It’s referred to as organized sports.  But I assure you that five and six year olds playing Tball is anything but that.  I wonder when he’ll grow into his size and his coordination will kick in.

At night when I tuck him in, he kisses me the best and sloppiest kiss ever and tells me “You are beautiful and gorgeous”.  He  wants to marry me, he says.  I wonder who the young woman is who will steal his heart away from me.

When things don’t go his way, and they often don’t, his temper flares, the vein on his necks pops out, his lower lip begins to quiver as he fights back the tears and then, he follows that up by screaming at the top of his lungs.  I wonder when he will learn how to control his temper and allow his passion to help him pursue the things God has called him to.

He runs around the neighborhood with nothing but shorts on during the carefree summer days.  His olive-toned skin is a golden bronze from the rays of the sun and his hair gets whiter by the hour.  I wonder if his hair will turn darker like his Daddy’s has and what he will look like as a grown man.

I wonder who he will become.

Good character is tough to discern in a fifteen-minute interview.  You have got to do your due diligence to be sure the person you’re about to invite onto the team has a proven track record of being a truth-teller, a covenant-keeper, a person who seeks to be conformed to the image of Christ, someone who manages relationships well, and one who credits the efforts of others when a victory is won.

“Yes!  That’s it!”

That is exactly what I said when I finished reading that last sentence.  Not only do I love truth, keeping covenants, being conformed into Christ’s image, and managing relationships, but I love to see others get credit where credit is due.  It shows a true humility and proves just how much of a team player one is when he/she has the ability to give kudos to someone else.

If you find yourself struggling with crediting others efforts, chances are your insecurity level is on the rise.  The most secure people are those who don’t have to get a pat on the back or an atta boy.  They are the ones who can freely give encouragement where encouragement is due.

Because not only do they know WHO they are, but they know WHOSE they are.

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6

In his book he mentioned something that struck a chord in me.  He writes:

Eighty-five percent of what we do, anyone can do:  checking email, answering messages, attending meetings, reading the newspaper or trade journals, and making simple decisions….Ten percent of what we do, someone with a modicum of training should be able to accomplish…But five percent of what I do, only I can do!  This is the most important 5% for me!  I can’t delegate these initiatives to anyone else.  I can’t hire someone else to take my place in any of these activities because they require that I be there!  This 5% will determine the validity of the other 95%.

As I have been on a bit of a break this summer, I have been maximizing my time with my family and close friends as well as getting lots of rest.  But, I am realizing that I must maintain focus on the most important things in my life all year long…not just in the summer.

I sat down and decided to make my own list of my top 5%:

1.  A growing relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2.  A healthy, honoring and honest relationship with my husband, Chris.

3.  A parenting relationship with my sons that is based on authenticity, vulnerability and sacrifice.

4.  Maintaining and growing the relationships I have with my extended family and my inner circle of friends.

5.  Being physically healthy, whole and free.

6.  Encouraging and life-giving ministry to couples.

This is the order the list should be in.  In all honesty, it often isn’t.  Those closest to me often get the leftovers from me because I’m so busy doing what I think is the most important thing.  But if I’ve learned anything in our 15+ years of full-time ministry it’s this:  If I don’t keep things in the right order, then my ministry to others is anything but honest and authentic.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some young boys who want their momma to build Legos with them.  And you have no idea how awesome the spaceship is that I can build.

Clearly, I chose an alternative clothing style.  You might imagine the looks I got at the local biker bar when we walked in.  Our friends, Kyle and Lori, looked like true bikers. You know the kind…guy with tattoos has great lookin’ chick on the back of his Harley Davidson sporting her doo rag, all the while propping her leg up on the bar that supports his saddle bags.  Exactly.  My husband, Chris, also did a nice job sporting his motorcycle arm tan and biking boots that added another two inches to his already 6′2″ frame.

And then there was me.  In my nice Gap jeans, which do bring out the best in my figure, ifidosaysomyself, my Adidas tennis shoes with the bright fluorescent coloring on the sides, which I happen to adore, thankyousokindly, and my nice pastel green shirt.

A biker indeed.  And as I walked in the door, they laughed and snickered and I threw my arms in the air and said, “You wanna piece of me?” giving them my best and meanest  and most certainly southern growl.  They scurried away like little mice and went right back to their drinks and left me and my pastel green shirt alone.

That’s what I thought.

