Since I haven't had a chance to comment on the blogs of our new members, I'm extending the "Meet and Greet" contest deadline to Monday morning 8am.
The prize, a NEW Love Inspired Suspense 2006...good quick read for busy moms. :)
So on Monday, email me with the names of the blogs you visited and commented on, and I'll announce the winner that evening.
And the winner of Tricia Goyer's book, Arms of Deliverance is Pieces of Me. Just email me your info. so I can send your book.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
We're 30!
Thirty members! Thirty Christian writer moms in our group. Wow! That's incredible!
So in honor of this milestone I'm issuing a "meet and greet." Otherwise known as go visit someone's blog you don't really know and comment away!
Let's have a contest to see how many new blogs we can visit in a day, to qualify you have to leave a comment! And commenting on my site earns you two points. Why? Because I'm the webring owner! Hee hee hee!
You're on the honor system and the contest starts now and ends 8 pm Saturday night!
The prize? Well, I'll see what book I can give up from my book shelf! Sorry, I'm not made of money. Haven't sold my WIP, yet? :)
And I haven't forgotten the OTHER contest. I'll be drawing the winner for Tricia's latest book this weekend.
Stay tuned!
So in honor of this milestone I'm issuing a "meet and greet." Otherwise known as go visit someone's blog you don't really know and comment away!
Let's have a contest to see how many new blogs we can visit in a day, to qualify you have to leave a comment! And commenting on my site earns you two points. Why? Because I'm the webring owner! Hee hee hee!
You're on the honor system and the contest starts now and ends 8 pm Saturday night!
The prize? Well, I'll see what book I can give up from my book shelf! Sorry, I'm not made of money. Haven't sold my WIP, yet? :)
And I haven't forgotten the OTHER contest. I'll be drawing the winner for Tricia's latest book this weekend.
Stay tuned!
The Orchard Tradition
Nothing says September like our annual fall trips to the orchard. I eye the fruit-laden trees seeing quart jars of chunky applesauce, while my children’s taste buds remember last year's free-for-all! Between them, they wrestle the long handle of the unwieldy apple picker hoping that this rosy-blushed specimen wins “pick of the day.”Honey-crisp, Macoun, Rome Beauty, Pink Lady, Gingergold,
Take your camera along for those postcard moments of the ones you love peeking back at you through the bowery of apples and leaves. At last, when the mid-western heat is at its peak, head to the grape arbor and relax with an icy cider slush.
Pierre Charles Baudleaire once said, “A book is a garden, an orchard, a party…” I say, everyone’s family “book" should have several pages of orchard tradition. What are you waiting for? The scent of apples is on the air!
Mary is an old-fashioned thirty-something wife, homeschooler, and aspiring writer. Her blog, Home-steeped Hope, feeds her love/pursuit of the written non-fiction word while her women's fiction "dreams" wait TBR (to be revised)...
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Special Kids with Special Needs
At my first check up during my third pregnancy, my doctor offered an ultrasound. I agreed, excited at the prospect of seeing my new baby for the first time. Well, when the doctor swiveled around and wielded what looked like a small rocket launcher for a doppler, I knew my life was about to change.Our first glimpse was beautiful, of course. Then the doctor asked me, How's your heart? I don't mind telling you, I knew right then and there he could not see my heart with that thing! So, I asked him, why? And he said, Because there's two!!
Well, I had been right. The adventures have not slowed since. At eighteen months it was very clear my boys had their own twin language. this language overrode their normal speech development--well, that and their two interpreters (read: big sisters). At four years of age, we had them tested and discovered a two year speech delay. Off the boys went to a preschool program for children with disabilities (PPCD). By the middle of their second year in this program, we were experiencing more turbulence than we could have ever anticipated. And trust me--with two boys coming in direct succession after two girls, we thought we were prepared.
Ryan suddenly had violent-aggressive meltdowns in class. Reagan was mostly sucking his thumb and hiding under tables when he was mad. As a psychology major I recognized some earmarks of Asperger's syndrome--yet, the boys had no problems with social interaction (um...when they weren't angry LOL). To make a long journey short, just today we met with the school team to consider placing the boys back into the mainstream schools in the hopes of getting them on track with their speech, their coping skills (yes, really!), and academia.
Part of me feels like a bad mother. Why haven't I done more? What could I have done to prevent this from happening (nothing!!)? Wouldn't a good mother "tough it out" and work through all the issues?
Well, I've come to realize that while God has definitely gifted me with a special way of working with children, there is a limit to my expertise. I realize there are advocates out there for both sides of this issue--and that is not my intent here. My intent is to realize that at times, we have limits. Without the ability to recongize those limits, we may end up in a heap of trouble. We must also examine what God asks of us, and then once we know that truth, we must offer absolute surrender to His will. That's not easy. But it is vital to a fulfilled life. God knows what's best for my children. If I trust him, then I know that my family will make it.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
WFMW: Choosing curriculum
The natural reaction of most beginning home school parents is to run out and buy a curriculum. The thinking behind this is that "I, the parent, have no idea what I need to teach my child so I need to rely on outside help." The trouble with this is two-fold. First it is expensive--a basic reading curriculum can cost upwards of $100. Two, it is likely that the curriculum will not suit either the child's learning style, the parent's teaching style, the family's lifestyle, or all of the above. It is impossible to find the perfect curriculum and even if you find one that works perfectly for yourself and one child it is highly unlikely that it will suit the needs of the second child. For the most part the curriculum business makes a pretty penny because parent's will move from one "perfect" curriculum to the next trying to fill the needs of all involved. One of two things eventually happens, either the family quits home schooling in frustration or the family adjusts gradually, taking bits and pieces of the failed curriculums and creating that which is suitable to each child's needs. In the end you end up spending hundreds of dollars to develop your own curriculum.
If you really feel you must get a full curriculum, research, research, research. First find out what your child needs to know at each grade level, both on the state level and from your personal point of view. For this information look on-line or check out one of the many books on the subject. Next, ask every home school parent you can find the pros and cons of what they use. Look online, there are plenty of resources and articles that can give you all the background you need on any curriculum. Borrow some and try them out (often you can do this either by talking to fellow home schoolers or visiting a local home school group.) Some churches and schools will even lend a hand. In Pennsylvania the school district is required to supply home schoolers with the texts used within the district. If your state does this take them up on the offer, you can discover what works and what doesn't before you run out and purchase a curriculum that doesn't suit your needs.
Watch yard sales and thrift shops. I find some great old text books and activity books this way. If you purchase 20 text and activity books for $.10 a piece you can't go wrong, even if you only learn what you aren't looking for.
