Mommy Updates

Another one of those songs......

2011-08-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Another one of those songs I've listened to over and over on my iPod....but REALLY heard it today like the words were right from my heart.

Jesus Loves You

Tell me what do you believe in
Does your life have rhyme or reason
Something in your heart that makes you care
I hope that you don't mind me asking
But I have got a burning passion
I need to know forever you'll be there

I can't make it clearer
Put it any other way
If you can't see the simple truth I do
Then there's nothing in this world that's left to say
But Jesus loves you

I know I don't have all the answers
And I have wasted many chances
To prove to you a faith that lives inside
I'm praying there will be a breakthrough
Cause I can't be the one to save you
God knows how many times I've tried

I can't explain
But I can't deny
So many times for you I've cried
And to see you on your knees tonight

I cant make it clearer
Put it any other way
To know you know simple truth I do
And to know that your forever has been changed
Cause Jesus loves you

The most common and unfortunate misunderstanding.....

2011-08-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a LONNNGGGGGG time since I've gotten on here. So much for the song a week, huh? Gosh, I don't know where to begin.....we had a great summer....so that is probably the reason I was lacking on the updating of my blog. Anyhow, I am getting ready to do another bible study with some girlfriends and was looking online this morning and ran across this video. This video is what I hope my friends hear. Faith is not religion. It's not. They are two very different things. And, unfortunately that is the most common reason why, I believe, people are not willing to hear the Gospel. They have misunderstood faith in Jesus for religion.

<br><br><br>Hey

He Is With You

2011-05-09T11:26:00.001-07:00

I haven't had the time lately to post. I've been meaning to post this song I heard in church a few weeks ago. I put it on my play list and have heard it at least a dozen times since. So, the songs title speaks for itself.....He Is With You. I don't have a sick child, but I am regularly in the midst of families with children dealing with life-threatening illness. Specifically, last week I had a "send off" party for another little Wish Child. Her wish was to go to Disney World. She was 2 when I first met her. She is 3 now. They left this past weekend. When we met at Cold Stone for the send-off, I couldn't help but wonder how this family deals with illness so great. I don't know if this family has a personal relationship with Jesus (only God knows that for sure), but it really made me wonder how people in this situation (and other life-changing situations) go through tragedy without Him. Our own personal "strength" can only take us so far. Tragedy (illness, premature death of a loved one, job loss...the list goes on an on....) can take you under. But, when you have Jesus "with you" (as this song says) it is completely different. I love this song because it reminds me that He IS with me! In tragedy. In the quiet times. In the loud, crazy, busy times. He is ALWAYS with me, no matter what. (lyrics after the video)

There's a time to live
And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry

There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of things
In the worst of things

He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still
And your hearts are stone
Crying "God what'd you do that for?"
He is with you

There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There's a time to run
And a time to face it
There's love to seek
In all of this
Through all of this

He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And He is with you in the ICU when the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you

We may weep for a time but joy will come in the morning
The morning light

He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And your worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you

When nothing else is left and you take your final breath
He is with you

He is with you

What Life Would Be Like

2011-04-28T11:08:00.001-07:00

I was just listening to my iPod and heard the song "You Found Me" by Big Daddy Weave. LOVE that song because it reminds me that there was nothing I did, or could do, to "earn" God's love. It was there all along. It just seemed to take some "stuff" in my life to bring me to the point where I recognized my desperate need for Him. The day that He found me....well, it was the best (or maybe I should say, most important) day of my life. The joy and the freedom, the thankfulness and the complete and utter AWE that I felt in the weeks that followed....well, there really aren't many words to describe it. So, I was going to post this song but as I looked for the video and lyrics, another song kept popping up first! This song is on my iPod too....but it wasn't in my play list today. Anyhow, I've been listening to it and it's reminded me that every single day is a day that I have to let Him live through me. Take a listen.....

I wish I was more of a man
Have you ever felt that way
And if I had to tell you the truth
I’m afraid I’d have to say
That after all I’ve done and failed to do
I feel like less than I was meant to be

What if I could fix myself
Maybe then I could get free
I could try to be somebody else
Who’s much better off than me
But I need to remember this
That it’s when I’m at my weakest
I can clearly see

He made the lame walk and the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits while His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus life thru you and me

What if you could see yourself thru another pair of eyes
What if you could hear the truth
Instead of old familiar lies
What if you could feel inside
The power of the hand that made the universe You’d realize

All our hearts they burn within us
All our lives we’ve longed for more
So let us lay our lives before the one who gave His life for us

One of my fave messages by Perry Noble....

2011-04-21T14:52:00.006-07:00

This is worth watching! You can fast-forward through the music if you want (start at about 30 minutes in if you want to get right to the point!). I've watched this twice over the past 6 months or so. Really good.

Here I Go Again

2011-04-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

This song falls into the category where I've heard it many times but, on my drive to meet a Wish Child, I really "heard" it. The words. They were exactly how I feel....quite often, actually. And now, every time I hear this song my eyes well up because, unfortunately, this is me.

