THANKFUL THURSDAY...courage

WELCOME to THANKFUL THURSDAY!

It is hard to believe that this is my last Thursday to host for this month! It has been so much fun getting to know all of you and sharing your heart of thanks! Lynn will be our gracious host for the month of May!

This week, I was thinking about courage. Of course my first thought immediately went to the classic movie WIZARD OF OZ. Don't you just love great stories of courage? I love to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie about brave people standing up to evil and WINNING!

I have never thought of myself as a particularly courageous person. I don't jump out of planes. I have never gone water skiing. I would tremble to climb Mt. Everest. I don't even like spiders, and definitely I am gravely afraid of little rodents!

Bravery? That is for other people. Right?
Wrong!!

When I think about the trials that my life has taken me thru - I realize that courage had alot to do with my survival. Some days, it might have been easier to climb Mount Everest! But during those times of wanting to hide my head in the sand and wishing I could run into my bedroom and hover under the covers - I realized that was EXACTLY what the enemy was trying to get me to do. The enemy wanted me to wither, to fall, to cave in, to fall off the mountain!

Some of you know exactly what I am talking about. Needing courage to take another step. Needing Courage.

Courage in your moment of grief. Courage in your moment of pain. Courage in your moment of sickness. Courage in your moment of stress. Courage in your moment of despair. Courage.

PSALM 3:3 "Lord, You are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage."

There are moments in our lives when we have to suck it up, we have to get some backbone, we have grab on to all the strength we can... such courage comes from the Lord!

Aren't you thankful for the courage of the Lord! His strength and protection will rise us up out of the hand of the enemy and we WILL be overcomers!

What are you thankful for this week? Is it courage? or some other blessing from the Lord? Join your grateful heart with ours and let us know by linking your post to Mr. Linky below.

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...leaving a memorial

Every where we look, we can see memorials. Buildings, streets, foundations and statues named after people who have done something incredible but no longer live among us. All of these monuments are a wonderful reminder to us what so many have done for our community, our state and our country.

With such memorials in mind, how can we live our lives, in such a way, that the people that we influence and the accomplishments that we are a part of, live on even when every brick is grounded to dust? When every building is toppled and there is no human work left on which we can put a plaque upon?

Such a legacy, is exactly what I have been penning about for the past several weeks here on Wednesday Weekly Word. I have been studying this book on "Lasting Legacies" and each chapter has left a mark on my heart and a desire to be sure I am leaving a legacy that will lead others to Christ.

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "During my lifetime, I have spent the most time and effort building ..."

22% of those voting said that have spent time building their FAITH.

22% polled, voted that they have spent time building FAMILY.

22% answered the poll by saying that they have spent time building MEMORIES.

When it is all said and done ... we ALL can say that we are building towards something. We can honor people for their efforts, their work and even the amount of money that they contribute to a cause, but the ultimate legacy we can leave is in what we are contributing to the "building of the kingdom of God".

1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9 "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (8) The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (9) For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

Are you planting? Are you watering?

Are you believing?

Leaving a legacy to your loved ones may not be those tangible things that can be read in a courtroom by your lawyer in your will. Even those things can bring great memory and importance - but, the ultimate legacy you can leave are those things like humility, self control, faith, love, pure in heart, a woman of God, etc - these are the things that will leave a lasting impression on hearts forever.

This concludes my study of "leaving a lasting legacy". I hope that you have been challenged by God's Word as I have been. Next week I will begin a new study entitled "The Coming" - I'm not sure where this will take us but I know God will reveal something awesome in His scriptures! Please join me next Wednesday.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL....please take time to vote in this week's poll. Your opinion really does matter!!

A PIECE OF MY HEART...getting out of the house

3 weeks ago from today, my son had surgery. He has been home recuperating, but it has been a long road for him. For the past three weeks he has not been able to leave the house. He has been house-bound. He has not been able to do any physical activity which has left him alone and secluded from society.

The walls of this house...

• keep him from his co-workers at his job;
• the walls keep him from spending time with his girlfriend;
• the walls keep him from attending church

He is imprisoned by the walls of our house. As I was thinking about this, I was thinking how many times, Christians, are also imprisoned within the walls of the church. When I speak of church...I mean church as in the building.

I attended a meeting recently and saw firsthand how some people are just happy with status quo. It is difficult for people to go outside their comfort box and try new things. Sometimes we are like my son in his recovery period and just stuck within our walls of our church building. We are comfortable with all that goes on behind the walls. Our circle of influence stops at the front doors of the sanctuary.

The mentality that "if" we open our church doors - "they will come" just doesn't cut it anymore! Recently, I read a George Barna poll. In his book, "Revolution", Barna reports that "church as most of us know it may shrink more than 50% in the next couple decades".

Did you grasp that number ... 50%!!

It is time that we take our ministry OUTSIDE the walls of the church. We can no longer sit comfortably in our pew, and hope that the lost and the hurting will walk thru the front door. I am ready to do something different, something radical to reach those that are lost, those that are searching for love and acceptance.

Don't get me wrong - I love the ministry within our church, I love to encourage my sisters in Christ, I love to place others needs before mine. Nothing excites me more than to see a "new" ministry rise up within the church and see needs being met.