Make friends with teachers. I come from a teaching family. All my parents friends were teachers so I not only ended up going to school to teach but also made many friends that are teachers. Public school teachers are often initially weary of home schoolers, from their point of view you are saying that they can't do their job right so you, an uncertified teacher, are taking their place. If you show that you are educating yourself, willing to learn from their experience, and not only respect them but are trying to do what they are, the best thing for your child, they will come around. Be friendly and ask questions. Having teachers for friends are one of a home schoolers best resources. A seasoned teacher has probably run into many of the problems you are running into with your own child and will be able to look at it from a different point of view. Also, teachers love to share lesson plans and motivation ideas and will be thrilled to have another to share with.Search out other home schoolers. Having friends that home school is great as you not only have people to commiserate with but also to share experiences with. If you must you could join a home school group or just form a loose get-together-every-so-often group of friends to share resources and field trips with.
In the end, before you even think curriculum, figure out your style, your child's style, your family style, discuss what you think will work, test out some different philosophies and curriculums, and pray, pray, pray. May the Lord guide you towards the wisest course of action for you and your household.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Writing Tips from an Apostle
I love to read about the Apostle Paul. I memorize his words, drink up his theology, and try to emulate his passion.
Simply put, Paul is my favorite writer. And as I was studying one of his letters recently, I realized that he has much to teach aspiring authors, especially those of us who want to glorify God through our work.
In Colossians 3, Paul gives nine tips (quoted from Eugene Peterson’s Bible paraphrase The Message, p. 428-429) that have helped me immensely as a writer:
1. Be content with obscurity. What wanna-be writer hasn’t dreamed of six-figure advances, bidding wars and movie-of-the-week deals? Yet Paul says the way to peace is to be happy doing what you’re doing—for the sheer pleasure of it.
2. Cultivate thankfulness. Often, I tend to see my writing life as a life of “have not’s”: I have not gotten a stellar book contract yet, and I have not made much money from this endeavor. Yet—I have the freedom to write (not a small thing, after 9/11), the joy of putting my ideas on paper, and the pleasure of seeing them in print in magazines.
3. Do your best. If I strive to be the most excellent writer I can be, my work will get noticed . . . eventually.
4. Wear love. Not many angry writers get published. Oh, there are the few exceptions, but the general rule is that editors don’t like to publish—and, therefore, put up with--divas. When I approach editors the way I’d like to be treated, (another Biblical concept) I find them much more willing to work with me, and even hand me future assignments.
5. Be gracious in speech. I recently got a rejection from a magazine after I’d sent them two rewrites on an article. I nursed my wounded pride for a while, and then called to ask graciously, “Could you give me a reason for this?”
6. Stay alert. As we all know, the market is constantly changing. I must stay abreast of trends through magazines, conferences and the Internet.
7. Bring out the best in others. When I was a pre-teen, I had an uncle in publishing who showed me how to get started. Now I like to mentor aspiring writers. Helping others is part of yet another biblical mandate: “To whom much is given, much is required.”
8. Pray all the time. Paul doesn’t have to remind me about this one—I pray when I’m writing (“Oh, please give me the words”), when I’m re-writing (“Oh, give me the other words!”), and after I’ve submitted (“Please don’t let them hate this”) Sometimes I feel a bit like Sally Field receiving her Oscar (“They like me!”) when I tear open an envelope and find an acceptance letter—but I’m also praying, “Thank you!”
9. Don’t suppress the Spirit. While Paul is talking to his fellow Christians about the
Holy Spirit, I also believe all writers must work to avoid suppressing our own
spirits—our personalities--when an editor asks us to rework a piece. We must let our own voices ring!
Whether he was exhorting, rebuking or affirming his readers, Paul definitely had a distinctive tone--which is something I am working on in my own writing.
My favorite "Paul passage" has an encouraging tone. God led me to it one evening after I had gotten three rejections in the same week, all from publishers I was longing to work with. From I Thessalonians 5: "God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ . . . So speak [or write!] encouraging words to one another. Build up hope, so you'll all be together in this . . . Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens . . .The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He'll do it!" (The Message)
So write like there's no tomorrow, pray constantly, and remember: what He said, He'll do—even through you.
Dena Dyer
www.denadyer.com
www.denadyer.typepad.com (Amazing Grace-land, my blog)
Simply put, Paul is my favorite writer. And as I was studying one of his letters recently, I realized that he has much to teach aspiring authors, especially those of us who want to glorify God through our work.
In Colossians 3, Paul gives nine tips (quoted from Eugene Peterson’s Bible paraphrase The Message, p. 428-429) that have helped me immensely as a writer:
1. Be content with obscurity. What wanna-be writer hasn’t dreamed of six-figure advances, bidding wars and movie-of-the-week deals? Yet Paul says the way to peace is to be happy doing what you’re doing—for the sheer pleasure of it.
2. Cultivate thankfulness. Often, I tend to see my writing life as a life of “have not’s”: I have not gotten a stellar book contract yet, and I have not made much money from this endeavor. Yet—I have the freedom to write (not a small thing, after 9/11), the joy of putting my ideas on paper, and the pleasure of seeing them in print in magazines.
3. Do your best. If I strive to be the most excellent writer I can be, my work will get noticed . . . eventually.
4. Wear love. Not many angry writers get published. Oh, there are the few exceptions, but the general rule is that editors don’t like to publish—and, therefore, put up with--divas. When I approach editors the way I’d like to be treated, (another Biblical concept) I find them much more willing to work with me, and even hand me future assignments.
5. Be gracious in speech. I recently got a rejection from a magazine after I’d sent them two rewrites on an article. I nursed my wounded pride for a while, and then called to ask graciously, “Could you give me a reason for this?”
6. Stay alert. As we all know, the market is constantly changing. I must stay abreast of trends through magazines, conferences and the Internet.
7. Bring out the best in others. When I was a pre-teen, I had an uncle in publishing who showed me how to get started. Now I like to mentor aspiring writers. Helping others is part of yet another biblical mandate: “To whom much is given, much is required.”
8. Pray all the time. Paul doesn’t have to remind me about this one—I pray when I’m writing (“Oh, please give me the words”), when I’m re-writing (“Oh, give me the other words!”), and after I’ve submitted (“Please don’t let them hate this”) Sometimes I feel a bit like Sally Field receiving her Oscar (“They like me!”) when I tear open an envelope and find an acceptance letter—but I’m also praying, “Thank you!”
9. Don’t suppress the Spirit. While Paul is talking to his fellow Christians about the
Holy Spirit, I also believe all writers must work to avoid suppressing our own
spirits—our personalities--when an editor asks us to rework a piece. We must let our own voices ring!
Whether he was exhorting, rebuking or affirming his readers, Paul definitely had a distinctive tone--which is something I am working on in my own writing.
