She Sparkles

Thankful Thursday (& Ann Voskamp Journal Giveaway!)

2012-02-02T09:40:00.029-05:00

Hey Friends!

I'll be honest ~ I am intentionally choosing "gratitude" today. Again.

It's been another long week filled with sickness, car breakdowns/repairs (this time my son Jake's truck. Ugh.), deadlines, cancelled appointments (due to sick Benj), and more!

But today, I will choose gratitude. I will choose joy. I will thank God Benj has an ear infection and not lice. I will thank God for our warm home and free antiobiotics and a lap top while I watch ESPN Sports Center with Benj....again.

We have a choice, friends....let's choose to thank Him! :)

Here is my Top 5 Thankful Thursday list for today....

1. Red Hot Retreat

Saturday I spent the day sharing my journey and some Red Hot fun with the amazing women of Cross Pointe Community Church. What a blessing!!!

Pic above: I must have been concentrating as Michele was reading Scripture during our worship time. I just wanted to show you sometimes I really do close my mouth - I know you're used to seeing me more like...

The ladies from Cross Pointe were so warm and genuine, and I am thankful for my time spent sharing with them!

2. I finished my 8 Bible teachings/scripts!

Do you remember a few weeks ago I shared I had a January 31 deadline? Well, praise the Lord, I was able to get all of my writing finished. YAY!!

The production assistant called me Monday night in tears saying she loved the material so much. THANK YOU GOD! And thank you, dear bloggy friends, for your prayer support! Woo Hoo!

3. I'm going on a little trip... ~

I'm sorry I haven't shared the whole story yet of what God is up to...there's just so many details in how God has opened this exciting door. I promise to fill you in soon - in the mean time - here's part of the fun.

In 42 days I'm going with RBC's http://www.dod.org/Day of Discovery crew to.....

Turkey! We'll be filming my new video driven Bible study on site in Ancient Laodicea, as well as footage in Istanbul. Crazy, huh? I know.

ONLY GOD.

4. The *She Sparkles* A to Z Memory Verse Challenge ~

Y'all bless me with you commitment to this challenge! If you have a minute, check out some of the amazing blogs linking up with us here, like....

* Lacey's 2 year old sharing the verse

* Danielle's colorful illustration

* Gigi's memorizing tip
I am so thankful for the A to Z challenge, Verseability (my amazing sponsor!) and the opportunity to journey others! It's not too late to join us - we're only on "C"! More details here!

5. My son Jake

We had to order his graduation announcements, cap & gown, etc.. this week. Oh my! How do you make it through your first born graduating? I'll take all the tips I can get...in the mean time I am thankful for Jake and the nice young man that he is!

Whew!! So there's my Thankful Thursday Top 5 list!

What about for you?? On this Thankful Thursday, what are you thankful for today?? I'd love to hear from you!!

And to one blessed reader, I'd love to share Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts Gratitude Journal ($24 value)

To Win my Giveaway: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:

What are you thankful for today?

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Thursday, February 2nd and ends Sunday, February 5th at 9 PM. Winners will be posted on my blog during the week of February 6th.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

Can't wait to hear what YOU are thankful for, my friend! I thank God for YOU!!!
Sweet blessings to you!

P.S. I'm linking up with others for Thankful Thursday at Grace Alone! Come join us! :)

A to Z Memory Verse Challenge - "C" Verse & Giveaway!

2012-01-29T21:00:00.002-05:00

Hey Friends!

Welcome back to the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge 2012! I'm so glad you are here!

In case you missed it, look at how this creative mom and how her family practiced the "B verse" this week.....

What fun!! Please keep your pictures, comments and ideas coming! :)

In case you are new to the A to Z Challenge, you can catch up here ! Basically, I'll be sharing a new verse every other week (A to Z style) through December 2012. I also have lots of fun prizes to share with Memory Verse Challenge participants!

Here are the verses we've learned so far....

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31

and now C -

C - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Memorizing Ideas ~

* Don't forget the food coloring idea (see pic above!)

* For families, you may want to print off a letter C here on colored cardstock. Write the verse on the "C", and hang it on your refrigerator.

* Memorize it by song. This mom said her 2 1/2 year old memorized Psalm 51:10 while singing it together. There are many different versions of Psalm 51:10 to music. Here's one...