But who is meeting the needs outside the walls of the church?

MATTHEW 28:19 "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Such a familiar passage for so many of us. But have you ever considered the "action" words here...GO and MAKE.

According to Barna's research, we are going to have to do something different. Maybe something radical. Maybe something unique to keep the doors open in our churches in the years to come.

"Don't change the message, maybe just the method!"

God's Word never changes. He spoke it. It was. It is. and It will be! FOREVER.

What are YOU willing to do to bring His Word to those outside the walls of your comfort zone?Something different? Something radical? Something out of the ordinary?

Let's labor to change that Barna poll percentage!

and that is a piece of my heart today;

AT THE WELL...A Call to Mentor

LAURIE ANN is leading us over AT THE WELL today in the discussion of "A Call to Mentor". She has asked us to discuss ways that we can mentor that are pleasing to God.

TITUS 2:3 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -"

Recently, I had a younger lady approach me and ask me to be her mentor. WOW. That was truly an honor. She proceeded and said, "I'm not sure exactly what a mentor does?"

Now that was a loaded question girls, wasn't it?

If you are trying to figure out who is a mentor, or how to mentor ... Chapter 2 of Titus clearly gives us some direction on that. One of the greatest things about a mentoring relationship is just that .... R E L A T I O N S H I P !

If you are trying to figure out HOW to mentor... have a relationship with Christ!

If you are trying to figure out WHO to mentor...build a relationship with a young lady!

I heard a preacher many years ago say this..."When sharing Christ ... use words if necessary!"

In other words, when mentoring someone, your actions must line up with your words. Some of you reading this are probably saying to yourself, "well that passage in Titus is for older women like my Mom or Grandma!" - but the truth of it is sisters ... all of us are older than someone.

Accepting the charge of being a Titus woman is seeking someone to teach good things (things of the Lord) to. Why not start today! Isn't there a young lady in your life that you can align with and have a mentoring relationship with?

For other thoughts on this weeks topic of "mentoring", please join Laurie Ann over at the homepage of AT THE WELL! Click HERE.

CIRCLE OF LOVE...meet PIA!

I am so excited to introduce to you the first blog highlight for

the new Friday segment of CIRCLE OF LOVE!

I have met so many wonderful, Christian ladies thru my

blogging experience and I want ALL of you to know them as well.

Come along with as we get acquainted...

MEET MY FRIEND... PIA

I am not even sure how my path crossed with Pia, I think it was maybe about a year ago thru the THANKFUL THURSDAY ministry. Pia is always a blessing to me and her readers as she shares so wonderfully from her heart. She is from the Philippines and serving her Lord with passion and fervency. I love that about her.

Earlier this week, I made a visit to her blog site and I was thrilled to see her penning about one of my most favorite people in the Bible ... JOSEPH! Joseph to me represents the ultimate "reconciliation" story and it offers someone like me who is seeking reconciliation a wonderful promise that God is still in control even when our situation may seem bleak! Here is a peek at what Pia had to say earlier this week about What Has God Promised You ...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Joseph knew that one day he was going to rise to a position of great authority. The problem? He was a slave who had just been accused of rape.

Do you know what God is going to do for you, but your circumstance right now seems to have a sign that says IMPOSSIBLE?

In the Bible, nearly every story is filled with incredible hardship, shaking and hopeless situations. But the characters involved held on to what God promised them and never gave up. They took God at His word. Even when they were at their lowest, they didn't let go of what God had said. Our story could be just as inspiring as theirs . . . if we don’t give up.

No matter who we are, where we live, what we’ve accomplished or what we’ve lost, we have a promise that God is waiting to fulfill. And He will fulfill that promise — if we don’t give up. If He’s told us He will do something, then it’s already done. So in a way we can’t give up, because we’re guaranteed to accomplish what He said. ~ John Paul Jackson of Streams Ministries.

What has God told you? If He told you He would do something, then it is as good as done.

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”Isaiah 55:10–11

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Thank you Pia for that great insight on what God has promised us! Recently, I had the opportunity to get more acquainted with Pia and I would like to share with you our online conversation:

1. PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME AND WHERE WE CAN FIND YOU ON THE WEB?

Pia Go Olano / www.piasjournal.com

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING AND TELL US YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BLOGGING?

I have been blogging since 2004. I write down anything I feel like writing. Blogging was and still is an outlet for me to pour out my emotions whether good or bad. Right now, my favorite thing about blogging is being able to help others find their way to God in my own little way.

3. WHAT ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT YOU BLOG ABOUT?

I blog about my walk with God, my life and my marriage.

4. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF...if you work ~where? ...have a family ~ tell us about them?

I'm from the Philippines. I'm a 35 year old wife standing and believing for the restoration of my marriage and the salvation of my husband who's in a far country right now. I don't have kids yet but I pray to God that my husband and I will have really soon.

5. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING THE LORD?

I have been a Christian since I was little but it's just last year, 2008, that I had, should I say, a real relationship with my Father in Heaven.