My favorite "Paul passage" has an encouraging tone. God led me to it one evening after I had gotten three rejections in the same week, all from publishers I was longing to work with. From I Thessalonians 5: "God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ . . . So speak [or write!] encouraging words to one another. Build up hope, so you'll all be together in this . . . Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens . . .The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He'll do it!" (The Message)
So write like there's no tomorrow, pray constantly, and remember: what He said, He'll do—even through you.
Dena Dyer
www.denadyer.com
www.denadyer.typepad.com (Amazing Grace-land, my blog)
Monday, September 04, 2006
Jesus, Take the Wheel
I’m in a season right now where God is reminding me (on an almost hourly basis) of how very little control of my life I have. You see, as a Type A, that is a very scary and uncomfortable position. I mellowed a bit in my twenties (working full time while going to law school five nights a week will do that to a gal), and thought I was doing really well now that I’m in my early 30s.
But two small kids, homeschooling, working three days (yeah, right. This week it was quite a bit more), trying to be a good wife, stay on top of the house, minister through Women’s Ministry and Sunday School, pretend I have a friend or two – I’m wiped out and spiraling out of control. Throw in teaching a class at Purdue this summer, writing manuscripts, a blog, running a state chapter of ACFW, the upcoming conference. I am so out of control it’s not even funny.
And I can sense my Father smiling as I type this. He’s whispered in my ear all year that new things are coming. The sense of expectation I have is huge. But the reality is I’m stuck juggling all the same balls with a couple more added in for fun. Yet that soft whisper speaks to my heart.
“I’m doing something new. Don’t look backwards. Look to the future. I am making the way.” (Isaiah 43:18-19). That passage has become such a comfort to me the last few weeks. I want God to move on my time table. To act even faster than I hope. Yet, He says, “I’m doing it. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the ride.”
He’s also whispering I Peter 3:4 to my heart. “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” I am not a quiet spirit. That’s why I’m such a good attorney and pretty good teacher. I don’t mind being front and center, thinking on my feet and taking whatever anyone wants to throw my way.
But I have a feeling God is most interested in how I handle the wait while He arranges the next steps of my path. So I will try to quiet my spirit. To rest in the knowledge that He is in control, He is the God who makes the impossible possible, and that He loves me so much more than I could ever fathom.
And I will also breath into the embers of expectation. And listen to the whisper that says, “I see you, I care, and I am moving on your behalf.”
Cara Putman has a blog The Law, Books, & Life and plays Jake Tremaine at Scenes & Beans, the character blog for Brandilyn Collins latest release Violet Dawn. She is blessed to live in Indiana with her husband, two children and a very patient dog named Mason.
But two small kids, homeschooling, working three days (yeah, right. This week it was quite a bit more), trying to be a good wife, stay on top of the house, minister through Women’s Ministry and Sunday School, pretend I have a friend or two – I’m wiped out and spiraling out of control. Throw in teaching a class at Purdue this summer, writing manuscripts, a blog, running a state chapter of ACFW, the upcoming conference. I am so out of control it’s not even funny.
And I can sense my Father smiling as I type this. He’s whispered in my ear all year that new things are coming. The sense of expectation I have is huge. But the reality is I’m stuck juggling all the same balls with a couple more added in for fun. Yet that soft whisper speaks to my heart.
“I’m doing something new. Don’t look backwards. Look to the future. I am making the way.” (Isaiah 43:18-19). That passage has become such a comfort to me the last few weeks. I want God to move on my time table. To act even faster than I hope. Yet, He says, “I’m doing it. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the ride.”
He’s also whispering I Peter 3:4 to my heart. “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” I am not a quiet spirit. That’s why I’m such a good attorney and pretty good teacher. I don’t mind being front and center, thinking on my feet and taking whatever anyone wants to throw my way.
But I have a feeling God is most interested in how I handle the wait while He arranges the next steps of my path. So I will try to quiet my spirit. To rest in the knowledge that He is in control, He is the God who makes the impossible possible, and that He loves me so much more than I could ever fathom.
And I will also breath into the embers of expectation. And listen to the whisper that says, “I see you, I care, and I am moving on your behalf.”
Cara Putman has a blog The Law, Books, & Life and plays Jake Tremaine at Scenes & Beans, the character blog for Brandilyn Collins latest release Violet Dawn. She is blessed to live in Indiana with her husband, two children and a very patient dog named Mason.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Stage or Altar?
© Staci Stallings
Plastic Christians. You know the kind. They know all the words, spout all the rules, sing all the songs, join everything, and they look really good doing it, too. Their suits are pressed. Their ties are straight. Their dresses are the mint of modesty. And yet, it all seems too good, too perfect. All plastic, no feeling.
Recently I came face-to-face with the plastic Christian in me. Oh, she talked a good game. To the world, she looked good in her deeds. She was no doubt Christian, but plastic nonetheless.
You see, deeds done out of fear of being found less than the perfect Christian are dead deeds--no matter how good they look. A song I heard by Casting Crowns puts it this way:
"Am I the only one that's traded in the altar for a stage?"
Now before you jump on the bandwagon of spirit-bashing the choir or the readers or those in other visible ministries, I suggest as Jesus said, that you look first at yourself. If you are without sin here, then you may cast a stone.
These words are not talking about the more visible ministries in the church. They are not meant to say, never sing in the choir, never volunteer for a visible ministry. They invite you to look at WHY you are joining whatever you're in. More than that, they are talking about you and your walk every day with Christ. Is it a performance or a sacrifice? Are you on the stage or on the altar?
If you're not sure, from experience, ministry of performance looks like this: you say all the right words, but your heart feels very few of them. You read the Bible religiously, go to church without fail, you can recite all the rules and the prayers as well--but it all feels empty as if you are going through all the motions because that's what's expected. You join the organizations, help with the youth, volunteer for every fundraiser, attend classes, teach classes. You serve and serve and serve until you've got no more to give, and then you find a way to give some more. You feel burned out and used up, and yet there are still people hurting, still more you should give. You want to live out the Christian life, but the reality for you is, it's tiring work.
That's performance. Performance is going on your own ability, choosing the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil over resting in the Tree of Life.
Things look and feel very different when you're on the altar. When you're on the altar, the comprehension of your smallness when compared with God's enormity is reassuring--not judgmental, frightening, and depressing. You suddenly realize you can't, but He can. That understanding frees you to jump into situations where failure in the world's eyes is a very real possibility, but even if you fail when He whispered the task on your heart, you know that somehow from His perspective, even that failure is a victory. Better, you trust that it's a victory and move forward in confidence--not because you think you can do it, but because you know you don't have to--He will.
On the altar when you read the Bible, you read it because it's fascinating, because you hear Him speaking to you through it--not because you have to or because you're supposed to. Prayers might be memorized or they might well be, "Hey, God. It's me, so glad You're here." Either way, they feel like a personal friendship rather than an empty exercise in pleasing a God you suspect will never be pleased no matter how much you do.