**Feel free to share your favorite tips, ideas, even pictures. I'd love to share your suggestions and/or link to you in the weeks to come!

Giveaways ~

Thanks to the extreme generosity of Verseability, one of my Verse Challenge Sponsors, I am thrilled to share TONS of great GIVEAWAYS with you! For this week....

* Memory Verse Challenge Participants ~ I have 10 free custom A to Z Memory Versebooks ($8.00 value, plus free s/h) to share. Woo hoo!

The Kidz A to Z versebooks have ALL of the verses we'll be memorizing this year....however, I hope you'll keep coming back here and checking in! I've learned accountability is KEY to victory!

Also, although the versebooks were designed with kids in mind, I have one by my kitchen sink and I love it! My husband John took one to work and has it on his desk. The kids have one in their bathroom. I love the Kidz Versepack!

To Win my A to Z Kidz Memory Versepack Giveaway: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:

Why have you've decided to participate in this A to Z Memory Verse Challenge?

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Monday, January 30th and ends Thursday, February 2nd at 9 PM. Winners will be posted on my blog during the week of February 3rd.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

For everyone ~ please check in and let us know you are still with us on the challenge! I love hearing who you are and where you are from!

If you are a blogger, link in! What fun to blog hop and see how you are implementing the verses. Friends, please stop by and say hello to these fun A to Z Participants too!!!!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Happy Memorizing!

P.S. Verseability has also made a custom A-Z Versepack that contains all 26 of the verses for the year. The Versepacks are business card sized and perfect for carrying in your purse or pocket and are available for a special price of $ 5.00, plus shipping. You can order them by e-mailing: darlenedykstra@yahoo.com. Be sure to mention *She Sparkles* to get the special rate.

Disclosure: I was not provided with any financial compensation for this giveaway, and as always, all opinions are mine.

Starbucks Winners & Randomness

2012-01-29T19:27:00.007-05:00

Hey Friends :)

Happy Weekend to you! I've missed you!!!!! I've definitely needed some time to "focus", but I sure miss hearing how y'all are doing! Please fill me in on what is new with you!

Here's a couple of quick updates, and then I'll share the 15 winners of a Starbucks e-card (from the "B' Memory Verse Challenge)

* Do you like the picture of me and my husband John? We enjoyed the blessing of a great date night on Friday (thanks Mom & Dad for keeping the whole gang overnight, and Gwen for the yummy gift certificate). I think John is tired of my picture taking. I always warn him "that's going on the blog!". Never a dull moment with John ~ that is for sure! Love.

* Thanks for praying for my writing project! My deadline is this Tuesday, January 31st. I have some finishing "polishing work" to do - and then Tuesday I'll hand over my 8 session Bible study to the video crew. What a weird feeling this will be!

* The video/publishing team has given me the "ok" to fill you in on what I've been up to. (They know how much I love and value your prayer support!). Coming soon (hopefully this week), I'll be letting "the cat out of the bag". Promise. Only 46 days until it begins....

* The "C" Verse will be posted tomorrow from the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge (with another generous giveaway)! I love seeing your pictures and updates. In fact, look at what this creative mom sent this morning....

Cindy, What do you do on a SUPER snowy morning in Michigan...write your A-Z memory verse in the snow with food coloring and then decorate the backyard!

Love it!! What is new with you my dear bloggy friend?? Fill us in please!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!

P.S. The winners of the Starbucks e-cards are....

Memory Verse Participants...

1. Natasha from MI

2. Rene from TX

3. Shannon D from CA

4. April from VA.

5. Denise from TN

6. tleyen from NC

7. Dawn from CO

8. Michelle from Canada

9. Sherry from MyJourneyBack in TX

10. AubreyLaine

11. Mary Sue Owens from TX

12. Deb Huntley from MI

13. Natalie from KS

14. Courtney from MI

15. Meredith M. from MI

Blogger Winners

1. The Rumley Family

2. Little Writer Momma

3. Cotton Pickin Cute

4. Choose Freedom

5. In the Throne Room

A huge THANKS to all who have entered! Winners, please be sure I have your e-mail address, and watch for a Starbucks gift card later this week (probably Wednesday). Woo Hoo!

Renewal for the Weary, Exhuasted Soul

2012-01-23T12:36:00.013-05:00

Hey friends!