6. CAN YOU GIVE US A TESTIMONY OF HOW GOD HAS PROVEN HIMSELF FAITHFUL TO YOU?

God has proven Himself true to me not just once but several times. He has proven His Word true in my life and in my marriage. Right now, I'm having problems with my family, He still is there giving me direction. He provided for me financially while my beloved is away. I know I will have my "Promise Land" as God's covenant with me. My God is faithful then, still is now and will always be faithful to me.

7. COULD YOU SHARE WITH YOUR CIRCLE OF BLOGGING FRIENDS YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURE?

Right now I'm standing on this verse in Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."He who began a good work in (Jec & I) will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

8. HOW HAS THAT SCRIPTURE MINISTERED TO YOU RECENTLY?

I believe that God's Word is truer than whatever my circumstances dictate. I do believe that He will carry to completion His promise to me and Jeric.

9. WHAT ADVICE ABOUT BLOGGING WOULD YOU OFFER TO YOUR CIRCLE OF BLOGGING FRIENDS?

Blog with your heart.

"Thank you Pia for that great advice, certainly I can see that you are blogging from your heart. I appreciate your ministry as you share the heart of Christ with your readers! Thank you for being an encouragement to me and Women Taking a Stand!" -LAURIE

PLEASE VISIT PIA HERE!

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR BLOG FEATURED HERE ON "CIRCLE OF LOVE"? I want all of my readers to meet YOU! Click HERE for more information on how you can appear on CIRCLE OF LOVE, a new segment on fridays!

THANKFUL THURSDAY...provision

WELCOME to THANKFUL THURSDAY!

I trust that you have had a blessed week and that the goodness and mercies of our Lord have been new to you each day. Today, we join hearts as we all give thanks and praise to our gracious and giving Father!

PROVISION...

what are you in need of today?

"But Mom, I neeeeeeed it!" Does that sound familiar? So often, that is the sound of our children pleading with us when they really, REALLY want something. And most of the time, especially if it is something they really do need ... most moms do whatever it takes to provide it.

The secret to provision is understanding WHOM provides for us. Yes, sometimes it is mommy providing those new sneakers or daddy providing us with some gas money but ultimately, the REAL provider is God. Always has been and always will be.

God sees exactly what we need

long before we even know that we need it!

Look at Abraham...

Abraham had been instructed to sacrifice his son Isaac, whom Abraham loved dearly. It was a test of his love for God. How did God provide for Abraham? At the last moment, when Abraham was just about to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place.

The provision God made for Abraham that day was really just a preview of a much greater provision! Think about it ... in order to save Isaac, God provided a ram. But in order to save us (you and me), God provided a lamb - Jesus Christ, the son of man; king of kings; lamb of Judah.

ROMANS 8:32 "Since He did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, won't He also give us everything else?"

Eternal life ... what a significant and most awesome provision He made for us. What are some ways that God has provided for you lately?

Aren't you thankful today for not only His provision of the cross, but for daily providing each and every need that we have. I would love to hear your encouraging comments on how God has provided for you! Please leave your link for your TT post in Mr. Linky below.

HAPPY THANKFUL THURSDAY!

LACED WITH GRACE devotion

Today, I have shared a devotion,

entitled "TRAVEL LIGHTLY"

over at:

"HAVE YOU EVER GONE ON A LONG TRIP? I was reflecting on the many trips that my husband and I have taken out of the country. Most of these trips abroad have been on mission trips with our church. We traveled in a large group and mostly we were told what to pack and what not to pack from the missionary we were going to assist. However, a couple of years ago..."

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this devotion!

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KEEP READING

to find my weekly post on

"WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD"!

I have been studying this book about leaving a lasting legacy, ways to make a difference with my life (spiritually) and this is what I have been sharing the last several weeks here on Wednesdays. As I come to the last couple chapters of this study, a word seemed to jump off of the page this past week to me ... ~COMMUNITY~

I guess I am like most people, and I always thought of the word "community" as a place where people live. Living in homes, or apartment buildings that are in close proximity to each other. But in my study this past week, I realized that the original meaning of this word "community" is much deeper for thought. It refers to what we have in common and is actually related to the Latin word "FELLOWSHIP".

Isn't that interesting in relation to what we might consider our Christian Community. Having a true Christian Community means that we are bound together by our common faith or our fellowship with one another. That common denominator that blends is would be our faith in Jesus Christ.

But just like any other kind of community ... there are bound to be some diversity found in our Christian Communities. In your neighborhood community, you could have a row of all blue houses but then someone new moves in and paints their blue house YELLOW. Now, that is some kind of diversity. It doesn't make it right or wrong ... just different.

Our Churches are full of such diversity. Different opinions do not make it right or wrong ... just different. Such as picking out the color of the carpet? or do we sing hymns from the book or on the wall? See what I mean about diversity being in the church. Different doesn't give grounds for getting mad or even leaving the church over.

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I was curious what kind of attitude all of you had about "anger" when you were growing up. The top 3 results of the poll?...

1. 28% of those polled said that they had the philosophy growing up to "Get it off your chest and then kiss and make up!"
2. 23% of the readers said that they had the attitude of "Don't ever let them know you are angry - grin and bear it!"
3. 14% of those voting said that "Anger is dangerous - run and hide!"

Paul gives some clear qualities that we can relate to when it comes to strengthening our Christian Community in the book of Ephesians.