I walked right up to the bar, slammed my fist down and demanded a Pina Colada.  “I’ll show them,” I said to myself.  All the while, Chris, Kyle and Lori had decided to go to a separate part of the bar so that they would not be associated with the wanna be biker chick in the pastel green shirt.  When all of a sudden, a very large and very tattoo-ey biker chick came up to me, rared her fist back and…

In all actuality, there was no biker bar, no Pina Coladas and no threats from me or toward me.  Why?  Because real bikers don’t go riding WHEN IT’S 250 DEGREES ON THE ASPHALT!  Sweet mercy of God, it was hot.  HOT!  It was like having a hair dryer blowing on your entire body for an hour with no relief!  You start pretending like you are actually in the air conditioning in hopes that your mind will take you there.  But, once you stop and feel your rear end and wonder if you didn’t have an accident but then realize it was the sweat, the sweat I tell you.

We did, however, enjoy a great LifeChurch.tv At The Movies experience at our Stillwater Campus followed up by a nice dinner at Louie’s Bar & Grill.

Rest assured, there were no bikers injured or threatened by me at said eating establishment.  I did let the server know who was boss, though.

It’s what we Biker Chicks do.

And do have yourselves a wonderful day.

Last night, @chrisdbeall and I hosted a little shindig at the house.  We invited all 12 of my BSers, their husbands and our 478 children.  Oh, I’m kiddin’.  It was only 475.

Here are  the gals who were able to be there.  From left to right: Elizabeth, Natalie, Christi, Kim, Robin M., Deleise, Nicole, Robin S., Jennifer and me.

We were sad not to have two of our girls with us.  Here is a picture of our group minus @jannagoodwin and @dustytakle:

And the last picture I’d like to share is in honor of Kris Takle, Dusty’s husband.  Friends, I give you the “double fist”:

Because I am nice, I thought I would do a little diddy about the BSers right here.  RIGHT NOW.  These are the girls in my BS group:

Christi Donaldson - Been friends with this woman for many years.  She’s tried and true and has the purest heart.  Don’t even think you can get a better deal than her at Target.  She owns Target.  Seriously.  Love her.

Jennifer Edmunson - We love our Jennifer!  She just became a friend last January and now?  Well, we are all thick as thieves, I tell you.  THICK.  AS.  THIEVES.

Janna Goodwin - This little honey can shoot herself some pictures!  Very impressed.  She’s also a long-time friend whom I adore and cherish and think so highly of.  She presses through this thing we call life no matter how many rocky bumps and turns it gives her.  And funny!  She’s a mess.

Kim Heinecke - This snazzy gal is quite frankly one of the wittiest gals I know.  She makes me smile.  She also makes a mean apron.  MEAN.

Deleise Klaassen - Um, do you know this girl?  Another witty, snazzy, funny, Godly wife and mom I’m blessed to know.  Her blog posts are sure to entertain.

Nicole Knox - She’s our young-un.  Not even 30 yet, but God is growing her into an amazing wife and mom.  Proud to know her!

Robin Meadows - She is also known as “Many Meadows” or “Mama Meadows” because she has so many kids…both her own and adopted.  Wise, wise, wise friend.  Pretty sure I’d be a mess without her.

Robin Storch - She’s a hoot and a cherished friend.  We are secretly hoping our children marry so that we can always be with them at holidays.  What?

Dusty Takle - This little lady is from Joe-Jah.  I am nuts about her and appreciate her helping me with my style.  She’s my very own clothing expert and shopper.  She also keeps me in stitches when she says, “Girl, I feel like I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays.”

Natalie Witcher - This girl is funny and knows the Word.  Oh, and she can preach!  I usually sit by her at church on Saturday nights…WHEN SHE COMES!  Not bitter.

Elizabeth Zeigler - No blog.  Heck, we are trying to get the girl to check her email

So, do you know any of these ladies?  Go ahead, give ‘em a shout out and show the love.  They’ll appreciate it

You humble me, Lord.  I’m on my knees…empty.  You humble me, Lord.  So, please, please, please…forgive me.

On December 15, 2008, I began a journey that was sure to end in failure.  Or at least that is what I sort of thought.  Even though I showed absolute gumption and sheer determination on the exterior, on the inside, well, I was scared like a schoolgirl who wanted to call her mom.  Facing this dreaded demon of mine called food addiction was something I didn’t think I could do.  I mean, as I write this I am just three months shy of my 39th birthday.  Waiting 38 years to deal with this doesn’t exactly show how high on my priority list it was.

But finally, I could take it no more.  The bondage, the jail cell that I had put myself in was growing smaller by the day.  I had to do something.

So I took a leap.

With that leap came enthusiasm, nervousness, excitement, my 30-lb weight loss and subsequent 47-point drop in my already high cholesterol, but most of all, freedom came.  And it was well received.  I used phrases like “not today” and “food is fuel” to help me train my mind to see food as merely sustenance and not maintain my romance with food.  And it worked.  For a long time.  In fact, seven months later, it’s still working.