"Here I Go Again"

Father, hear my prayer
I need the perfect words
Words that he will hear
And know they're straight from You
I don't know what to say
I only know it hurts
To see my only friend slowly fade away

So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life
With Your fire in my eyes
But that old familiar fear is tearing at my words
What am I so afraid of?

'Cause here I go again
Talkin 'bout the rain
And mulling over things that won't live past today
And as I dance around the truth
Time is not his friend
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love Him
But here I go again, here I go again

Lord, You love him so, You gave Your only Son
If he will just believe; he will never die
But how then will he know what he has never heard
Lord he has never seen mirrored in my life

This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
This might be my last chance to tell him
That You love him
You love him, You love him

What Am I so afraid
What am I so afraid
What am I so afraid of?
How then will he know
What he has never heard

Really listen!!

2011-04-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Do you ever listen to music and just kind of go with the flow? You know, not really listen to the words? I mean you know the words, but you don't REALLY listen to them. I think it happens to me when I've heard a song so many times that I just unconsciously sing along but I don't really "listen". I posted a few days ago about my fear of sharing my story in front of my friend's church. Shortly after deciding to do it, to be obedient to whatever God wants us to do.....I heard this song in a new way. It's not the greatest video but, hey, it'll do....

"Set The World On Fire"

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands

[CHORUS]

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There's nothing I can't do
Nothing I can't do

I'm gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Crazy Love

2011-04-13T10:29:00.001-07:00

Everyone is different....but God ALWAYS uses music to speak to me, to "get through" to me, to teach me things. So, I think I am going to post a song each week (or maybe more than once a week) that shares my heart. So, here is the inaugural song selection! It's called Crazy Love! I'll post the lyrics after the music video.

We're the ones who believe in the things unseen
This home, this party is an in between
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies
Love enemies

They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of
Crazy Love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of Crazy Love

We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, Gonna live to serve
Cause when you get what you get when you walk by faith
Is it really so dumb to give it all away?
Give it all away

They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of
Crazy Love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of Crazy Love

Crazy Love

We know it sounds absurd
We don't get what we deserve
It's by grace we are saved

They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of
Crazy Love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of Crazy Love
Crazy Love

We're the ones who believe in the things unseen
This home, this party is an in between
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies

We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, Gonna live to serve
Give it all away

Crazy Love

Fear

2011-04-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

After a busy few weeks, things are calming down for us....at least for a little while. After the cruise, we returned home to work (for Jim) and One Day Serve preparation (for me). The week before the "big day" is a toughie! So, I wrote about our friends from Columbus that visited prior to Spring Break. Before they left, Dennis asked Jim and I if we would be able to come to Columbus in late May and share our "story" at the church he planted since we moved out west. Of course, our first inclination was "absolutely"....we'll look into it, make sure we have the frequent flier miles...we'll get it all worked out. So, we returned home from the cruise and lo and behold....no frequent flier seats available, period. Not even "around" the 22nd of May. Then, my anxiety about leaving the kids set in. Then, my fear of standing up in front of a few hundred people set in. Then, the thought of the cost of the hotel or car or food or whatever.....whatever I could come up with ran through my mind. Every reason why we should NOT go. I even emailed Denny and told him that it was not looking like it would work out. He was disappointed. I was disappointed....in myself. I even asked some of our friends to pray for discernment for us in deciding whether we should go or not. Really??? When would it NOT be God's plan for us to share how He worked in our lives? (that comment came from my loving husband) So, we got home last night and promptly booked the tickets without using frequent flier miles. We emailed Dennis to tell him that we would, in fact, be coming. Not only will we share our "testimony", our story....of how we became Believers....but we will also be sharing what God has done through us. Specifically, we will share One Day Serve with the Journey Church!

I pray that we clearly communicate what God has done in our lives. Not what we have done on our own. I pray that we use His words. Not our own. I know that in Him, I can do anything! Anything!! Despite my fear of failure, my fear of being ridiculed, my fear of crying in front of a crowd of people, or my fear of the unknown. You know what I fear more than any of that? I fear NOT sharing what God has done in my life. I fear my friends and neighbors and loved one's not knowing Him.

My First Official Book Review!

2011-04-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

So, I joined Book Sneeze. They send me a FREE book to read and review. I finished my first book, A Conversation with God by Alton Gansky. This was very easy to read as it was written in a conversational format (hence the title). To me, it almost made God more "touchable" as the answers to the questions were written as though he was talking directly to me. Each question was answered by a few different people in the Bible: Jesus, God, Paul, Eve, Silas, Joshua. This book covers a variety of topics. Some are "deep", others seem basic. It starts with several questions about God and who he is. The Bible and its accuracy are questioned. Pain and suffering and all the questions that come with it There is an extensive discussion on Jesus, where he went when he died, what is his role in salvation, what IS salvation. Heaven and Hell are discussed at length and although the details are not extensive there is some very good information on this topic. I think people really wonder about the reality of Heaven and Hell and this book does its best to clarify and make these places very real to us. Topics on Christian Living and Today's World end the book and give very practical, life-application type information. Overall, I'd say this book is going to speak to a very wide audience. It's not a deeply theological book, but all of the information is rooted in Scripture and does not appear to be based on the author's opinion.