1. STRIVE FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY (Ephesians 4:14 "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.")

In our Christian Community we should be striving for spiritual maturity, seeking to grow. We should not be "status quo" and remain where we started.

2. SEEK HONESTY AND TRUTH (Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.")

Putting on a false face and acting out a charade is not being real and honest. Remember the movie, "A Few Good Men"? Actor Jack Nicholson says, "Truth? You can't handle the truth!" On the contrary, in our Church fellowship - we need to speak the truth in love and the bond of His love is what will enable us to "handle the truth!"

3. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER (Ephesians 4:32 "Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.")

Learning to build one another up with positive words is the glue that will hold your Christian Community together. If we are tearing one another down, getting angry at each other and holding grudges ... like any other community ... someone is bound to want to get away from this and move!

I wonder ... how settled is YOUR Christian Community? It is my prayer that in MY Christian Community (my church .... my fellowship with other believers) that I am doing my part to welcome newcomers. May my words and actions never cause someone to look to relocate.

These are my thoughts this week on how I can leave a legacy in my world. in my community. in my Christian Fellowship. Hope you will find your Christian Community strong and healthy!

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL... Please take time to vote in this weeks poll. You can find it on the side bar. Your opinion REALLY does matter to me!

A PIECE OF MY HEART

SATAN IS A LOW LIFE LIAR!!!!

The lies.

The destruction.

The loss of life.

The giving up.

This is what I have seen the enemy impose on good people. People that at one time served the Lord wholeheartedly. People who in a million years, I would not have imagined would have reached this point of despair in their life.

This week I have had not one, not even two, but three families that I personally know come and share their hurt and their despair because of the enemies clutch of addiction in their lives.

Have you ever watched someone that you love, curled up on the floor, pulling at their hair and crying out "I don't know how I got to this point!!" The addiction that has a hold upon them now has your loved one saying, "I can't do this ... it is too big, too powerful over me!"

This past weekend, I sat for 4.5 hours with a sister who was waiting on news of her loved one who had made the decision that she had had enough of the enemies hold of the addiction that has robbed her of her life. It was a bone-chilling experience.

heartache. unconditional love. strength. peace. wisdom. sadness. hope. battle.

This is what I felt in that waiting room of that rehab hospital. While waiting there that day, I was reminded of David ~ when he went out to face Goliath. Everyone around him said, "David you can't do this!" But God put a sense of "knowing" within David, that he would succeed in the name of the Lord. When King Saul decided to let David fight, he gave David his armor, but what did David say? "I cannot, because I am not used to this" (speaking of wearing the armor, read 1 Samuel 17:31-39) David knew that he was to go in the name of the Lord with only his slingshot.

1 SAMUEL 17:47 "And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's."

ARE YOU IN A BATTLE? The friends that I mentioned earlier in this post are in a battle. It is certainly a spiritual battle as well as a medical battle when your loved one is fighting addictions. But friends, can I remind you that as much as the enemy is fighting to get your life ... God is fighting even more to save your life! God's Word is your weapon ... it is imperative to arm yourself with His knowledge. Reading His Word and spending time in His presence will give you the strength to face those giants in your life. You can be victorious over this battle, if you proceed in the name of the Lord!

DO YOU HAVE THE ARMOR SAFELY FASTENED?

and that is a piece of my heart today;

AT THE WELL...the learning cycle of being a Mom

I am joining my friends today over AT THE WELL. Today we are discussing whole -hearted parenting. I hope that after your visit here at Women Taking a Stand that you will jump over to hear what others are saying today. I know you will be blessed.

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When it comes to parenting ... I have not mastered too much of it to really be one to hand out wisdom and advice. I don't say that lightly, even though 3 of my 4 children are grown, you would think I would have a thing or two to say about parenting. (((smile)))

But if the truth were to be told...I am still learning. I guess I could say that parenting is a learning cycle for all of us involved. In fact, I think as mothers, we have a "mother code of wisdom". Most likely this code was passed down from generation to generation. The code that I speak of is sometimes referred to as Momsense Gems...you know those things that were spoken to you from your mom that has stuck in your mind and most likely, you in turn, have said these same things to your children...

"Eat your vegetables"
"Don't chew with your mouth open"
"Don't use that tone with me!"
"If I have told you once, I have told you a million times...do not do that!"
"Close the door, we don't live in a barn!"

Parenting is a life long journey. And with God's help I am learning and growing thru each stage that I venture thru with my children. The one thing that reassures me as we all learn together is that one day my children will have children and they too will say these same things!

You see how the learning cycle just continues on? You gotta love being a parent. I most certainly do! Every stage of it!

PSALM 115:14 "May the Lord give you increase, both you and your children."

For more insight on parenting today ...

CLICK HERE and visit the At The Well homepage!

CIRCLE OF LOVE...a new friday feature!

I have been blogging now for quite some time. God has brought me to many new friendships and given me opportunities to write devotions for different blog sites. Through it all I have made some incredible friends.

Yet, there are still so many of you that follow my blog on a daily basis, that I have yet to get acquainted with. Yet, you have proven to be faithful and loyal, as you come and read my thoughts each day.