On the altar, you let go of the driving need to prove anything to anybody. You just are. You open your life to Him, just as a sacrificed animal on the altar is cut open, so are you. In a very real way, you die to who you were, to your own ability, to your own performance. Impressing others pales in comparison with being real and being honest about your fears, about your failures, and about who you really are. You suddenly have no desire to wear the mask of plastic Christianity, and the more it is stripped away by His loving, accepting presence, the more you begin to allow others in your presence to remove theirs.
As I thought about the concept of stage or altar, performance or sacrifice, the story of Cain and Abel slid into my consciousness. Has there ever been a more perfect example of what performance-based Christianity leads to?
There's Cain tilling his little performance heart out, thinking how pleased God is going to be with this offering and being pretty pleased with his offering before it even gets to God. How could God not be impressed? After all, Cain reserved the best of his harvest for the Lord. But when he presents the offering to God, God shrugs. Instantly Cain gets angry. How dare the Lord not fawn over his offering!
Then, in walks Abel who presents his offering to the Lord. Abel, innocent, trusting, a sacrifice personified. And the Lord is pleased with Abel's gift. This infuriates Cain who rises up, and in his jealousy and anger, kills his brother.
Are you Cain in your Christian walk? Do you look around and become envious of someone else's service, of someone else's gifts? Do you judge those who aren't as Christian as they should be? Are you completely sure that God will accept your gifts over someone else's because yours are so obviously better? Do you work for God, or does God work through you?
Take it from someone who was on that stage for far too long: It's a lonely, miserable, rotten place to be. Moreover, as scary as being on the altar sounds, the freedom it affords is worth every spotlight you have to give up.
So, are you on the stage or the altar?
(For Reprint Rights to this Article, email staci_stallings@hotmail.com)
*~* Read the first three chapters of Staci's newest release "Cowboy" at: You'll feel better for the experience!
Plastic Christians. You know the kind. They know all the words, spout all the rules, sing all the songs, join everything, and they look really good doing it, too. Their suits are pressed. Their ties are straight. Their dresses are the mint of modesty. And yet, it all seems too good, too perfect. All plastic, no feeling.
Recently I came face-to-face with the plastic Christian in me. Oh, she talked a good game. To the world, she looked good in her deeds. She was no doubt Christian, but plastic nonetheless.
You see, deeds done out of fear of being found less than the perfect Christian are dead deeds--no matter how good they look. A song I heard by Casting Crowns puts it this way:
"Am I the only one that's traded in the altar for a stage?"
Now before you jump on the bandwagon of spirit-bashing the choir or the readers or those in other visible ministries, I suggest as Jesus said, that you look first at yourself. If you are without sin here, then you may cast a stone.
These words are not talking about the more visible ministries in the church. They are not meant to say, never sing in the choir, never volunteer for a visible ministry. They invite you to look at WHY you are joining whatever you're in. More than that, they are talking about you and your walk every day with Christ. Is it a performance or a sacrifice? Are you on the stage or on the altar?
If you're not sure, from experience, ministry of performance looks like this: you say all the right words, but your heart feels very few of them. You read the Bible religiously, go to church without fail, you can recite all the rules and the prayers as well--but it all feels empty as if you are going through all the motions because that's what's expected. You join the organizations, help with the youth, volunteer for every fundraiser, attend classes, teach classes. You serve and serve and serve until you've got no more to give, and then you find a way to give some more. You feel burned out and used up, and yet there are still people hurting, still more you should give. You want to live out the Christian life, but the reality for you is, it's tiring work.
That's performance. Performance is going on your own ability, choosing the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil over resting in the Tree of Life.
Things look and feel very different when you're on the altar. When you're on the altar, the comprehension of your smallness when compared with God's enormity is reassuring--not judgmental, frightening, and depressing. You suddenly realize you can't, but He can. That understanding frees you to jump into situations where failure in the world's eyes is a very real possibility, but even if you fail when He whispered the task on your heart, you know that somehow from His perspective, even that failure is a victory. Better, you trust that it's a victory and move forward in confidence--not because you think you can do it, but because you know you don't have to--He will.
On the altar when you read the Bible, you read it because it's fascinating, because you hear Him speaking to you through it--not because you have to or because you're supposed to. Prayers might be memorized or they might well be, "Hey, God. It's me, so glad You're here." Either way, they feel like a personal friendship rather than an empty exercise in pleasing a God you suspect will never be pleased no matter how much you do.
On the altar, you let go of the driving need to prove anything to anybody. You just are. You open your life to Him, just as a sacrificed animal on the altar is cut open, so are you. In a very real way, you die to who you were, to your own ability, to your own performance. Impressing others pales in comparison with being real and being honest about your fears, about your failures, and about who you really are. You suddenly have no desire to wear the mask of plastic Christianity, and the more it is stripped away by His loving, accepting presence, the more you begin to allow others in your presence to remove theirs.
As I thought about the concept of stage or altar, performance or sacrifice, the story of Cain and Abel slid into my consciousness. Has there ever been a more perfect example of what performance-based Christianity leads to?
There's Cain tilling his little performance heart out, thinking how pleased God is going to be with this offering and being pretty pleased with his offering before it even gets to God. How could God not be impressed? After all, Cain reserved the best of his harvest for the Lord. But when he presents the offering to God, God shrugs. Instantly Cain gets angry. How dare the Lord not fawn over his offering!
Then, in walks Abel who presents his offering to the Lord. Abel, innocent, trusting, a sacrifice personified. And the Lord is pleased with Abel's gift. This infuriates Cain who rises up, and in his jealousy and anger, kills his brother.
Are you Cain in your Christian walk? Do you look around and become envious of someone else's service, of someone else's gifts? Do you judge those who aren't as Christian as they should be? Are you completely sure that God will accept your gifts over someone else's because yours are so obviously better? Do you work for God, or does God work through you?
Take it from someone who was on that stage for far too long: It's a lonely, miserable, rotten place to be. Moreover, as scary as being on the altar sounds, the freedom it affords is worth every spotlight you have to give up.
So, are you on the stage or the altar?
(For Reprint Rights to this Article, email staci_stallings@hotmail.com)
*~* Read the first three chapters of Staci's newest release "Cowboy" at: You'll feel better for the experience!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
I Give Up
There's no need to explain all the things that went wrong today. The picture says it all, doesn't it? She's had a day just like mine. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Am I supposed to always feel so on edge? What is wrong with me? Is this what life abundant looks like?
Oh how I struggled with stress. I tried to balance my husband, my child, schedules, meals, lessons, church, Sunday School, Women's Group, extended family, friends, birthdays, picnics, Scouts, Gymnastics...I'm stressing myself out just thinking about it.