Disney Cruise

2011-03-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing time on our trip with awesome friends! Instead of typing it all out.....I'll just post a few videos. Pictures tell a better story anyway, right?

In case you missed it, we're doing it again!!

2011-03-10T12:13:00.004-07:00

Serving people. It's one of the things Jesus asks us to do. At first glance, God is asking us to take the focus off ourselves. Well, He is. But when you look a little past that....after you've actually served people....you realize that it wasn't just about the other people. It was about you, too! God uses your service to others to bless you in the way you need it the most.

When we did One Day Serve in December there was a gentleman painting a bedroom in someone's home. He said that he was really wrapped up in his own problems. Probably pretty down and possibly even deep in worry. But, he said that "this" (serving someone else through One Day Serve) was going to "cure that". It was going to "cure" some things for him. God will use your service to others to bless YOU as much as the person you are blessing.

I remember a time in my life when I was really trying not to sin, but obviously I was always failing. I thought being a Christian meant that I was expected to work extra hard at being sinless. Despite knowing in my head that that is absolutely impossible, despite knowing that that is why Jesus endured what He did for me, I was having a hard time breaking free from that way of thinking. Being a Christian is not a life of simply avoiding sin. It is a life of living out what Christ calls us to do. If we are serving others we will be so focused on that that we won't have to try to not sin. I tell you this because I know it first hand! When I am doing what God has called me to do (serve others) I am far too focused on that to even think about the need to "stop sinning". It just happens naturally. It's a far more joyful life, too. I have no doubt God had it planned out that way.

So, do what God asks you to do and join us on April 2nd for One Day Serve. You won't regret it!

One Day Serve is April 2nd - Teaser from thecrossroadsaz on Vimeo.

Impact!

2011-03-09T09:45:00.001-07:00

Do you ever think about the fact that you impact people all the time? Whether you are trying to or not? Whether you know it or not? Could be good, could be bad. One comment. An action. You know who is really perceptive to this? Kids! Whoa, kids are great at recognizing that your "walk" does not match up with your "talk". But, all in all, I would say adults are good at noticing that too.

So, anyhow, I know I have said it in prior posts, but 2 people that God used to change my life (and Jim's) are in Phoenix for a little vacation! We were able to have dinner with them last night. Before we left to go home, we prayed and Denny said something that was so impacting to me! He said, "God, you knew 10 years ago that we would be sitting here together tonight." Wow! {Of course, that wasn't the entire prayer.} But, those words were stunning to me! And, so true! God's plan has always been in place. He knew we'd move next door to Denny and Carol. He knew the impact they would have on our lives (all driven by Him, of course). He knew 10 years later that we would be sitting around a table. And, I am both in awe and forever grateful for that. Grateful that we were able to share with them the impact they had on our lives. And not just our lives! But, the lives of our children, too! Their IMPACT on us is far more reaching than just us!

I guess my point is....recognize that everything you say and do impacts people. Don't take that lightly. God uses His people to reach others. I pray that you are willing and obedient, like Denny and Carol. Because if you are.....you and God, together, will change the world.

James....

2011-03-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

Our Small Group is starting this coming Monday. We're doing a study on the Book of James. I've been excited to do this since the last One Day Serve in December! Gosh, I ordered it and have had it sitting my my house since early January! So, clearly, I'm excited about this! This morning I was reading my email and I subscribe to a few blogs so I was reading through one of them and it was based on.....the Book of James! Coincidence? I thought it was good enough to share. And just so the proper credit is due, the author of this is Perry Noble (Pastor of Newspring Church in South Carolina).

Oh, I also wanted to say that this is written from the standpoint of "ministry". I am sure many people believe that if you are in "ministry", you work for a church. I have to say that I disagree with that. Every believer has a "ministry". It could be anything from "ministering" to the kids/teen/youth in your life to your extended family. If you call yourself a follower of Christ, He has a "ministry" for you....you just might not recognize what it is (just yet). So, read this from the viewpoint that you DO have a ministry.....because you do!

#1 – Do I understand who I am? James 1:1 – notice James didn’t identify himself as the brother of Jesus…but rather His servant! WOW!

#2 – Do I understand that ministry IS NOT easy? James 1:2-4 (when the writer BEGINS with these verses that’s a big time sign!)

#3 – Do I understand that I should spend more time on my face before God rather than worshipping the FACEBOOK God when seeking direction? James 1:5

#4 – Do you think that James is trying to get a point across…it’s not going to be easy…but we are called to be “in it to win it!” James 1:12

#5 – Do I understand it’s not IF I am tempted, but when…and IF I give into it then something WILL die? James 1:13-15

#6 – Do I understand that I am NOT THAT GOOD…that everything is a gift? James 1:16-18

#7 – HOW many bad decisions, arguments and misunderstandings could be avoided if we all simply memorized and applied James 1:19-20? (Also see James 1:26)

#8 – Do I understand I am not called just to preach the Word…but live it? James 1:22

#9 – Do I understand that showing favoritism WILL be a temptation…but I must always war against it? James 2:1-4

#10 – Do I understand that I am called to live and lead by faith…and if I am not taking steps of faith in my life and ministry then my faith is DEAD? James 2:14-26

#11 – Do I understand the weight of James 3:1? WOW!!!