Thank you.

Each of us have that little thing on our sidebar that lists our "followers". This is a blog highlight that can allow you to follow along with some of your favorite writers. It is such an honor to me that someone (anyone) would sign up to be a "follower" of Women Taking a Stand blog. But that is not something that I take lightly. If someone is going to "follow" me, I sure want to be sure I am leading them somewhere worthy!

It is my prayer and my passion that everything that I write about on this blog site is uplifting, encouraging and leading others to Christ!

I really do not like the classification of "followers", if Mr. blog would ask me ... I would change the wordage on that to "circle of love". For it is within this circle of blogging friends that I daily receive encouragement, prayers and love.

Paul writes that as believers, we are all together part of Christ's body, which means that if one of us stubs his toe, the others among us hurt along with them. No wonder he also wrote, "When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other." (Romans 12:15,16)

In a sense, what Paul is saying here is to "see ourselves in one another". Isn't it wonderful in this circle of love (our blogging sisters) that we can share Christ with one another. Sharing His love when we are happy, when we are sad and when we are hurting.

To strengthen this circle of love...what I want to do is allow our fellow christian sisters to get to know you better! So for the next several Fridays ... I will be highlighting YOU!

If you would like to be highlighted in an upcoming Friday "CIRCLE OF LOVE" feature...please CLICK HERE for the information. Email your answers to supermom4jc@yahoo.com and I will contact you to let you know when your blog will be featured.

**YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A BLOG TO PARTICIPATE...IF YOU ARE A READER OF WOMEN TAKING A STAND ...WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU**

Thank you for participating and for being in my circle of love!

You are loved and appreciated!

THANKFUL THURSDAY...I am God's daughter

WELCOME TO THANKFUL THURSDAY!

I am so glad that you have found us. This is the place that many of us gather each week and give praise and thanks for all that God has blessed us with. I hope that you will stick around and share with us what is on your grateful heart today...

I love watching my daughter interact with my husband, her daddy. Even at the age of 13, she enjoys curling up on his lap as he sits in the recliner. They will many times sit like this, while watching TV, even though she has outgrown his lap. It doesn't matter ... they just love their cuddle time.

It always brings a smile to my heart when I see this or the times that her daddy just gives her some money for no reason or what joy I feel when I hear that sweet little voice of my teen daughter asking her daddy for something and he most certainly cannot refuse her.

One of the reasons it brings me utter joy to watch this is because as a young girl I did not have this experience. I did not have an earthly father who bragged on my accomplishments and who encouraged me to be all that I can be. (read part one of my testimony here!) Every girl should have a daddy that does all of these things and MORE! She should feel like a princess.

Did you know that no matter what your circumstances are with your earthly father...(good, bad or no remembrance) that there is a Father who adores you. He never takes His eyes off of you. He loves you like no other father loves his daughter.

Today, on Thankful Thursday, I am so grateful for this truth - the truth that we are princesses! His princesses. We are God's daughters!

God, my Father has such a dream for my life, one far greater than what I could possibly dream. When God looks at His children, He sees someone whom He passionately loves. He sees someone He cares about, and He sees someone He is extremely proud of!

"And remember, each one of us is given only one life. Your days on earth are not a dress rehearsal so that you can come back and try again. Every life counts. Your life counts. Heaven is watching to see what you will do with the life you have been given." - SHEILA WALSH

Isn't it awesome that God has a big lap that we can just crawl up upon and just have "cuddle time" with our Heavenly Father anytime that we choose to.

ISAIAH 46:4 "I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age."

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY?
Why not share with us the blessings of being a child of God. Be sure to leave your encouraging comment below and link back up with us so we can rejoice with you on this Thankful Thursday!

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD ... sharing my faith

"Sharing my faith" was the topic this week as I continue studying in the book I have been reading about leaving a lasting legacy. I recall a George Barna study that revealed that Americans are deeply divided on this issue of whether or not a person should share their religious faith.

28% in Barna's poll revealed that Americans feel strongly that they have a responsibility to share their faith with others. To my surprise, 25% of Americans, in that same poll, felt just as strongly that they do not have a responsibility to share their faith with others. My question is what about the other 47%? Is the rest of the American population caught somewhere in the middle on this issue?

In another poll that Barna did, it was revealed that 42 percent said that when another person tries to explain their religious beliefs, it is "usually annoying."

Why are we so divided about sharing our faith? and why is it "annoying" to others?

Perhaps it is because so many people who have shared their faith have done so without tact and often without love. Possibly, the majority of us have even heard someone push their "religion" down someones throat or not be willing to listen to someones questions about their faith.

Nevertheless, no matter what your experience has been like, Christ calls us to share our faith! He implores us to "go into all the world to preach the gospel" (Matthew 28:19).

If we truly believe that Christ has made a difference for eternity in our lives, shouldn't we say something about Him to a world that is full of stress and spiritual confusion?

Sharing our faith successfully is in the "how" we share and about the "what motivates us" to share. If our motivation is simply to gain some kind of credit for ourselves or to act like someone with all the answers - people will sense that and reject our words. But sharing the love of Christ with others with a pure heart and the love of Christ is an excellent way to share with others.