"I need to get organized," I said to myself. That'll fix it. I bought planners, downloaded charts, and made lists. Then life stepped in and opened its gigantic ugly mouth, chewed up all that hard work and had the nerve to spit it out in pieces all over my clean floor!! I promptly retreated to my special and quiet place to have a good cry. I locked the door, flung the seat down, plopped on the toilet and buried my face in my hands.
"Mommy, there's something wrong in the living room," my son said. I heard his face on the door. I'm sure he was leaning against it with his ear pressed flat while he waited for my response.
"Are you bleeding?" I asked.
"No," he said.
"I'll be there in a minute," I said.
"But Mommy," he whined.
"I need to finish, I'll be there in a minute."
"Oh," he said, "Are you pooping?"
You're laughing at me, aren't you? As if you've never had it happen. Totally ruined the good cry and now I was just angry and thoughts raced through my head. I stomped to the living room and saw what was wrong.
The screen of the TV was filled with static and my child was sitting on the floor watching it.I thought to myself, if "they're heeeere..." they may want to go back. They did not want to deal with me today! All I needed was for the cable to go out because that meant my cable internet was out as well. How could I submit before my deadline with the cable out?
I told my son to put in a movie and I went to my office on the dining room table and tried to find the phone. We had decided months ago to disable our land line and use only our cell phones to save money. It was a good decision at the time, Okay? I moved stacks of unread books, papers, crayons, and swept chip crumbs to the floor. I wonder if anyone else had a dining room table that looks this way? Probably not.
As I spilled glitter, I realized my dear husband had my cell phone because he lost his. He drives a dump truck and works on road construction sites. He's pretty sure his phone is buried somewhere on westbound Interstate 94 just east of Chicago.
No phone. No internet. What a bad day!
I sat down hard and buried my head in my hands again. "I give up," I yelled.
"What did you say Mommy?" My son yelled back from the living room.
"I said, 'I give up!'" I yelled again.
He ran into the dining room, his eyes full of excitement. "Can I, too, Mommy?"
"What? Can you what, honey?"
"Can I 'give up' too," he said.
My heart sunk. Great. Look what I'm teaching the kid. I'm a great mom, huh? I didn't quite understand why he looked so excited, though. He just stared at me wide-eyed with anticipation. He must have seen the furrow of my brow because he explained, "God always sends blessings and stuff down to us, what are we giving up to Him today Mommy?"
So. What is it that you need to give up today?
~michelle
My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words
Psalm 39:3
Michelle Pendergrass is a coffee-lover who lives in Knox, Indiana where she homeschools her son, Zane. She blogs at Just A Minute. When you visit, please note that her son is most definitely weaned and has been for some time now. Some names just stick.
©2006 Michelle L. Pendergrass - All Rights Reserved
Friday, September 01, 2006
The Way They Play
Cynthia H. Green
@2006 Beneath the Ivy Wreath posted originally Wednesday, July 12th as Just Do It
My son has gone nearly seven years without knowing the thrill of computing
gaming. That spell was broken by the introduction of Bejeweled. In some ways
it has been a great diversion for him when he is sick and unable to go
outside. In other ways, I fear it contributes to the reproduction of the
American Couch Potato. This past birthday his dad got him a Gameboy. A
cousin gave him a Star Wars game for Christmas. This summer his dad found a
Playstation at a garage sale. A recent stay with his uncle garnered the boy
an Atari. And now he's taken over the laptop. Where will it end?
Most recently CWGIII has gotten an 8x16 log cabin playhouse with a red tin
roof. This was part of his inheritance from my mom. I fancied him spending
hours inside it -- pretending to be Davey Crockett or Daniel Boone. His aunt
is coming Friday to do some upgrading on it. She has some leftover paneling
from a remodeling project. Daddy also says we're wiring it for electricity.
So much for roughing it. I now imagine him sitting inside -- or laid out on
a bunk -- coolly sipping his KoolAid and playing video games. Not the
scenario I would prefer.
What happened to imagination and necessity being the mother of invention? What happened to improvisation and creativity, playing in the dirt and fort building? Maybe we should ban the electronics to winter time usage and long road trips. I can hear the moaning and whining now.
Yes, I want my son to be computer literate and electronically hip. Yes, I
want him to be able to keep up with the trends of the tech world. But I also
want him to have fond memories of old-fashioned summers. But I fear they've
gone the way of the typewriter. Now it's dangerous to even be out in the sun
without sunblock. Now you can hardly let your children play outside for more
than 10 minutes alone without checking to make sure they haven't been
abducted. Now you have to wonder about all the mutated germs that could take
over his body via a cut or scrape.
Maybe I'm too overprotective about some of those things. Maybe I should be turning off the radio, the television, the video games, and heading out WITH him to a museum, an old cemetery, a fishing pond, or maybe just out to the playhouse for a picnic. Er...hmmm. I just hope it's not too hot.
@2006 Beneath the Ivy Wreath posted originally Wednesday, July 12th as Just Do It
My son has gone nearly seven years without knowing the thrill of computing
gaming. That spell was broken by the introduction of Bejeweled. In some ways
it has been a great diversion for him when he is sick and unable to go
outside. In other ways, I fear it contributes to the reproduction of the
American Couch Potato. This past birthday his dad got him a Gameboy. A
cousin gave him a Star Wars game for Christmas. This summer his dad found a
Playstation at a garage sale. A recent stay with his uncle garnered the boy
an Atari. And now he's taken over the laptop. Where will it end?
Most recently CWGIII has gotten an 8x16 log cabin playhouse with a red tin
roof. This was part of his inheritance from my mom. I fancied him spending
hours inside it -- pretending to be Davey Crockett or Daniel Boone. His aunt
is coming Friday to do some upgrading on it. She has some leftover paneling
from a remodeling project. Daddy also says we're wiring it for electricity.
So much for roughing it. I now imagine him sitting inside -- or laid out on
a bunk -- coolly sipping his KoolAid and playing video games. Not the
scenario I would prefer.
What happened to imagination and necessity being the mother of invention? What happened to improvisation and creativity, playing in the dirt and fort building? Maybe we should ban the electronics to winter time usage and long road trips. I can hear the moaning and whining now.
Yes, I want my son to be computer literate and electronically hip. Yes, I
want him to be able to keep up with the trends of the tech world. But I also
want him to have fond memories of old-fashioned summers. But I fear they've
gone the way of the typewriter. Now it's dangerous to even be out in the sun
without sunblock. Now you can hardly let your children play outside for more
than 10 minutes alone without checking to make sure they haven't been
abducted. Now you have to wonder about all the mutated germs that could take
over his body via a cut or scrape.
