I found most of these “helpful hints” humorous. Some, however, made my blood boil! Therefore, proceed with CAUTION!

Men are NOT mind readers

Men feel that women should learn how to work the toilet seat instead of the other way around

Sunday sports It’s like the full moon or the changing of the tides.

Women should let it be.

Men consider Crying as blackmail.

Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

Subtle hints do not work!

Strong hints do not work!

Obvious hints do not work!

Just say what you mean!

Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it. That’s what we do.

Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

If you think you’re fat, you probably are. Don’t ask us. (Okay, this one made my blood boil!)

If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both.

If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. And we have no idea what mauve is.

If we ask what is wrong and you say ‘nothing,’ We will act like nothing’s wrong.

We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, Expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine…Really.

Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as hunting, fishing, golfing, or something with wheels.

Lastly, You have enough clothes and way too many shoes.

Well, what do you think ladies? Should we let them live?

Are you filled with anxiety most days? Are you easily spooked?

Do you worry about your life,

your future,

your finances,

your children,

your children’s friends,

your job,

your health

your marriage

your singleness

the worst case scenario

or what other think about you?

Do you long for An Untroubled Heart?

Do you hunger for peace, resolve, and a faith that is stronger than all your fear?

Then this opportunity is for you!

Join nearly 9000 women in a  study of An Untroubled Heart, hosted by Melissa Taylor. Study begins March 18

You can purchase An Untroubled Heart almost anywhere books are sold.

This will be a six week study.

March 18-Week 1, Chapters 1,2

March 25-Week 2, Chapters 3,4

April 1-Week 3, Chapters 5,6

April 8-Week 4, Chapters 7,8

April 15-Week 5, Chapters 9,10

April 22-Week 6, Chapters 11,12

That’s not all!

Conference Call Series

There will be a conference call series that is optional to go along with this online study. Guests include the author, Micca Campbell, (that’s me!) as well as others whose stories and knowledge will inspire, motivate, challenge, and bless you. There are 4 calls in this series. The cost is $14.00. Details will be released soon.

Sign up today at Melissa’s blog!

You’re going to love Melissa—if you don’t already. She is sincere, down to earth, the girl next door, your best friend and a godly woman who is passionate about knowing God through His Word, AND her passion is CONTAGEOUS! That’s why nearly 9000 women participate in her online studies. Join in! You won’t be disappointed!!

Sometimes, I can feel lost spiritually. With so many possible directions to take in life, it’s easy to become confused about which path to choose.

Over the years, I’ve learned that God’s intended course for me is not as confusing as I thought. All I needed was a spiritual compass.

Sounds good, right! However, the compass can’t provide me with details of the road ahead. It’s not like my GPS that tells me which road to take and when to make the turn. It doesn’t steer around obstacles or solve dilemmas. What the compass does do is point the way.

The elements of the compass indicate that God is leading you and me toward the right destination—the right choice or decision.

For example; when you have a dream that you can’t shake, that’s your spiritual compass indicating a call or a divine purpose to fulfill. The same principle is at work when you can’t get someone off your mind or you can’t let go of a need you heard about earlier in the week.

What if you have a huge decision to make. Maybe it’s about your job, buying a new home, or deciding where you’ll live. Your compass can point the way. After you give the decision considerable prayer, your compass will direct you with a sense of peace or the lack of peace. Peace is your “green light” to proceed forward. On the other hand, a lack of peace is also a sign on the compass. No peace means wait! Do not move forward, do not pass go or collect $200 dollars. With a lack of peace, your compass is directing you to wait.

I love it when my compass lets me know I’ve hit my sweet-spot!

Years ago, I decided to lead children’s church. I was passionate about God’s Word and I love to tell stories. I also like children. Therefore, teaching them about Jesus seemed like a no brainer. Let’s just say it was much hard than I had imagined.