In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I asked the following question: "Describe how you have "harvested" this past week?" The top 3 answers were:

1. 66% of those voting this week said that they had an average crop, they had some successes.

2. 8% voted and said that they had some shriveled fruit.

3. Another 8% said that they did not have a plant in sight that survived.

Having a good crop means that the farmer has to plan ahead so they can have a good harvest. They must first order enough seed, they have to consider the market prices for their crops, they must have enough equipment and hired help for harvest time. So many things to consider.

When it comes to "harvesting" souls for the Kingdom, we must do the same. Even though we wait upon the Lord for the opportunity and the Holy Spirit does the changing ... there are things that we can do to be prepared for sharing our faith with others.

1. We can pray daily for opportunities to share with others.

2. Make a list of people who you would like share your testimony with.

3. Write out your testimony and be ready to share it.

4. Invite at least one person to church with you this week.

Sharing your faith isn't really all that hard. It is simply using words to describe why you are the way you are and why you believe the way you believe!

HEBREWS 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

WHO ARE YOU SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH?

thank you for joining me as I study ways that I can leave a lasting legacy for Christ!

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL: please vote in this weeks poll. It is about anger ... don't get mad about it just cast your vote! (((smile))). YOUR OPINION REALLY DOES MATTER!

A PIECE OF MY HEART...the first one up

WHO IS THE FIRST ONE UP AT YOUR HOUSE?

Usually my husband is the first one up. He is a very early riser. He likes to quietly stir around the house while the rest of us sleep in.

This week as I was rejoicing and remembering the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, I thought about how Jesus was the first one up in the house of God.

Jesus did not get out of bed first. ~ He rose from the grave first.

Jesus ... the first body to come back to life and never to die again. Observing His resurrection shows us what the resurrection of our own bodies will be like.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:6 "The Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves."

If you have accepted Christ, then the moment your body dies, your spirit will immediately be in the presence of Jesus. One day, when Jesus returns to this earth, our bodies will rise out of the grave and be like His.

These old bodies of ours die because of the sin of Adam, but the great news is that these old bodies live because of the resurrection of Christ!

DOESN'T THIS GIVE A NEW MEANING

TO "RISE AND SHINE?"

and that is a piece of my heart today;

LACED WITH GRACE...the feeling of empty

Today I join Iris over at LACED WITH GRACE as the LWG writing team celebrates our risen Lord on this Easter Sunday. Come and celebrate with us!

HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THE FEELING OF EMPTY?

You know, like when you are drinking a tall glass of sweet iced tea on a hot summer day and all of a sudden you find your glass empty... Do you thirst for more?

How far can you get when you are driving down the country road and your gas tank is running on empty...Do you look for a quick fill up?

What happens when the bank calls you up and informs you that your bank account has become empty...Do you look for ways to transfer funds?

The feeling of "empty" almost always requires an action.

Webster defines the word "empty" as the following: "Having no occupants or inhabitants, vacant"

This is exactly what describes the tomb that Jesus Christ was laid in after His crucifixion. After His death on the cross at Calvary, Jesus was laid inside the tomb. But three days later, it was discovered that the grave could not hold Him. The tomb was EMPTY! Only the grave clothes were left behind.

What an amazing feeling of what "empty" must feel like. What a feeling of wonder! of rejoicing! of triumph!

It is because of His great love for us, and the power of God living in us, that we too will one day be caught up with Him in the air.

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thessalonians 4: 17).

May we always remember the victory that the empty tomb represents. And when our spirit becomes thirsty ... may we quench for more of Him! When our bodies and spirit run on empty ... may He fill us up with His power and strength! Finally, let us remember that when our account seems to become drained...He has already made a great deposit in us with His love and forgiveness.

Are you thankful today for the new meaning of "empty" that Christ has brought us? May your Resurrection Sunday be filled with His promise of eternal love!

Join us over at Laced with Grace for other Resurrection Sunday greetings! CLICK HERE.

THAT WAS MY CROSS

THE CROSS

Have you ever given much consideration to the cross? The scene we see all those years ago, is Jesus, after being beaten and whipped by the guards, carrying the cross (barely hanging on to it), up the hill to Calvary.

It is one thing to carry your own burden. I can lug my "stuff" along with me anywhere I go and I can take responsibility for it. But if you ask me to carry someone elses load ... I may not be as eager, especially if it was going to mean suffering, pain and even my death. I am not sure if I am willing to take the responsibility for someone elses "stuff".

But that is exactly what Jesus did, all those years ago, on that hill, as he carried that cross.

It wasn't His cross that He carried ... it was mine!

It wasn't His nails that pierced Him ... the nails were mine!

It wasn't His thorns embedded in his skull ... the thorns were mine!

Jesus carried and died on my cross.

(watch this powerful video and listen to the words of the song)

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." JOHN 15:13

Simply said, there is NO greater love than this ...Jesus taking up my cross for me. But don't worry friend, today may be Friday but Sunday is coming!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY ... sacrifice

WELCOME to THANKFUL THURSDAY.
I am so glad that you joined us this week as we offer up praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father. What a week it is to offer praise during resurrection week!

SACRIFICE...What is sacrifice? And where does sacrifice begin?