How are you doing??? Truthfully, I'm exhausted - emotionally, physically, and spiritually. My time with April was amazing (thanks for praying!) ~ but boy is my brain tired. 3 full days of writing, praying and studying have left me in a fog. Have you ever been there before too??

Today starts a week that is full with teaching at a Red Hot retreat this Saturday, my writing deadline next Tuesday, not to mention life with 4 kids and my sweet husband.

In an effort this week to focus, I'm going to unplug from blogging for the week. :(

I'll miss you....but look forward to re-connecting on Monday, January 30th with the next A to Z Memory Verse and another FUN giveaway. Thanks for understanding.....

I'll leave you with a post from this spring when I didn't unplug and learned the hard way. I needed to re-read this today.

Have a refreshing, joy-filled week!
Me

A few weeks ago, I crashed. Big time.

My poor family ~ for days and days I shuffled along in my pj's and slippers...exhausted, weary, empty. The couch and my blanky became my close friends. It wasn't typcial me. It wasn't pretty.

Thankfully, God has been renewing my weary soul. He's breathed fresh life into me. Today, I'm feeling "built up" rather than "burnt out". I sense "Cindy" is back! (Whew!)

I'm taking very good notes during this season of "rebuilding". I want to learn (really learn!) these lessons. I don't go through "Crash~ville" again!

I want to live at a "sustainable pace" and experience all that God has for me ~ His life, fullness, abundance and joy!

Someday maybe I'll share in more detail about the initial re-filling. It would include things like....

Showering.

Putting on lipstick (even when I don't feel like it). Feeding myself good, whole food.

Letting the "shoulds" go.

Turning off the computer. Canceling some appointments. Saying "no" to good things.

Letting my email inbox stay full for awhile. Snuggling with my kids.

Forgetting about the piles. Praying with others.

Breathing....inhaling and exhaling. Feeling my feelings (even the disappointments). Walking my dog.

Spending time with good friends. Soaking in His love.

Yesterday, after recess duty, prayer walking, and coffee with a friend ~ I went into one of favorite party stores. Ahhh....it felt GOOD.

I purchased sombreros, maracas, and fiesta supplies.

It was time for us to get our party back on!

My kids invited some neighborhood friends over for a fun little Cinco de Mayo celebration...

And the happy, non-weary, fully alive party hosts....

My sweet friend, as we head into another full week ~ may I encourage you to build into your day the things that YOU love!

Take time to enjoy the sunshine.

Smell (or plant) some flowers.

Let your inbox stay full.

Take a day off from social media. (It'll be ok, really! :))

Soak in His love.

Jesus came to give us LIFE to the full....His amazing, superabundant, better than we ever dreamed of life.

Let's live it out LOUD!

I've so enjoyed hearing your ideas on how you maintain a balanced life (thank you!).

I'd love for you to share your thoughts on how you experience and enjoy FULL life. What do you do (or not do) to stay filled up?? I'd love to hear from you!!

I'm off to share life with a friend....and then off to soak in the SON! :)

Sweet blessings to you ~

P.S. I'm linking up today with Jen and friends at Soli Deo Gloria. Be sure to check out this amazing sisterhood of women! :)

She Sparkles Top 10

2012-01-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hey Friends!

Happy Weekend to you! I hope your weekend is filled with much laughter and joy-filled moments!

I'll be hanging out with my friend April ~ writing, "tweaking" and praying. Can't wait!!!

I recently came across something interesting ~ my Top 10 blog posts!

Although there are many ways to track blog traffics, statistics, page views, etc... ~ I never do any of that stuff. Not that it's bad (it can be very helpful, insightful, etc..) ~ I just know my personality, and I don't want to get caught up in numbers.

My hope on *She Sparkles* is just to encourage, point to Jesus, be real, share Truth, celebrate and get to know y'all. :)

Yesterday I was trying to add a "search this blog" to my sidebar. Guess what? It worked! I hope this helps you find old blog posts by topic. See it in my sidebar to the right? :)

While I doing this, I came across another new feature from blogger ~ your Top 10 blog posts. You can rank them in different ways ~ so I decided to compile a list of my Top 10 blog posts since *She Sparkles* started in March of 2009.

I was surprised by my # 1 viewed post. Want to take a guess??

It wasn't my testimony (good guess!), or my About me page (another good guess!).

The Top Blog Post from *She Sparkles* is......