For the most part.

I must tell you that I’m struggling.  Like the other day when I took two “unplanned” bites of the blackberry crumble that was leftover from my schedule “sweet day”.  Or just the other day when the hubby and I made the most amazing flatbread pizza.  I had an extra piece.  I really wanted fifteen extra pieces, but I didn’t.

That’s something, right?

So, I write all of  this on the WWW because it’s what I do.  But also because I want you, my fellow sojourners in this thing called life, to know that life is hard.  Days will come that will get the best of you.  You will fail.  You will be disappointed in yourself.

And that is okay.

The Lord humbles people in different ways.  Maybe this food addiction, my own personal “thorn in the flesh” is what I need to keep me postured toward humility because I certainly can’t do it without Him.

Shake the dust off your feet and press on.  There is a goal waiting for you.

I know, right?

My mother still thinks I’m 22.  Regardless of how much in denial she is, I am definitely not 22.

As I’ve aged and learned more, I have realized that just because I’ve learned a lot in my lifetime doesn’t mean I know anything.  However, people apparently think I do, so I thought I would take this opportunity and inundate tell you a handful of things that I think will enrich your life.

You’re welcome.

1.  Do not, under any circumstances, put a glass lid in the oven if it has a plastic knob on the top of it.  Trust me.

2. Don’t have a long pity party.  Maybe a 30-minute one and then move on. Life is too short and we are too blessed.

3. Have coffee with your closest friends at a cafe.  Laugh, talk, cry.

4. Always go to the clearance rack first.  Always.

5.  Trust Jesus.  He is the only One who will never fail you.  Promise.

Want to meet Him?  I can show you how.

Over the years, I have found myself telling people to “Be blessed!”  Some time back, I became aware of how inaccurate that really is.  So instead of writing “Be Blessed!” on letters and emails, I have changed it to “Live Blessed!”  And here’s why:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3

Friends, we don’t have to BE blessed.  We already ARE blessed.  What we are not doing is living like we are.

So here are some of the blessings we have in Christ:

Freedom • Joy • Inheritance • Power • Faith • Love • Peace • Patience • Kindness • Gentleness • Goodness • Faithfulness • Self-Control • Grace • Favor • Mind of Christ • Intimacy with the Spirit • Inheritance • Intelligence • Reason • Discernment • Insight • Comfort • Healing • Health • Prosperity • Poverty • Testimony • Prayer • Service • Humility

Now…Live Blessed!

I don’t know how you read books, but I literally read them cover to cover.  I start on the back cover and read the snip-its and testimonials.  I then move toward the front cover and inspect it carefully.  Upon opening the book, I see what the inside cover has to say and then make my way to the back inside cover to read about the author.  Once all of those things are complete, I start at the beginning.  Title page, copyright information, dedication page, table of contents, foreword and then the introduction.

See?  I told y’all I read it from cover to cover.

As I was in this process, something really cool happened.  I saw his handwriting because he wrote a personal note to my friend.  Bill Hybels.  Only the most influential pastor to church leaders our world has ever seen.

And I touched it.  Hoping I could feel it’s raised letters but instead realized that the ink just merely soaked into the page.  I almost feel teenagerish writing this.  Yes, I have Mr. Hybels on a pedastal.  There, I admit it.  But, quite frankly, I think he’s earned it.

Just like the 78-year old Sunday School teacher, the gray-haired lady making hospital visits who can barely move herself and the elderly gentleman who encourages teenagers each week by sending them notes in the mail.  Shouldn’t we all deem Pastor Hybels and others worthy of respect after all they have done?  After all of the sacrifices they’ve made?  After all of the years they’ve served their Heavenly Father?

I admire Pastor Hybels so much because after hearing him speak in person last year, I realized that his love for His Savior was still very evident in his life.  No matter how many people he’s led, sermons he’s given, books he’s written.  He loves his Jesus and he loves the people of Jesus.

I want to follow Jesus like that.

I don’t have a lot of money but my life is rich.  I wear cheap Old Navy flip flops so I can drive a nice car.  I can talk like Donald Duck, say every line to The Sound of Music and drive with my knee.  I spend tons of time on my back porch with my hubby and I always kiss my boys faces when they are asleep at night.  I never hesitate to tell anyone my age.  I stand in awe of people who’ve been married for 50 years, make sure I encourage people when it crosses my mind, remember that there are two sides to every story and do my best to represent Jesus Christ, for He is my Lord and Savior.

Your turn.