At home? My husband and I have sacrificed for our children over the years. Sacrifices that they are not aware of. The times that we went without things so they could have new shoes to wear, get a badly needed haircut or get that new toy that they were just itching to buy. Sacrifices that were made to give up things so we could buy them a cell phone or help pay their car insurance. This is sacrificial love.

For our Country? Sacrifices are being made each and every day by men and women serving our country in the armed forces. This sacrifice is not something new. It has been going on for decades. Men and women sacrificially giving of their life's. Their time. Sacrificing time with their families. These sacrifices I never understood fully until my son joined the Air Force and now serves overseas, sacrificing everything, including the first year of his marriage to his new bride. This is sacrificial love!

For all mankind? If you knew that suffering and death was at the end of the road that you were traveling down, would you keep going down that road? Most of us would turn around and go the opposite direction as quickly as possible. But not Jesus. He knew exactly where the road was going to take Him, but yet He chose to walk the road. Now, this is sacrificial love!

Jesus was not a victim who was caught by surprise by cruel people out to get Him. He walked into the death trap laid for Him fully aware of what was ahead. Jesus offered Himself willingly as a sacrifice for sin. "No one can take My life from Me," said Jesus. "I sacrifice it voluntarily." (John 10:18)

http://www.heartlight.org/

Today, I give thanks and honor to the One who was so willing to sacrifice everything for a sinner such as I. How about you? What are you thankful for today on this Resurrection week Thankful Thursday? Please post about it and leave your link here in Mr. Linky so we can all rejoice with you!

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...taking church outside the walls

I read a poll recently that said about 44% of the American people claim to be in church on any given Sunday. So I dare ask...who is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the other 56%?

Certainly, in this staggering amount of "unchurched", there is a small percentage that come into the church occasionally, (possibly a small portion of these will visit church services this Easter Sunday). But my feeling is that many of that 56% have never darkened the doors of a church building.

From mass mailings to media advertising to new programs, churches all over are trying to reach those that do not have a "church home". But yet so many of the unchurched still resist.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

We could follow the example of Jesus ... if they won't come to Church, we can take the Church to them!

Jesus did not spend much of His ministry preaching in the buildings that were devoted to religious worship, rather, He met people where they lived. He spoke to the people while they were in the midst of their day-to-day routines. His companions were more likely to be the "unchurched" of His day: such as the tax collector, the prostitutes and the poor working people.

One of the greatest examples of how Christ reached the "unchurched" is found in the story of the Samaritan woman. The woman in this story was the lowest of the low.

JOHN 4:7-10 "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Will You give me a drink?' (8) His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. (9) The Samaritan woman said to Him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan women. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (10) Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.' "

As I study the story of the Samaritan woman (read all the way thru verse 29), I see 3 things that we can learn from Jesus about building relationships with our unchurched friends:

1. TAKE TIME TO LISTEN

Do not assume that you know how they think or believe. Take time to listen to their hearts. That is what Jesus did!

2. DON'T RESIST THEIR QUESTIONS

Jesus let the Samaritan woman question the Jewish tradition of temple worship in Jerusalem. Listening to questions without being resistant will help the person know that you value their perspective. There is never a question too dumb to ask. That is what Jesus thought!

3. TRUE FRIENDSHIP INVOLVES GIVING AND RECEIVING

The very beginning of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman was by asking her for a drink of water. Even though Jesus was thirsty, He recognized that in a true relationship, people need to give as well as receive. This is what Jesus demonstrated to us!

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers and asked the following question, " What was it that you most thirsted for during your adolescence?". The top 3 answers were:

1. 29% voted and said that they wanted attention from the opposite sex.

2. 23% of those voting said that they desired attention from their parents.

3. 11% of those polled, said that they wanted recognition and respect for their achievements.

This poll reveals to me that we all are looking for something. You may think that you don't have anything to offer to your "unchurched" friends. But I disagree with that thinking. We must all take on the approach of Jesus and care for the "unchurched", even if we have to take the church to them!

56% of the American people are unchurched ...

what percentage of that are you willing to reach?

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD is a a post each week devoted to my thoughts on a personal study that I am doing. Right now I am studying from a book that is leading me to ways I can make a lasting legacy with my life. I hope you will join me on this journey of leaving a legacy for Christ.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL: Please vote in this weeks new poll. Find it on the side bar of this blog, and remember your opinion really DOES matter!

A PIECE OF MY HEART...how does God see me?

WHY DOES IT MATTER TO US HOW OTHERS SEE US?

do they think I am nice?
do they think I am pretty?
why don't they laugh at my jokes?
how did they misunderstand what I said?
why don't they like me?

You know the routine. The questions that swirl around in your head every time you are in a room full of people:

~why does that one in the crowd seem to snub you?
~why does that one in the meeting seem to challenge your decisions?
~why does that one in the crowd seem to really misunderstand your heart?

How many times have we left a room full of people, and instead of thinking on the positive remarks we hear, we camp on that one person who spoke negativity about our presentation or that one person who spoke negativity into our life.

Our presentation was wrong. Our shoes did not match the outfit. A different direction in our decision would have been better. We spoke too soft. We talked too loud. Our joke was ridiculously dumb. We did not do it like they would have.