Maybe I'm too overprotective about some of those things. Maybe I should be turning off the radio, the television, the video games, and heading out WITH him to a museum, an old cemetery, a fishing pond, or maybe just out to the playhouse for a picnic. Er...hmmm. I just hope it's not too hot.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
A Little Business
We're filling up blogging spots so if you're a member and would like to contribute we really need some posts on family fun.
Also, if you haven't subscribed to bloglines** for updates on this blog, please do. If you use a different service, let me know and I'll add it to this blog!
Thanks! And don't forget to read and comment on your fellow bloggers posts!
**Bloglines is a subscription reminder service that sends you an email everytime one of the blogs you subscribe to updates. It's a HUGE time saver, and I encourage you to set up an account if you don't already have one!
Also, if you haven't subscribed to bloglines** for updates on this blog, please do. If you use a different service, let me know and I'll add it to this blog!
Thanks! And don't forget to read and comment on your fellow bloggers posts!
**Bloglines is a subscription reminder service that sends you an email everytime one of the blogs you subscribe to updates. It's a HUGE time saver, and I encourage you to set up an account if you don't already have one!
Michelle Sutton
Michelle Sutton is an avid blogger and she has written seven complete
novels. Three are romance, three are women’s fiction, and one is romantic
suspense. All are inspirational fiction.
Michelle has started proposals for several others and is always trying to come up with something unique that will catch an editor’s eye. When she isn’t writing fiction, reading fiction, or writing book reviews for sites, she’s parenting two sons, ages 13 and 14, and working full time as a social worker for Arizona state government.
Her 16th anniversary is quickly approaching, and for the first time since her children were born, she and her husband are taking a mini-vacation without the kids. Michelle is looking forward to blogging about the joys and pains of raising teens in a busy world while trying to do something she enjoys—writing fiction-at the same time, and still honoring her family, her church commitments, and the Lord with her life.
Visit her blog at http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
novels. Three are romance, three are women’s fiction, and one is romantic
suspense. All are inspirational fiction.
Michelle has started proposals for several others and is always trying to come up with something unique that will catch an editor’s eye. When she isn’t writing fiction, reading fiction, or writing book reviews for sites, she’s parenting two sons, ages 13 and 14, and working full time as a social worker for Arizona state government.
Her 16th anniversary is quickly approaching, and for the first time since her children were born, she and her husband are taking a mini-vacation without the kids. Michelle is looking forward to blogging about the joys and pains of raising teens in a busy world while trying to do something she enjoys—writing fiction-at the same time, and still honoring her family, her church commitments, and the Lord with her life.
Visit her blog at http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
WFMW: Seven Habits of a Highly Effective School Year
As always, this is what works for me. We have been Homeschooling since our eldest was born. It has become a lifestyle. We have tried lots of things even though the oldest is only 8. I have plenty of friends who have tried lots of other things, some that worked and some that haven't. Some of these things I have learned from veteran Homeschoolers, some I have learned from my college education, others I have learned from my mistakes and from the mistakes of others. In every case, these are things that work for us as a Homeschooling family.
1.
Never stop so you never have to start. We school year round. We then can take small breaks when we feel the need without having to re-teach.
When I was in my senior year of college (I graduated with a major in both Special Education and Elementary Education and was one credit short of an art minor) my professor of Behavior Management put forth a study that had been done over the previous 10 years. The study regarded several school districts which had the same number of students, similar curriculums, and the same amount of time spent in school. Those who took shorter breaks year round learned significantly more over the 10 year period than those who had the summer off. In the school district's case this was bad news since it is much harder to give kids mini- breaks than to have the school open 8 months of the year. On the other hand, for Homeschoolers it is a plus. Who says your trip to the grocery store can't be school, especially if your child is helping by reading the list, checking prices, using coupons. Any trip out can be considered a field trip as long as you look for the educational possibilities within.
2.
Use every moment as a teachable moment. You've heard it before. There is an opportunity to teach lurking around every corner, on every sidewalk, up every tree, and in every situation. Be open to them and use them. If you make it a habit so will your kids. After a while, when you are busy doing something that is distracting you from the opportunity to teach, your child will point it out, and sometimes even run with it. My kids ask questions everywhere we go. We now know that the loud buzz in most stores is a telephone ringing, how to use the cash register at the family owned GNC we frequent, how to organize books at the library, and that the staff at the local Dollar Store loves home-made cookies. None of this was learned at my prompting but because the kids were interested and asked. I attended public school and never would have dreamed of ordering my own food let alone asking what that buzz is.
3.
Homeschool doesn't need to be expensive. Your child DOES NOT need the most expensive curriculum in order to learn. Bottle caps, Legos, blocks, and marbles make great manipulatives. Old fashioned workbooks from the dollar store make for cheap set work that you won't mind picking and choosing from. A copy book is one of the best handwriting tools you can get (have them copy a verse, a quote, a poem, whatever, daily and they will learn to shape their letters and do it consistently and well, not to mention learning what it says, and probably memorizing it.) Board games and flash cards can easily be adapted to teach almost every subject (my kids' favorite game is to make a "race" out of suitable flashcards for each. They line them up in the hall and use a timer from another game to time their turns. Whoever reaches the end first, wins.) Chores are great teachers for doing your best, home economics, civics, and finishing what you start (plus sooner or later your child WILL have to do laundry, dishes, sweep, and dust whether you teach him or not.) Grocery, thrift, and dollar stores are great resources for cheap school books and supplies. And of course, never forget the significance of the local library. Even if a book is not Biblical you can glean the good stuff (if you are reading the Bible daily) and help them learn to be discerning. The plus side of this is that they will already have been exposed to some of the not so great stuff and be able to argue for the Biblical perspective. Your church library also may have a large stock of books or videos that can be useful. Ours has the Moody Bible Institute's Creation series which the kids love and which has been a great bouncing off point for our study of creation science this year.
4.
Yard sales, thrift shops, and back to school sales are a great way, and the best time to stock up. Staples, Office Max, and other office supply store put the basics on sale every week in August. I just picked up five, twenty-four crayon, boxes of Crayolas for $.15 each. (Watch for the sales with limited amounts, they are usually the loss leaders, just like at the grocery store.) We stock up, not only for school, but also for birthdays, Christmas, and other extra treats.
5.
Use the Bible. Character training is the best start and will help them develop a lifestyle of learning. Skip the Bible and focus on the "academics" and you will waste a lot of your time fighting to get them to work. Teach them to read God's Word and pray and the rest will follow, especially if you teach them discernment with it.
6.
Remember why you are teaching them at home. The goal is not to cram as much into them as you can or make them miserable with all the "stuff" you are doing. The goal is to give them the best opportunity to learn in a familiar, Godly environment. If the kid's see that you are focused on stuff and academics, they will be focused on the same. If they see that your focus is on being a Godly person and that academics are a means to develop their Godly character, it will be theirs. Keep your perspective and you will be able to train them in the way they should go.