#12 – Do I fully understand that when I become envious and selfish then that is simply the beginning of the end? James 3:13-18

#13 – Do I have the proper motives in regards to leading this ministry? James 4:1-3

#14 – Am I being opposed by God or is He offering me grace? James 4:6

#15 – Am I using my platform (whether it is speaking or the internet) to falsely attack, accuse and twist people’s words around? James 4:11-12

#16 – Do I understand my days are numbered, that I’ve got one shot at this life and I need to do all that I can to honor the One who called me? James 4:13-17

#17 – Do I understand that there are seasons of growth and seasons of preparation…and in those seasons of preparation I should not become impatient, but rather wait on God? James 5:7-8

#18 – Do I understand that integrity HAS to be a priority in my life and ministry? James 5:12

#19 – Do I understand that I cannot do this alone, that I need accountability in my life? James 5:16

#20 – Do I fully comprehend James 5:17-18…that Elijah was just like one of us? He literally called fire down from heaven! He prayed for rain…and it rained! I want THAT kind of faith!

#21 – Do I understand that ministry is messy…that I am called and expected to have tough conversations with the person that the Lord places on my heart, but in doing so the potential is unlimited? James 5:19-20

Just life.....

2011-02-16T11:59:00.010-07:00

If you haven't already heard, my sister Tarry's baby is healthy and does not have Downs Syndrome! Praise God for those results. And, thank YOU for your sweet comments and prayers. You have no idea how amazing it feels to know that people care and are willing to step up and pray on your behalf. Unbelievable! As far as the Chadwick's, we're staying busy. Jim's traveling tons. Payton's wrapped up in staying on top of things at Anthem Prep. And, Connor, oh Connor. This child has been sicker than usual this winter. Strep, fever, flu (possibly) and now a raging ear infection. He woke up at midnight and 3am last night. The 3am deal was a blood-curdling scream that woke up Payton and Jim. It's not an easy task to wake Jim up, even if you are laying right next to him. I should mention that Connor is on the opposite side of the house. He screamed so loud we thought someone had broken into the house. After a trip to the Pediatrician this morning, an ear infection was confirmed. Now, I understand it must hurt. But, is screaming like that necessary? God did not wire men with a very high pain tolerance, did He?

I am helping to get One Day Serve going again for April. If you haven't seen the awesome video of this amazing day in December, I will attach it to the bottom of this post. Jim and I met an awesome couple, Kim and Michelle, after ODS last time. Kim is going to be a huge driving force this time around and I am excited to see what God will do through him. My grandma is coming to stay with us for a few weeks. She's at Tarry's right now. Her next stop is Anthem. I'm thankful that we are going to get the opportunity to spend this time with her and just be around her. She's 81 years old and you would NEVER know it! After grandma leaves, we have some very special friends coming to town. Dennis and his wife Carol are our old neighbors from Ohio. God used these people HUGELY in our lives. Dennis is a pastor in Columbus, OH. I have no words to describe how thankful I am for he and his wife. Thankful that he was obedient to God in sharing his faith in action and in words. Thankful that he took the time to meet with Jim often and pray for me, that one day I would come to know Christ. Thankful that God chose to use them to show us Himself. God's plan is so intricate and perfect.

So, when all of our visitors return home we will be off on a Disney Cruise for Spring Break! We're going with 3 other families and really looking forward to it. Starting to pray NOW that I don't get motion sick. I'm a get-sick-in-the-backseat-of-the-car kind of person. So, we'll see..... And, lucky Sophie is having some friends from church stay with her right here, in the comfort of her own home, while we are gone. Gayle and Paul are moving in to our house for 8 nights! Wow! So, so grateful for them.

As I read back over this post, it's so evident that we are blessed beyond ANYTHING we deserve. It's hard to believe. I pray that we always remain thankful and never, ever take our blessings for granted.

One Day Serve from thecrossroadsaz on Vimeo.

Tarry

2011-02-10T11:15:00.002-07:00

I'm about to leave to go to my sister's house. She's pregnant. Second trimester. We're going to the doctor. We found out on Monday that she is having a baby girl. On Tuesday we found out there is some "concern". Without going into too many details, the concern is Downs Syndrome. I'm writing this to ask you to pray for Tarry this afternoon. We are going in at 12:15 so she can have an amniocentesis. Please pray that this is not painful for Tarr. Pray for peace for her and Scott. And, most of all, pray that this baby does not have Downs Syndrome.