Coping Strategives for the Frazzled Woman from this past summer!

Isn't that crazy? The post when I thought I was going to lose my mind and was totally wrestling with maintaining my "joy" in the midst of having a house full of kids at home ~ ended up being #1. I hope it was an encouragement. Or maybe it was just a relief to other women to know they were not alone.

(And if you'd like a copy of my 10 coping strategies, leave me your e-mail address. My graphic designer friend typed it up all nice for me to share!)

Here's the rest of the Top 10.... (All the links are live if you want to check any of them out).

2. About Cindy

3. Summer Fun from A to Z

4. A to Z Memory Verse Challenge Kick-off

5. A to Z Memory Verse Challenge details

6. My Testimony

7. Tea Time - I love when I'm at the kids' school for recess and the kids say, "Hey Mrs. Bultema. We have Tea Time at our house now too!" :)

8. Thanksgiving Family Fun from A to Z

9. Where's the Line to See Jesus?

10. My Favorite Back to School Shopping Tip

So there's my Top 10. Any surprises?

Any thoughts on what it means?

So what are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans? How can I pray for you? I would love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!!!

Thankful Thursday - Top 5 in 2012

2012-01-19T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hey Friends!

I'll be honest ~ I am intentionally choosing "gratitude" today.

It's been a long week filled with sickness, challenges, car breakdowns/repairs, long to-do lists, cancelled appointments (due to sick kids), and more!

But today, I will choose gratitude. I will choose joy. I will thank God only 3 out of 6 of us have had strep throat (and my mom, sorry Mom, for spreading it when they slept over!).

I will thank God that my daughter made it to the carpet rather than throwing up at the hockey game. I will choose peace in the midst of our chaos.

I have a choice....and I choose to thank Him! :)

I've been sitting on the couch with my sick Sarah, naming my blessings one by one. So many. no doubt about it ~ even in the midst of our challenges ~ I am blessed.

Here is my Top 5 Thankful Thursday list for today....

1. My Family ~ John, Jake, Benj, Manda & Sarah

Love them. What would I do without my gang?! :) Boy do they fill my life with JOY! :)

2. Amazing Ministry Opportunity ~

I've been hinting about it for awhile - and I think next week I'll completely spill the beans. I'll give you some clues. It has to do with a Bible study that I've written. Filming it on site in the ancient ruins. A long flight. And a God sized task that makes me cry tears of joy, humilty and unbelief everytime I think of it. Only God! (And 57 days until I go - yikes!)

3. April is coming ~

Year ago, I met my dear friend April. Although she lives in VA (and I'm in Michigan) - we immediately connected and God has grown our friendship in such beautiful ways over the years.

April is an editor extraordinaire, and she is coming to MI TONIGHT for 4 days to help me "polish" all of my writings before I submit them (my deadline is Jaunary 31st - yikes!).

I'm so thankful to April (and her family) for her willingness to come and help on this project, and to John and my family for letting me go to a hotel to pray, write, and work hard with April!

You can read Aprils "side of the story" here! :)

4. The *She Sparkles* A to Z Memory Verse Challenge ~

Ok, no joke, on December 27th I was praying about 2012 and God laid it on my heart to memorize verses again. Since 2012 is going to be ~~nutty~~ , I mean "full", I sensed "A to Z style" would be a good way to go. And then I sensed I was to invite all of you. :)

Within 24 hours I had an amazing sponsor, and a button....

....and on January 1, 2012 ~ men, women, and children all over the nation (world, actually!) joined in on the Memory Verse Challenge. Woo Hoo!

It fires me up me every time I receive sweet notes like this....

Hi Cindy, I wanted to let you know that our whole family is memorizing the verses...it was so cute because I was on a "date" with A at Hobby Lobby and she ran over to a cross that had the A verse on it and was so excited, "Mom, there's our verse!!!!" It was so fun to see her find it in another context...just putting more of it in her heart. Her sister, who is 4, is so proud of herself, although she says, "...we will save the Lord." But we'll accept it:)

Or this ~ I'm Tianne, a Missionary midwife student in the Philippines. From Michigan. I also posted about the challenge on my blog. My aunt Carol goes to a Bible study at your Church in GR and advised me to follow your blog and to do the memory verse challenge. I am really enjoying it :)

It's not too late to join us - we're only on "B"! More details here

5. God's Grace

Not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of who I was before Christ. I am so grateful to God for redeeming my life from the pit and giving me a firm place to stand and the new song He has given me! (If you've not heard my story, a recap is here.)