7.
Remember that just because something works for one child won't make it work for the next. Every child is different. Every child should be trained in the way he or she should go, not in the way you want them to go. God's plan for them may not be yours. Pray for wisdom, pray that you will know and see the way they should go. He will bless you, and bless them through you. If you put them in God's hands He will lead them, even when you don't see it.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Heather Young
I am a 32 year old Christian, Homeschooling mother of 3, and wife of a wonderful, Christian husband. I am currently working once a week as researcher and encourager for an appraiser and antiques dealer (reading all of those historical books has finally come in handy). I have also done numerous commissioned art works and a few photography stints.
I have done a few websites for others as well as many of my own. I have yet to be paid for any of my writing, which is probably remotely related to the fact that I haven't tried. I do however feel the urge to write and have been journaling, designing websites (in order to post my writing), and writing on blogs for over 7 years. (I even had one of the first Blogger accounts way back when:))
In all of these "things" I know that the Lord has called me to write and therefore attempt to write at least something daily, relying on Him to help me learn more about being a better writer. He is faithful and is growing me in this as well as in other things. My real goal is to please Him and be a blessing to others. If my writing can help another to grow closer to Him then it has done it's duty. If it can help her in any other way to be a little more the woman He designed her to be, then I am content.
http://Heather.shamusyoung.com
I have done a few websites for others as well as many of my own. I have yet to be paid for any of my writing, which is probably remotely related to the fact that I haven't tried. I do however feel the urge to write and have been journaling, designing websites (in order to post my writing), and writing on blogs for over 7 years. (I even had one of the first Blogger accounts way back when:))
In all of these "things" I know that the Lord has called me to write and therefore attempt to write at least something daily, relying on Him to help me learn more about being a better writer. He is faithful and is growing me in this as well as in other things. My real goal is to please Him and be a blessing to others. If my writing can help another to grow closer to Him then it has done it's duty. If it can help her in any other way to be a little more the woman He designed her to be, then I am content.
http://Heather.shamusyoung.com
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Webring Member Update
We're up to 22 members! We're really growing and soon this blog will be updated daily with great posts, adivce and encouragement for all Christian writing moms. If you haven't already, be sure to blogline this site to see the updates and keep on top of the webring news.
Ever one who is a member will be entered in the book give-a-way contest and if you refer someone and they join, you get an extra entry. I will be drawing the lucky winner on September 1st. So there's still time to tell all your friends.
Ever one who is a member will be entered in the book give-a-way contest and if you refer someone and they join, you get an extra entry. I will be drawing the lucky winner on September 1st. So there's still time to tell all your friends.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Tricia Goyer
Tricia Goyer was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference "Writer
of the Year" in 2003. In 2005, her book Life Interrupted was a finalist
for the Gold Medallion and her novel Night Song won ACFW's Book of the
Year for Long Historical Romance. She has written hundreds of articles, Bible Study notes, and both fiction and non-fiction books
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?
The other day I was flipping through Real Simple Magazine. I love all their ideas. And I'd love even more to have time to try a few of them! Oh well. At least I have time to flip through a magazine every once in a while.
As a homeschooling mom, published author of eight books (with four more contracted), and constant blogger (www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com,www.genxparents.blogspot.com, www.writerquotes.blogspot.com ) finding time even to read all the great ideas is a blessing!Anyway, I came upon this introductory paragraph in one of the articles:"Gardens often don't grow according to your plans, no matter how carefully you've laid them. Branches break, bushes get out of hand, and roses become unruly."I read that and paused. That's me. That's my life! And I would guess that all of us who minister in God's kingdom can relate. Ministry doesn't go as planned. Expectations are shattered. Organizational plans and goals get out of hand. Even roses--growth and beauty in ourlives--get unruly.
Even so, God has still given me this garden to watch over. A garden that includes a dear husband, kids, and writing projects--all of which require massive amounts of attention. It's a garden I'd like to tend with perfection, but one I'm learning to manage with peace. Peace in tending the plot I've been given. Peace in managing my unique and varied crops. Peace to balance the cultivating (which I'm very good at) with also taking time for quiet and rest (which I'm not so good at). And peace not to glance over at someone else's bigger, brighter, and bolder garden, wishing it were mine.
Of course, this peace only comes one place--in a relationship with Christ. I am a big fan of The Message Bible. In Psalm 65:7, God is described as theEarth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Mover, and Hill-Dresser. I love that. I also love Isaiah 49:8: "When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me, to put the land in order . . . " That's what our tending is all about, you know. Not to have something to show off. Not to have something that keeps us busy so we'll stay out of trouble. (Although that does help!) But to reconnect people to God, with our words, our service, and our lives. To point them to the Perfector. Because it's only there they'll find Peace.
of the Year" in 2003. In 2005, her book Life Interrupted was a finalist
for the Gold Medallion and her novel Night Song won ACFW's Book of the
Year for Long Historical Romance. She has written hundreds of articles, Bible Study notes, and both fiction and non-fiction books
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?
The other day I was flipping through Real Simple Magazine. I love all their ideas. And I'd love even more to have time to try a few of them! Oh well. At least I have time to flip through a magazine every once in a while.
As a homeschooling mom, published author of eight books (with four more contracted), and constant blogger (www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com,www.genxparents.blogspot.com, www.writerquotes.blogspot.com ) finding time even to read all the great ideas is a blessing!Anyway, I came upon this introductory paragraph in one of the articles:"Gardens often don't grow according to your plans, no matter how carefully you've laid them. Branches break, bushes get out of hand, and roses become unruly."I read that and paused. That's me. That's my life! And I would guess that all of us who minister in God's kingdom can relate. Ministry doesn't go as planned. Expectations are shattered. Organizational plans and goals get out of hand. Even roses--growth and beauty in ourlives--get unruly.
Even so, God has still given me this garden to watch over. A garden that includes a dear husband, kids, and writing projects--all of which require massive amounts of attention. It's a garden I'd like to tend with perfection, but one I'm learning to manage with peace. Peace in tending the plot I've been given. Peace in managing my unique and varied crops. Peace to balance the cultivating (which I'm very good at) with also taking time for quiet and rest (which I'm not so good at). And peace not to glance over at someone else's bigger, brighter, and bolder garden, wishing it were mine.