This whole situation has really gotten me to thinking about how God works in us. His heart is that we would turn to Him in situations like these. God has allowed Tarry and Scott to endure some serious trials in the past few months. Job loss and all the stress that comes along with it. And, now this. It really makes me think back to my own personal trials that drew me into a relationship with Jesus. God used the loss of a baby and some health issues to cause me to recognize my need for Him. I'm sure He had attempted to use many other trials and experiences in my life prior to that. I just wasn't listening. I didn't recognize it. I didn't hear or see it. I wasn't interested. I am pretty sure I tried everything besides turning to God to remedy my "hurt".

Knowing about God and truly knowing Him are two very different things. I think we sometimes rest in the fact that we know ABOUT God. I'm pretty sure this is heart-breaking to Him considering the price He paid for us. It is most definitely not up to me (or anyone else for that matter) to judge another persons faith. I just say this so you DON'T miss it. So you DO recognize it. So you ARE listening. So you ARE interested. There is a purpose for our personal trials. Don't discount it and, please, don't miss it! God wants you to truly KNOW Him.

Thanks in advance for your prayers. I love my sis and hate that she is going through this. Your prayers mean EVERYTHING!

Brutal Honesty

2011-01-31T12:41:00.005-07:00

I'm about to be brutally honest here. God has really been working on me, my heart. I often talk about God, how I strive to follow Him, live my life for Him. I post stuff on facebook that speaks to my heart. I try to share my faith with my friends. I do this because I love Jesus and I desperately want others to know Him. He changed my life 9 years ago and I will never be the same. But, here's the deal. I am not perfect. I have some major things I am so ashamed of. Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. So, that is why I am writing this. I don't want to be that way. I want to be honest, real, and share that just because you follow Jesus does not mean everything is perfect. So, here is the truth. I do not give my husband very much (really, ANY) grace. In dealing with him, I often use anger to address whatever it is we are facing. It hurts him and I'm sure it hurts our kids. Actually, I think I react to any kind of hurt or disappointment with anger. And, I know that must break God's heart. The thing is....I don't think I've really handed this "issue" of mine over to God even though I've tried to convince myself that I have. It is clear that I cannot do it on my own. And, just when I think I am handling it the way God wants me to, BOOM, I'm back to my old ways again. So, I am here to "confess" this and hopefully avoid the hypocrisy that is so damaging to God's name. God never called me to be perfect, that is totally impossible. And, He didn't say it would be easy following Him. But, He did call me to recognize my "sins" and turn from them. And, that is what I am choosing to do. Once and for all, I am turning this over Him. He knows better than I do that I will NEVER overcome this on my own. I'm too hard-headed, stubborn and strong-willed....(not virtues I am very proud of by the way). I'm sure the road will be bumpy, but when I overcome this with Jesus' help, Jim will get to see God up close and personal. And, he deserves that. He deserves way better. And, just so we are clear....I know God wants to help me conquer this more than I want to do it myself. Stunningly, He loves and forgives me regardless. That's the kind of love and grace I want to show Jim.

Excelling at What You Do

2011-01-21T10:00:00.001-07:00

This was too got not to share!

1. People who excel work with enthusiasm. Regardless of whether the job is big or small, give it your best. Great performers give their best effort, no matter the size of the audience: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23 TEV).

2. People who excel sharpen their skills. They never stop developing, growing, learning, and improving: “If your ax is dull and you don’t sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 TEV). It takes more than desire to excel, it takes skill! Remember, you’re never wasting time when you’re sharpening your “ax.”

3. People who excel keep their word. They are reliable. They can be counted on to do what they say they’ll do. So they excel because people of integrity are rare in our society: “Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!” (Proverbs 20:6 TEV).

4. People who excel maintain a positive attitude. Even under pressure, or change, or unrealistic demands, they don’t allow themselves to become negative: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life . . .” (Philippians 2:14–16 NIV). And remember: “If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes” (Ecclesiastes 10:4 NLT).

5. People who excel do more than is expected. This is a secret that every successful person has discovered. You’ll never excel by only doing what is required. Jesus said, “If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously” (Matthew 5:40–42 MSG).

(found on The Purpose Driven Connection)

#5 is MOST DEFINITELY my favorite...I agree 110%...always do MORE than is expected, go above and beyond, be "generous" beyond human comprehension...all the while, never forgetting that God deserves the "credit".

I Love to Read!

2011-01-20T15:03:00.001-07:00

I'm a HUGE reader. Love to read. Love to learn from others....their insights, their successes, their failures, what to do, what not to do. Love it! Jim and I are diametrically opposite when it comes to our choices in reading. He loves to read as well but he loves stuff written by Vince Flynn or John Grisham. You know, fantasy-land-not-real-kind-of-stuff. I am from the camp that if it is not going to make me better, then I am not wasting my time. LOL So, I thought I would share some of my favorite, most recent "reads". I need to tell you, though, that I truly believe the most "learning" is done when you the Bible. Period. Hands down the number one book if you are looking for guidance. And, I recently found something to help me do this DAILY! It's an App created by You Version. It's unreal! It's free too! Not only can you select a reading plan that suits you: The One Year Bible or the New Testament just to name a couple...there are TONS of choices. But, you can also choose the translation you prefer! At this stage, I prefer the New Living Translation (NLT). It's easier to read and comprehend (for me). The Message is cool too but really "wordy". So, having said that, here are some fantastic books that I would highly recommend:

Do I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship by Tullian Tchividjian

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Radical by David Platt

Gospel-Centered Parenting by William Farley

Dying to Live by Clayton King

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn

Stream of Consciousness....