Only God could take a lonely, broken, single mom and not only rescue, deliver, and save me - but give me a clean heart and a brand new reputation. Only God!

I am forever grateful!

Whew!! So there's my Thankful Thursday Top 5 list!

After naming my gratitude list, I'm feeling better already! Isn't gratitude a beautiful thing?! :)

I am also thankful for my friends (near and far) for all of their help this week. I wouldn't have made it without the texts, phone calls, prayer support, FB messages, 3 hour lunch dates (Julie!), and notes of encouragement ! Thank you so very much!! I'm so glad God doesn't intend for us to journey alone!

What about for you?? On this Thankful Thursday, what are you thankful for today?? I'd love to hear from you!!

Many blessings to you!

P.S. I'm linking up with others for Thankful Thursday and Laurie at Women Taking A Stand is our host! Come join us! :)

Groundhogs Day Family Fun

2012-01-17T20:33:00.000-05:00

Have you joined the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge? It's not too late. All the details here - plus a Starbucks GIVEAWAY through Thursday, January 19th. Woo Hoo!

Hey Friends! :)

As you know ~ I love to celebrate!! :)

I love "marking moments", making ordinary days "extraordinary", and finding simple ways to brighten up our everyday lives.

I truly believe, "Life should not just lived, it should be celebrated!".

Thus, the reason I am thrilled February is almost here!!

Valentine's Day is one of my all-time favorite holidays, plus there's the Super Bowl (not that I like football - remember I'm a hockey mom - but I do like Super Bowl snacks!) and I have two special family member's birthdays to celebrate.

And let's not forget ~ Thursday, February 2nd.... Groundhogs Day!

Now please know, I really don't care if the Groundhog sees his shadow. I can never remember "which" means "what" anyway (shadow/no shadow, 6 weeks of winter ~ you know what I mean)! Who cares. :)

We started having Groundhog's Day parties a few years ago just for the FUN of it ~ and you know what, we have a ball! What a simple, easy way to have a little fun after school and spend time with friends. We love it! :)

How can you resist a cute little cupcake like this?? (Recipe here)

At the party, we also like to look on the internet to see if the Groundhog saw his shadow.

Again, we know Who decides how many weeks of winter are left, but the kids get a kick out of watching the news report.

And what party would be complete without crafts? You can get some great ideas here or here or here.

What about for you?? Anything special you'll be celebrating over the next few weeks?? I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by She Sparkles! Have a super, JOY-filled week!!

Many blessings to you~

P.S For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over and visit Kristen at We Are That Family. :)

P.S.S. The winner of the Cornerstone Women's Leadership Conference is.......Amelia Rhodes. Thank you to all who entered!

A to Z Memory Verse Challenge - "B" Verse (& Starbucks giveaway!)

2012-01-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

It's not too late to get started with the A to Z Challenge! In case you missed the details, you can catch up here !

Hey Friends!

Welcome back to the A to Z Memory Challenge! I hope you've been blessed by hiding God's Word in your heart!

I've loved hearing the stories of how this has been working for you and your family. 4 year olds saying their verse at breakfast. Kids reciting their verse on their way to school. One group of 50 women memorizing together! Keep up the great work everyone!

Are you ready for the next A to Z Memory Verse?!

Our verse # 2 -(the "B" verse) - Acts 16:31

B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved...

Memorizing Ideas ~

* Write the verse on a mirror with a dry erase marker. (This seemed to work well for lots of participants!)

* Instead of putting the verse on a note card, type it into your phone. (Recommendation from an A to Z friend - thanks Silly Mama!)

* For families, you may want to print off a letter B (here) on colored cardstock. Write the verse on the "B", and hang it on your refrigerator.

**Feel free to share your favorite tips, ideas, even pictures. I'd love to share your suggestions and/or link to you in the weeks to come!

Questions to Ponder/Discussion Ideas~

* What does this verse mean to me? to our family?? Spend time reflecting, journaling, praying, and discussing how Acts 16:31 can help shape you and your family in 2012.

* Read the story of how the Phillipian Jailer (& his family) placed their trust in God and immediately expressed that faith by being baptized (Acts 16:25-34). Share your experience of when you placed your faith in Jesus, and when you were baptized (if applicable).