All I ever wanted to do was changed their three-year-old lives! But between their short attention spans, potty breaks, and nose wiping, there wasn’t much teaching going on. I was more like a babysitter than a bible teacher. I began to lose my joy. Each Sunday became more difficult than the one before. My compass was indicating it was time to move on. Teaching children was obviously not my calling.

As I began teaching women the Word, things changed. I felt a sense of joy and purpose. I saw the women growing in their faith. And I knew. I knew I had hit my sweet-spot.

What about your spiritual compass? How is it directing you? It is pointing the way. Look for the indicators. Then, follow the path ahead.

Today, I ‘m giving away a message on CD, Piecing It All Together. Leave a comment to enter to win!!

Happy Trails!

To comfort my pain

Calm my fears

And strengthen my faith.

He longs to do the same for you! Your present day fears are fueled by your past experiences. I know, friend. And yet, God doesn’t want us to go through the rest of our lives justifying our fears. Nor does He want us to live behind some protective wall that shields us from what might happen. God wants to teach us that it’s safe to trust Him. Even if we don’t have all the answers, our past will never make sense until we invite God into our present. Then we will see He has been there all along.

If you long to be free from fear, then I have some AWESOME news for you!

I’m excited to announce that my dear friend and colleague, Melissa Taylor, will be studying, An Untroubled Heart. Melissa’s online study has grown to nearly 9,000 participants!! Can I get a Whoo-Hoo! God is doing something, y’all! You don’t want to miss out! Join women from all across the US as they “Find a Faith Stronger Than All Their Fear.”

For details, visit Melissa’s blog.

My heart was both heavy and full yesterday. As I read your comments, I could identify with your pain, fear, and doubt. And yet, my heart was also full as I read about your hope and as you identified God’s leading in your situation. I was reminded of how much God is involved in our lives and is at work on our behalf.

My prayer for you today is that you would realize the height and depth of God’s love for you. 

You’re in for a treat today! I would like to introduce you to my dear friend, Karen. She’s beautiful inside and out. Her heart for others to know God’s Word and find freedom is contagious. She is bold for Christ but her spirit is gentle. Here’s Karen!

Hi Y’all!  You’re in the right place; this really is Micca’s blog.  She’s just giving me the sweet honor of being her guest blogger today!  So, who am I, how do I know Micca and what in the world is she doing letting me put a post up on her blog?

I’ll answer that last question first. I had the wonderful blessing of meeting Micca at last year’s She Speaks Conference when I was assigned to her speakers group.  Recently I reconnected with Micca via email and God continues to use her as a huge source of encouragement in my life.

So who am I?  I’m Karen and I am passionate about God’s Word.  I hope that when you finish reading this post that what you will remember is just, well, that, you have met a sister who loves Jesus and is compelled to share God’s Word with women.

At this point I need to be really honest with you about something.  Things will probably go better that way for both of us!  You should know I didn’t grow up in the church.  I wasn’t part of a youth group.  I never attended a church camp.  But, I did attend Vacation Bible School a couple of times when I was around 8 or 9 years old!  And I clearly remember not excelling in the Vacation Bible School craft area!

I trusted Jesus Christ when I was a freshman at the University of Memphis (back then it was called Memphis State!) and I was baptized at 18.  But, it would be many years before I made him, Lord of my life.   At 40 years of age I stopped running from God and I fell in love with Jesus.   The last eight years have seen me face down in God’s Word and allowing him to heal me, change me and make me a new creation in him.

Today I walk free in Christ!  Leaving behind a past of childhood sexual abuse, a lifetime of chasing after significance from this world and not understanding who I am in Christ.  As the women’s ministry director at my church, and as a speaker, I have the amazing privilege to be used by God as I teach women his Word.  I would love to share the messages God has placed on my heart with you and your women.  Please contact me at Karen@summitlife.com for a list of my speaking topics or visit my blog at www.KarenBarrows.blogspot.com

I’m thankful that Micca has allowed me to share with you today!  I leave you with the same sweet encouragement that Micca has given me: “Nothing gives me strength and renews my spirit and commitment like spending time with Jesus for no other reason but to worship Him and let Him love on me.”  I pray that today you will spend time with Jesus for no other reason but to worship Him and let Him love on you!