2011-01-07T15:02:00.001-07:00

Where to begin. It's been so long since the last time I blogged, I don't remember what I've posted and what I haven't. Anyhow, I'm sure it was before Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. Tarry and family came for our annual fondue-fest. We added a beef tenderloin to the mix this year. This usually equals major stomach distress for me but, thankfully, I was OK. My dear friend Michelle went to church with us and then spent the evening with us. We had the Christmas Day festivities at my sister's house and that included even more beef. Yikes! We had Connor's 7th birthday party at Pump It Up with lots of his friends. But, before we did that we had the joy of taking Daddy to get a colonoscopy the morning of Connor's birthday. I should not have taken the kids to that. I wasn't anticipating anything but "see you in 10 years" but we found out, alongside the kids, that they found a large polyp about 15 inches up the colon. We had some tears. Pathology to follow in 2 weeks. Not the news we were hoping for. Jim is only 41! Get a colonoscopy, people, even if you're not 50 years old!.........Payton is in the midst of Peter Pan rehearsals and Connor just wants to ride his new bike. Jim started his "new" (well, not-so-new, but reorganization-driven) job this week. He was in Chicago all week. Payton was home all week doing her at-home project while Connor went back to school. We found out last night that Jim's polyp is benign. Praise God for that news! The dog, oh where to begin. The dog began getting sick on Connor's birthday too. Not a great day for the Chadwick's now that I think about it. Barfing, diarrhea, you name it, she did it. Four to five long days of that and anyone would be tempted to part ways with the dog. Monday we found out she had a bacterial infection. No more pooping after the very first dose of medication. Praise God for that, too!..........Connor bought the new iPod touch with his birthday money. The thing can't hold a charge for more than an hour. Back to Apple we go. Tonight at 5pm to be exact. Nothing is easy. Jim and I have been trying to find a time to see Little Fockers. No such luck at this point. Maybe this weekend. We finally got our surround sound system complete over Christmas break. Speakers, receivers, HDMI cables....my head was spinning. It took me 15 minutes just to figure out how to turn on the Wii today. And, HOW is this better? Next week resumes some normalcy with both kids back in school. We start our new small group in a few weeks. We ordered a study on the book of James. Really looking forward to that. Just found out my Grama might come out and stay with us for a few weeks in February. Really looking forward to that too. Reminded every day that life here on earth is short, temporary....our temporary home. I want to live like it. Like it's temporary. That can be a daily battle. Happy New Year ya'll.............

Am I my Dad?

2010-12-17T21:10:00.002-07:00

For the past few weeks I was so busy that I just looked forward to having nothing to do (after December 12th). LOL I didn't sleep very soundly in the weeks prior to the 12th (that is only because I cannot turn off my mind) and I didn't have a lot of time on my hands. One night, my daughter cried because she said I never have time to talk to her anymore. Now, I should have prefaced that with the fact that my daughter is somewhat dramatic! LOL She was really exaggerating. But, I did have my ear to a phone and my nose in a computer for weeks. So, here I am basking in the next few weeks of having nothing specific to do. Well, that might not be totally true. We have a few scheduled events over the next 2 weeks but nothing that I should lose sleep over. Jim thinks I'm my dad. If you don't know my dad....he can't rest. He does not sit still long. I didn't know whether to take Jim's comment as a compliment or not?! Is that a good thing? Maybe it's a bad thing?

So, while I was mulling over Jim's comment, I signed up for another Wish Kid. I wasn't going to sign up for another child until the new year but he lives in Anthem! I live in Anthem! It's pretty rare to have a wish child right in my community. It would be crazy for me NOT to sign up for him. So, I called the family tonight to introduce myself. I learned a little bit about the child. He is actually 16. He has cancer. Lymphoma. He found out this year on Easter weekend. As I talked to the child's mom (I'll call the child C and the mom M), she shared with me that C is actually her great nephew. My paperwork said she was his mom? M said she adopted C when he was 11 months old so she is his mom. But, first, she was his great aunt. M proceeded to tell me that she is not a traditional mom of a 16 year old. She actually has children of her own that are 45 and 47 years old! M and her husband are retired and live on Social Security. M said that C desperately wants to go to college. M wondered if that was even something that he could "wish" for. M is concerned about the future for many reasons. C has a PET scan on January 11th. We decided to schedule our initial visit for after that. So we will meet C and his parents on January 15th.