Recently, when something similar to this happened to me, I had to stop and pause and ask myself..."Is this truly how others see me?" I was brought to my knees as I sought answers from my heavenly Father, and I asked Him this question..."Do others see me like this?" And in His sweet loving way, He said:

"This is not how I see you!"

Jesus Christ was spit upon. He was mocked. He was beaten. He was betrayed. He died.
All of this was done for me and for you. We were undeserving. We were sinners.

All of our sins were nailed to that cross on Calvary. Our imperfections. Our misgivings. Our faults. Our bad decisions. All of it was taken upon the stripes that Christ bore.

WHY?

Because God said ... "This is not how I see you!"
He sees beyond our sin ... and in us He sees good, He sees beauty, He sees forgiveness and love.

LUKE 23:34 "Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

God sees us for who we really are, long before we see it.

Remember this next time you find yourself in a room full of people and one in the crowd comes against you. Remember... nobody in that crowd died for you ~ Jesus Christ did!

and that is a piece of my heart on this resurrection week!

AT THE WELL...older women

We are gathering around THE WELL once again.

The chatter can be heard for miles as we all gather and discuss today's topic: The Older Woman

Here are the discussion questions placed before us this week:
How are you doing as an older woman?
Do you live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord?
How is your speech, your attitude?
Are you producing the fruits of the Spirit in your life?

I have come into a season of life that some may look at me and say, "she is an older woman". The reason that some may think that is not just because of my age (I am 45 and proud to be!), but some may look to me as an "older" woman because of the fact that 3 of my 4 children are grown. I may be looked upon as an "older" woman because one of my sons is already married. A younger woman may look to me as an "older" woman because of the grey hairs that pop out under my purchased hair color! But, I would guess that most women who consider me to be an "older"woman is because of the trials, the temptations and the triumphs that I have come thru.

It has been said that a holy life has a voice that speaks when the tongue is silent. Do you know a woman whose godly life speaks and teaches...even when and while her tongue is silent?

More importantly than asking if you know someone like this ... I ask myself, "am I becoming this kind of woman?" The kind of woman whose very life shows and encourages others how to live out God's high calling.

It is not always easy to remain silent. And if truth be told, I haven't always remained silent. It is something that God is working on me in my life.

Yesterday in church, I had the sweetest lady whom I respect greatly make a comment to me. This is what she said to me after hearing a lesson I had just finished teaching : "I can relate to you so well, it's like you are not up on a pedestal".

WOW.

That was the greatest encouragement that I could have received. For "up on a pedestal" is NOT where I want to find myself.

Instead, where I want to be is walking among the crowd. Reaching and teaching the lonely, the forgotten and the hurting.

TITUS 2:3 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -"

There are two ways that God's older women can teach others:

• 1. by what they do
• 2. by what they say

In other words, it is not enough to just teach younger women the things of God, but we must reflect them in our own walk with the Lord.

Seeing is truly believing!

God is still working on me. Refining me. Teaching me. Even during this molding stage, God is using my flaws, my imperfections to teach.

To teach me. To teach others.

ARE YOU AN OLDER WOMAN? We all are! Each of us is older than someone! Don't wait to be the perfect vessel to take up the call to teach someone younger than you.

To be an older woman like is described in Titus 2:3 is more than just accepting the call; it is a lifestyle.

WHO ARE YOU TEACHING? AND WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING

You can join the others over AT THE WELL who are talking about "older women" today. CLICK HERE to find the chatter!

FRIDAY FUNNIES...how to operate the ATM

I have had an intense week and I really need to end the week with humor. Is that ok? So this week, I am linking up with Friday Funnies!

My husband recently shared this with me. It is the golden rules for how to operate the ATM machine:

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE &FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.'

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Put down your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and Withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

6. Put window up.

7. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Set parking brake, put the window down.

4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.

6. Attempt to insert card into machine.

7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8. Insert card.

9. Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.

15. Retrieve cash and receipt.

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.

18. Re-check makeup.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.

24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Redial person on cell phone.

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

27. Release Parking Brake.

Ok ladies, as funny as that may sound ... I wonder how many of those female procedures you actually do at your local ATM! My family insists that I do the majority of them.

KIM is our Friday Funnies host, please visit her HERE to find more laughs!

THANKFUL THURSDAY...hope

WELCOME TO THANKFUL THURSDAY!

I am glad that you found your way here ... I will be hosting TT for the month of April. So settle in and make yourself at home.
This week I was thinking about the things that I "hope" for:

• I "hope" that the sun will come and stay for a day or two.
• I "hope" the accountant will say we won't have to pay in too much on our taxes.
• I "hope" that my son will call me this week.
• I "hope" that my friend will get out of the hospital this week.

We are all hoping for something today.

"Every saint has a past - every sinner a future!" - ANONYMOUS

Now that describes an awesome future opportunity with hope! Even when the world seems dark, the future is bright for those who are looking to the Son.

PROVERBS 23:18 "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off"

Never be afraid to hope!

I am thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

How about you?

What are you thankful for today ...

go ahead and share it with us and link back your post in Mr. Linky below.

Thank you for sharing your grateful heart with us today!