Of course, this peace only comes one place--in a relationship with Christ. I am a big fan of The Message Bible. In Psalm 65:7, God is described as theEarth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Mover, and Hill-Dresser. I love that. I also love Isaiah 49:8: "When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me, to put the land in order . . . " That's what our tending is all about, you know. Not to have something to show off. Not to have something that keeps us busy so we'll stay out of trouble. (Although that does help!) But to reconnect people to God, with our words, our service, and our lives. To point them to the Perfector. Because it's only there they'll find Peace.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Dena Dyer
Meet writer mom, Dena Dyer:
As a busy mom, wife, author, and speaker, I adore my life—but there are days when I definitely want my own mommy! Thankfully, I have God, my mom, and a Christian counselor on speed dial. I’ve been married to my soul mate, Carey, for ten years. We have two boys (who are ALL boy), Jordan , 8, and Jackson, 2, and we live in Texas.
Essays I’ve written have appeared in over a dozen anthologies such as Simple Pleasures of Friendship (Conari), The Heart of a Mother (Bethany House), Humor for the Teacher’s Heart (Howard) and Divine Stories of the Yahweh Sisterhood (Legacy).
My book credits include Grace for the Race: Meditations for Busy Moms (Barbour), The Groovy Chicks’ Road Trip to Peace (Cook/Life Journey) and The Groovy Chicks’ Road Trip to Love (Cook/Life Journey), both with Laurie Barker Copeland.
I was utterly exhausted. Our toddler, Jackson, had been waking up at night for weeks, and my system was totally out of whack. I felt weepy, helpless, and cranky.
When we tried to let Jax “cry it out,” even for just two minutes, he got so upset that he actually threw up. Talk about frustrating! I tried putting music in his room, giving him a teddy bear, even sleeping with him--and nothing seemed to work, at least for long. Whatever the reasons, he got into the habit of "night-waking.” And I didn't know what to do! (By the way, my husband Carey was a great help. He was always willing to take turns getting up with Jackson, but even then, I woke up when Jackson cried.)
One night during that period of time, as I was rocking the little guy to sleep, I inserted his name into "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and sang, "Jesus loves the little Jacksons, all the Jacksons of the world." I had done the same with my now-seven year-old. Like all children, they loved hearing their names.
On this particular night, Jackson began asking me to insert other names into the song, like his cousin Molly's, or his brother Jordan's (whom Jax calls "Da- doo"). And then he asked me to put my name in the song. And of course, to him my name is “Mommy.” So, to please him, I sang, "Jesus loves the little mommies, all the mommies of the world..." And I begin to think, "Yes, that's right! Jesus loves all the mommies, like me."
I smiled as I remembered that in my fatigue and discouragement, Jesus loved me the same as He always had. I continued singing, "Every color, every race," and I thought of all the moms across the world rocking their babies and singing to them at that very moment. I realized once again what a privilege it was to be in the mommy-hood, even when it meant getting up at all hours. (At least I knew there were mommies in other time zones that were awake when I was!)
Looking at my baby, I felt a new kinship with my heavenly Father as He reminded me of the verse (Zephaniah 3:17) which says He quiets us with His love and rejoices over us with singing. What an awesome thought! He knows how we love our children and pour ourselves out for them, because He loves us even more—and He poured Himself out for us on the cross.
As I finished the song by singing, "All are covered by His grace,” I prayed, Thank you, Jesus, for loving mommies. Thank you for your love that surrounds us when we are scared, your grace that covers us when we make mistakes, and your strength when we are weak. I put my child to bed, grinning as a final thought crossed my mind: Just like moms, God is always “on call.” Now that’s a comforting thought!
Visit Dena Dyer here for more.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Delia Melton
I'm a Christian wife and mother who loves to write. I don't seem to get as much time as I'd like to spend writing, but then again what writer/mother does?
I think Writer...Interrupted would be a good fit for me because in a sense that sums up my life, lol. I used to write all of the time, but getting married and having children cut the time I could devote to it waayyy down.
I'm not actively seeking publication as of yet, but plan to "someday" lol. My blog posts are mostly about my family life, with writing and other things in there too. I'm not too sure if maybe you're wanting writers who's blogs are mostly about their writing, but when I saw your webring and the post on Cindy's (C.H. Green) blog it struck my interest, and I decided to check it out.
This is a tribute I did recently to a local soldier who lost his life serving in Iraq. (It contains music, just to warn you.)
http://gatorskunkzandmudcats.blogspot.com/2006/08/thank-you-army-specialist-michael-ray.html
And here's my most recent post.
http://gatorskunkzandmudcats.blogspot.com/2006/08/sick-hoola-or-slick-hoola.html
I think Writer...Interrupted would be a good fit for me because in a sense that sums up my life, lol. I used to write all of the time, but getting married and having children cut the time I could devote to it waayyy down.
I'm not actively seeking publication as of yet, but plan to "someday" lol. My blog posts are mostly about my family life, with writing and other things in there too. I'm not too sure if maybe you're wanting writers who's blogs are mostly about their writing, but when I saw your webring and the post on Cindy's (C.H. Green) blog it struck my interest, and I decided to check it out.
This is a tribute I did recently to a local soldier who lost his life serving in Iraq. (It contains music, just to warn you.)
http://gatorskunkzandmudcats.blogspot.com/2006/08/thank-you-army-specialist-michael-ray.html
And here's my most recent post.
http://gatorskunkzandmudcats.blogspot.com/2006/08/sick-hoola-or-slick-hoola.html
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Debby Alten
Debby Alten is a single mom of two teenagers. Her daughter, Sarah, is starting the fall at Biola University and she homeschools her son, Layne-Michael.
Debby was born in New Guinea but she and her parents left when rumors of war surfaced. They lived in the Netherlands for six years then migrated to Australia. Foolishly, she tried to run away from home at age 17 when her parents informed her they were moving once again. This time to the United States where she suddenly found herself living the life of a PK.
Besides self-publishing her family cookbook, she's been published in her local newspaper, has a devotional in The Upper Room magazine coming out in May of 2007 and completed her first novel--a Christian Fantasy based on Genesis 6:4.
The word "mom" and "interupted" seem to go together. It took me seven years to complete my novel simply because life kept interrupting. But I don't regret any of it. I feel like I can learn from the people in this group, get encouragement to stay the course, and hopefully I have something to offer as well.
Visit Debby at her blog
Debby was born in New Guinea but she and her parents left when rumors of war surfaced. They lived in the Netherlands for six years then migrated to Australia. Foolishly, she tried to run away from home at age 17 when her parents informed her they were moving once again. This time to the United States where she suddenly found herself living the life of a PK.
Besides self-publishing her family cookbook, she's been published in her local newspaper, has a devotional in The Upper Room magazine coming out in May of 2007 and completed her first novel--a Christian Fantasy based on Genesis 6:4.
The word "mom" and "interupted" seem to go together. It took me seven years to complete my novel simply because life kept interrupting. But I don't regret any of it. I feel like I can learn from the people in this group, get encouragement to stay the course, and hopefully I have something to offer as well.
Visit Debby at her blog
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