Blessings!

Karen

Perhaps you, like Karen, are in a place where you have accepted Christ’s death on a cross for your sins, but you’ve yet to make Him Lord. Maybe you identify with Karen’s abuse. If you’d like a word of encouragement, you can visit Karen’s blog or email her a question or comment. Karen@summitlife.com

Thanks, Karen for being my quest today. I look forward to having you again. I’ve asked Karen to share her story about how she overcome her abuse. Be sure and check back often. You don’t want to miss it!!

When he returned home, our reunion was such bliss. I was always waiting on him to arrive in his company parking lot. Porter was my whole world.

When he died, I felt betrayed by God. For a while, I turned my back on my faith because it felt as if God had turned His back on me. Sound familiar to anyone?

My emotions often told me I was alone in my pain and that my grief over the death of Porter would never end. During the day, I could control my feelings. There was much to do that would occupy my mind. When night fell, all appeared cold, lonely, and depressing. I used sleep like a drug. I would escape from my heartache and drift into the unconsciousness of slumber land. This was no way to live. I had to make a choice.

Like many, I could have given up on life, remained in my grief, hardened my heart, and given way to bitterness. Instead, I decided to give God a second change. I learned to trust Him, again.

You can too.

The truth is, throughout the ages, God has always been near to the broken-hearted, and still is today. From the cloud in your storm, God is leading, protecting, and providing for you, too, no matter what your emotions say.

While this tragedy caused me to doubt God’s love and promises, I had to trust God over my emotions. That was my first step toward trusting God, again. It took me awhile, but eventually I learned to say, “Lord, this is not what I planed or even what I want, but I trust you.” Submitting to God’s will in that way allowed peace to flood my entire being. Besides, God promised that Porter and I would meet again. Not on this earth, but in our heavenly home. Only this time, he’ll be waiting for me.

If some situation or heartache has caused you to doubt God’s love and provision, will take a step of faith today? Will you choose to trust Him over your emotions? If you do, your heavenly Father will take it from there…

To read my story, click on Micca’s story above.

If you need prayer today, would you leave a comment? You don’t have to go into details. Just say, “I need prayer,” and I will gladly lift you to the Father’s throne.

Be sure and visit again tomorrow! I will have a guest posting tomorrow—my dear friend, Karen Barrows, and she will bless your heart!

“Did you eat your black-eyed peas?” she asked.

My mom believes in the southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Years for good luck.  My question is, “What if you don’t like black-eyed peas? Are you cursed throughout the year?”  Certainly not.

Just how many black-eyed peas does a person have to consume to be “lucky” all year long?

Some say you have to eat 365 peas. That’s a pea of luck for each day of the year. Others say you must put a coin in the pot before serving the peas. Whoever gets the coin has extra good luck throughout the year. But what if the person swallows the coin?  How lucky is that? Not so much, I say.

So, I take my chances. Sometimes I eat back-eyed peas and other years I live on the edge and take my chances without consuming the traditional dish.

How about you? Do you have a New Year’s tradition?

One you could start this year is to learn more about God’s Word! I don’t know how lucky it will make you, but you will gain a closer relationship with God and experience more peace and joy in your life.

Laura Rath is leading a group of ladies from 12 states in an online study of my book, An Untroubled Heart; Finding a Faith Stronger Thank All Your Fear!

It begins this week, but  you can still sign up!! Visit Laura’s blog at www.laurarath.blogspot.com

I’ll be posting throughout the study on my blog as well.  I hope you’ll join us!

Now for the winner! (drum roll, please) The winner is Leigh at mom2momtoday.wordpress.com. Congratulations, Leigh!!