I'm constantly reminded that there is so much hurt and need right in my own backyard! Things going on behind closed doors that I would never, ever know unless I took the opportunity to reach out, even when it is uncomfortable. And, it's often uncomfortable. But, that discomfort should never, ever stop me, or you, for doing what God has called us to do for one another. I know it was by design that I signed up for C's wish. I'm excited to meet him in person. I'm excited to meet his parents. I'm excited to be the one to bring some joy to this family. And, most of all, I'm excited to see what God has in store!

Part 2 on One Day Serve

2010-12-16T13:34:00.004-07:00

One Day of showing Christ's love to others is infiltrating the lives of people that we could not have even begun to orchestrate on our own. I don't know if I mentioned that there are several people from The Crossroads that are going back to the homes we served this past Sunday to do some jobs that were not able to get finished because we did not have the right parts or equipment. Then there are the homes we are going back to just because there is more to be done...and we want to help.

So, today's story plays into that. This afternoon, my husband went to a plumbing store in Peoria to pick up some specialty parts to fix and "spruce up" the RO system at Heather's home. The system was not working, needed a new filter, a new faucet, new pipes..... So, Jim is the buyer of the parts and another guy that was on his team, Kim, is the installer of it all. Jim arrived at the plumbing store (which is NOT close to home, by the way) and ran into a neighbor that lives up the street from us. It turns out, our neighbor works at this plumbing store. Jim shared the story with our neighbor, showed him the photos of what we need and the neighbor went to the back to gather all of the items. In the meantime, Jim said he began to pray about the whole thing. Out walks the neighbor with his arms full of the supplies, tells the cashier to give Jim his discount and proceeds to donate the most expensive item we were purchasing! Our neighbor is so "intrigued" by the whole thing, Jim got his email address and said he would keep him updated on the progress of this project and future One Day Serve projects!

Jim came home and called Heather to schedule the installation for tomorrow. Heather, in tears again, shared with him that her boss (who owns a granite company) wanted to know ALL about Sunday. He even asked her to find out how he could be a part of it "next time" (on the serving side)! Then, she proceeded to share that about 3 years ago she had a "falling out" with her neighbor. On Sunday, that same neighbor was outside while we were doing our "thing" and struck up a conversation with Heather. Their relationship has been mended.

Are you as amazed as I am at how far-reaching His light really is? I'll say it again, there is no human on earth that could orchestrate that so intricately!

One Day Serve from thecrossroadsaz on Vimeo.

My Recap

2010-12-14T09:26:00.001-07:00

My personal recap of One Day Serve could probably be summed up in a few words: amazing, humbling, joyful. But I wanted to share some of the awesome things God did that could not have been planned by any "man". Just to give you a little background, this day had been in the works since October. We looked for families to serve. We gathered their "lists". We sought out locations in our community to do "random acts of kindness". We began to share with the church about this special day. We had concerns, I'll admit. We thought...what if we have too many homes and not enough people to serve? Or, what if we have too many people that want to participate and not enough places to serve? As 12/12 drew near, it was clear that God had already worked out all of those "minor" details.

Our desire for this project was to show the unconditional love of Jesus to hurting families. Families without a father due to death or divorce. Families dealing with serious illness. Families that are enduring major financial issues. As the placement for the homes began, we attempted to place the most skilled people on the home jobs. It was daunting because we had 200+ people sign up and, I'll be honest, I did not know each and every one of those people. So, I did the placing (for the homes) and hoped for the best. I thought to myself....worst case scenario, we'll shuffle some of the super "handy" folks from home to home based on need.

Fast forward to today....I am in awe of God and His hand in the purposeful placement of His people....all the while, I am totally clueless and "hoping for the best." Here is what He did:

1. He placed a former single Mom in the home of a newly single Mom.

2. He placed parents whose baby died shortly after birth in the home of a wife who lost her healthy, young husband unexpectedly a few years ago.

3. He placed a man at the home of the wife who lost her husband to cancer....and this man used to drive her husband to his cancer treatments years ago!

4. At the last minute, we added a family who is dealing with breast cancer. This is the wife's second round of cancer and she is starting radiation this week. Our pastor, Steve, recently lived out this very scenario. Unknowing of the situation, Steve stopped at this home on Sunday and was able to talk to the husband. He was able to say "I know how you feel." He was able to pray with him.

I could go on and on. But my point in sharing this is to point you back to God. He is the one who purposely placed people in each of these homes. I feel beyond blessed to sit where I sit. To look back and see God's supernatural intervention while I didn't even know it was happening at the time!

So now that it is over, I am thoughtful about what God was teaching me through the One Day Serve. Here are some of my thoughts on that:

1. Every day can and should be a "One Day Serve". This isn't something that has to be of great magnitude with 200+ participants. This is something I need to live out every day!

2. I need to take notice of people, resist my human desire to feel too busy or too bothered to invest in the lives that God has placed all around me.

