating upon His Word. As you move through your day, you hear the "checks" or see the "red flags" as the Holy Spirit is prompting you and moving you to do what HE wants. You are communing with Him all day long. You are listening to His Voice all day long. You have planned out your day, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and when or if there are any cross roads in your day, you are automatically able to look to Him for guidance. He is your Guide. If you had never been on a safari in a jungle, you had never experienced wild animals, tigers, snakes, bears, wild boar, gorilla's, hippo's... if you had never come in contact with them, you would most definitely listen to your guide, the expert. One who has studied, lived about them, experienced them. The same is true with the Holy Spirit. He already knows the end before it even begins. He knows the best way to get there IF you are willing to "hang it about your neck." Keep HIM at the forefront. Do a HS check. Randomly in your day, take a moment to ask Him, "Is this the direction I am suppose to be going right now? Would you change anything? Should I do or go somewhere else right now?" If you practice the art of listening, you will hear His Voice. 


BENEFITS: I'm going to include some of the Hebrew text here in parenthesis. "When you go, they shall lead (to lead, guide) you. When you sleep, they shall keep (to guard, protect, save life, perserve, to keep oneself, obstain, reserve, celebrate) you. When you awake, they shall talk (meditate upon, put forth thoughts, sing, study, commune) with you." 


Imagine, the words of the Lord that you choose to put into your heart can save your life! These words can help you be celebrated in your life. These words will give you direction, they will guide you when you may be unsure in your "SELF" which way to go.... these words will lead you!


Benefits to following! Definitely. 


PARTING THOUGHTS:
Mom's (and Dad's).... take the time to teach your children throughout the day. Maybe begin to incorporate a family Bible study. It may be talking to them about God at different points in the day. It may be teaching them some Bible stories and telling them or asking them how they think the lesson could be applied in their lives. Get them thinking. It may be something as simple as praying with them when they wake up & when they go to bed. Asking God to give them a great day, praying Psalms 91 protection, praying that God would teach them and speak to them and draw them into a closer walk with Him throughout their day. Mom, it calls you to be the TEACHER. Take responsibility to teach your child. Sunday School is the "cherry on top." You do not have to be a "Bible Scholar" to teach your child. Check out your local Christian bookstore. I'm confident they have resources that can assist you and open up dialog with your children. A family devotional. Reading stories with them from books like the "Dream-Giver"... your children will look forward to it! Story time with mom! :)


Grandma (and Grandpa).... did you miss it with your children? Or are they just out now, on their own. It is not to late to continue to make a difference. How can you help? Take time to pray for them. Prayer changes things. If you are able, share with them what you are learning in the Lord. Ask them if there are things that you can pray for them about. Draw them in to a closer relationship with the God you know. Are they not raising their children up in the Lord? Grandma, take the opportunity to share stories with your grand-children when you are with them. Share about God's love. Share about God's grace and mercy. God's blessings. Share stories that will raise their belief & hope. Your grandchildren will look back when they are older and remember the stories that grandma told about Jesus. About the 10 talents. About Ruth & Naomi. About Boaz. They will look back and remember wanting to go to grandma's house so that she could finish reading about Ordinary and the Land of Familiar ("Dream-Giver"). Help create a hunger in your grandchildren. 


Now is the time to make a difference. Now is the time to teach your children. Now is the time to teach your grandchildren. Because, as the Word promises in Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 


Train them up. Teach them the way they should go. The time is NOW.