If you’re a last minute shopper like me, here are some Christmas gift suggestions from my friend, Jay Heavener:

To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.

Wishing each of you a very, merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year! May you live in the light and love of God’s Presence.

Many are not. They make room for the things I’ve listed above and much, much more, but they fail to make room for Jesus—the reason for the season. It reminds me of a story my pastor told a year or two ago.

“The young boy was thrilled when the teacher announced he would play the part of the Innkeeper in this year’s Christmas play. The girl and the boy who were to play Mary and Joseph always got the lead roles in every play. They were good at play-acting and he wanted to be just as good—even better!  So when the teacher told the little boy to practice his lines with intensity, he did so. “THERE’S No ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

When the opening night arrived, the little boy was filled with a mix bag of excitement and fear. Back stage he practiced his lines until it was time for him to perform. At the right moment, the boy enter the stage and waited behind the INN made of cardboard for Mary and Joseph.

As expected, Joseph was convincing.

“Dear Innkeeper, we’ve traveled a long way and my wife is with child. Do you have a room available for us to stay the night?”

The little boy replied as he had practiced. “THERE’S NO ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

Then, Mary, with tears in her eyes, begged. “Please sir, I’m tried, hungry and could give birth at any moment. Is there no room at all?”

The little boy’s heart stirred with compassion but he stayed the course and shouted, “THERE’S NO ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

Mary and Joseph were so convincing that as they turned to leave the little boy could no longer hold back his emotion. Without thinking, he called out, “Wait! You Can Have My Room!”

I love that story because Jesus is the only gift the world can’t live without.

I pray that you continue to make room for the Christ child in your heart and home this season. Like Patrick in my devotion, anticipate His arrival. Look for His Presence, read His story, and bake a birthday cake just for Him. Our birthday cake will be red velvet this year! I can almost taste it now!

Don’t forget about my giveaway. Share a favorite Christmas memory and enter to win my book, An Untroubled Heart, and my CD talk, Cultivating a Heart of Contentment!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

To often, I see trouble as my enemy. The truth is it’s my friend. If I’m teachable, I can learn a lot about life, God and myself through adversity. The key is to not fight it but give into it.

My first reaction to trouble is to fight my way through it. I try desperately to find a way out—a way of escape. But God never intended for me to wrestle with trouble or to hide from it. He certainly never meant for me to escape it. In fact, Jesus warned me that in this life I would have trouble. The good news is He has overcome all trouble. And if He’s an overcomer, than I am too! Being an overcomer doesn’t mean I’ll escape hardships. No. Adversity is one of God’s greatest tools for growing me spiritually. It’s in the growing process that I find victory.

It’s in the process that I find God’s mercies.

It’s in the process that I discover His ability to change me.

It’s in the process that I become holy, as He is holy.

It’s in the process that joy and peace become my companions.

It’s in the process that I become complete

It’s in trouble that God does a new thing; a new work.

Presently, I’m learning to trust in God’s sovereignty. When I choose to see things from the perspective that God is in control of all things, fear and my need to work it out vanishes. I may not understand God’s purpose in it, but I can trust Him because I believe He is on my side. And if God is on my side, then anything that touches my life, He’s aware of.  In fact, He’s allowed it for my good.

That’s where faith comes in. When I can say, “God, I don’t understand what’s happening. I didn’t plan for this and I certainly don’t like it, but I trust you” is when peace and joy become my companions in the face of trouble.

When I bank on God’s unending love, fear loses it’s grip. Sorrow gives way to contentment, and I can see God’s hand at work in my circumstances. His loving hand is renewing, restoring and sculpting me into the woman He desires me to be.

I’m learning not to let my troubles drag me into worry. Instead, I’m learning to see it as a heavenly intervention where God is not causing me harm, but rather doing a new thing.  With that perspective, I’m able to welcome trouble. I’m able to see the good side of trouble and my response is thankfulness. I’m thankful that my God is at work bringing to completion in me all He has promised.