3. I have always taken the book of James very seriously. Faith without works is dead! Some people believe you cannot "work" your way into Heaven and although I agree with that 110%, I do not know how you can love Jesus, have a relationship with Him, read the bible, call yourself a follower of Jesus and NOT have an overwhelming desire to serve others! To me, that is impossible! What has God taught me here? Well, He really knew what He was doing when He set that up because serving others obviously is such a blessing to the one being served. But, it is heart-changing and brings more joy than is describable in words to the "servant".

4. Every single human on this planet matters to God. He wants every one of those humans to know Him. So do I.

A coincidence or not?!?

2010-12-10T10:37:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday I had to take my Mother-in-law to the airport for her flight back to Ohio. I had a huge list of places I needed to go and things I needed to do. I had my plan all mapped out. First stop, airport. Second stop, Kohl's off Carefree Hwy, then lunch, at some point I really wanted/needed to get a pedicure, I had to pick up a prescription at CVS, run to the Outlets and there was probably one more item on that list that I can't even remember at this point. So, after Kohl's and a quick bite to eat, I decided to stop at the Nail Salon that was in the same shopping plaza since I was right there. Generally, I don't go to this Salon because it costs about $10 more for a pedicure. I really like it, but can't really justify paying more for the same thing I can get up the street for way less. But, last Thursday, I decided to just go in....why not, I was right in the parking lot!

So, there I was...just me....and the nail person. In walked an older lady. She sat a few chairs down from me and I overheard her telling her nail person where she lived, among other things. Both of our pedicures were done at the same time so we were sitting at the feet-drying-thingy together. We started shooting the breeze about stuff. Nothing too thrilling. We talked about nails, nail polishes.... Fifteen minutes (at least) must have past as we were chatting. In walked a white-haired man who stood and stared at us for a while. I asked the lady if that was her husband. It was. He came over and she introduced me to her husband. They asked me if I attended a church. I told her I did. We all started to talk some more about their church (CCV) and my church (The Crossroads). The husband is a retired Pastor from California. I shared with him a bit about this huge Outreach project we are doing at The Crossroads called One Day Serve.

At this point, the husband looked at me and said....."can you find me a family to bless this Christmas?" He told me not to ask my church. He wanted ME to find a family in need. He said he had a large sum of money that will come from the church he led in California. He proceeded to give me his home phone and cell numbers. He wants to be anonymous. But, he wants ME to find this family and call him SOON. OK, at this point, I am like "what???" These people do not know me AT ALL. Well, if you consider 15 minutes of chatting over good nail products "knowing" someone....that might count. Before they left, the wife asked me to have lunch with her sometime. I gave them my phone number. And, they left.

So, I'm on my way home, in awe of what just transpired. I never go to that salon! I meet these "strangers". They want me to find someone for them to bless this Christmas. I happen to know of several families in very "needy" situations as a result of the One Day Serve homes I've acquired. I am 100% sure, absolutely convinced, not a tinge of doubt that God placed me in that spot at that particular moment to do HIS work. This was not an accident or coincidence. God is in the business of people, you know. He cares about people. All people! He knew before I did who this family was going to be.

Last night, I called the man from the nail salon, the retired Pastor. I gave him the name and address of the family. He took down all of the information and said the check would be in the mail tomorrow. Unbelievable. I sit here, again, in awe of what has transpired. I'm humbled that God would place ME in that situation. This is absolute proof that God uses His people to accomplish His will. Again, He loves people! And, he will use His people to show His love to those that don't know him yet. Amazing, just amazing.

"Then" and "Now"

2010-11-21T21:32:00.001-07:00

I was about to climb into bed. Washed the face. Put on the jammies. Put the night time goop on my face. Made sure the reading material and iPad was on my nightstand. And, BAM, my mind would not let me rest (unfortunately that is nothing new for me....sometimes my mind is a hard thing to turn off). So here I am. I can't help but think about how God has transformed my life over the past almost 8 years. If you knew me "then", you probably would have thought I was a nice enough person. A rule-following person. A friend, girlfriend, daughter (sometimes difficult daughter), sister. Nothing "spectacular", just an "average Joe" I guess. Even "then" I cared about people. Hated to see people sad, struggling, suffering. I'd get pretty bothered by seeing the guy standing by the side of the road with a sign that says "Hungry! Will work for food". But, as I think back....I never did anything about it. There wasn't any action behind those feelings.

Fast forward to today, I see God's work in my life. It's gotta be Him, using me to accomplish His will. Believe me, I'm not that "good" on my own (Jim will attest to that, right Honey?). So, as I have grown in my faith and my relationship with Jesus, I recognize that no one He puts in my life is by accident. Every single person, whether a close friend, distant friend, friend-of-a-friend, neighbor, teacher to one of my kids or even a stranger matters to God just as much as I do. So, what do I do with that? I sit up and take notice and I act! I help when they need help. I listen when they need someone to talk to. I give them the coat off my back if they need it. I give them food if they are hungry. I don't judge them. I love them as unconditionally as God loves me. No strings attached! So, when I compare "then" to "now".....there is no comparison.

My advice? Take notice of the people God places in your life! It's never an accident. Don't waste the opportunity to bless someone else. And, never make them ask! If you know they need help, just do it!