Giveaways ~

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, I am excited to have giveaways to share with you each time a new verse is shared! For this week....

* Memory Verse Challenge Participants ~ I have 10 Starbucks e-cards to giveaway to 10 different participants! Woo hoo!

To Win my Giveaway: Please let us know you are participating in the challenge by "checking in" - i.e. leave your name, location, and who is participating from your family.

For example, I'd say....

Cindy Bultema, Michigan, we have 6 family members memorizing

(I thought it be fun to see where everyone is from. We have MANY states represented, plus Canada and the U.K.. My kids want to see if we can have all 50 states represented by the end of 2012. Will you help us get there??)

**10 random participants will receive an e-card to Starbucks. Yippee!

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post #atozverses

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Monday, January 16th and ends Thursday, January 19th at 9 PM. Winners will be posted on my blog during the week of January 23rd.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

* Bloggers ~ I also have 5 Starbucks e-cards to give to bloggers who shares this A to Z challenge on his/her blog and links up below. (Bloggers, please see notes in P.S. below.)

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Please don't forget to "check in" in the comment section so we know you are with us! Grab your index cards and let's do this together! Yippee!

Happy Memorizing ~

P.S. Bloggers ~ Thanks so much for sharing the *She Sparkles* Challenge on your blog. Please include the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory Verse Challenge button on your post. (The button with embedding code is listed on my sidebar). Be sure to leave your blog address so I can stop by and say hello! Thanks so much! :)

P.P.S. To help get us off to a great start, Verseability has made a custom A-Z Versepack that contains all 26 of the verses for the year. The Versepacks are business card sized and perfect for carrying in your purse or pocket and are available for a special price of $ 5.00, plus shipping. You can order them by e-mailing: darlenedykstra@yahoo.com. Be sure to mention *She Sparkles* to get the special rate.

(I encourage you to check out the Verseability website to see the personalized Versebooks and Versepacks available, too. Great gifts for any occasion! Note: the A-Z Versepacks are not listed on the website).

Disclosure: I was not provided with any financial compensation for this giveaway, and as always, all opinions are mine.

100+ Ways for Your Family to Make a Difference

2012-01-13T00:01:00.007-05:00

Don't forget the "B" verse for the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge will be shared on Monday! I'm also excited about the next giveaway. I'll give you a clue...I have e-cards from my favorite coffee shop to share with you! Woo Hoo!

Hey Friends!

Happy Weekend to you!

As I mentioned earlier, I've been meditating all week on the "A verse" from the Memory Verse Challenge.

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15b

Not wanting to be just a hearer of the Word, but also a doer (James 1:22), I've been asking God how we might best serve Him this year as a family.

Recently I stumbled on a powerful list of ways to serve by blogger extraordinaire Kristen at
We Are That Family. (In case you're not familiar with Kristen and her family's amazing story - be sure to check it out. It fires me up everytime!)

Thank you, Kristen, for giving permission for me to share your list of 100+ ways for your family to make a difference with my *She Sparkles* friends. Enjoy!

100 Ways for Your Family to Make a Difference

1. Babysit for a single mom
2. Teach compassion with a Family Giving Box
3. Write a Family Mission Statement
4. Bake cookies for your local fire dept.
5. Pick up trash at local park as a family field trip
6. Create snack packs for Ronald McDonald residents
7. Welcome a new family to the neighborhood with a dessert and introduction
8. Pray for the poor of the world
9. Color a Smile-print coloring page to be given to lift someone in need up
10. Make a baby care kit for a baby in need
11. Take time each week to unplug as a family
12. Donate your time or treasure to the Make a Wish Foundation
13. Appreciate your church staff in some small, tangible way
14. Do yard work for an elderly neighbor
15. Make a Life Book for a child in Foster Care
16. Read You Were Made to Make A Difference as a family
17. Volunteer to cuddle babies at the hospital (older kids/teens are often allowed also)
18. Read Christmas Jars as family
19. Save loose change in a jar and give to a needy family at Christmas
20. Take a family volunteering vacation
21. Stop and say thank you to grocery clerks, waitresses. Ask them how they are doing.
22. Become a monthly sponsor to help pregnant girls in Kenya
23. Make a birthday cake for an underpriviledged child
24. Serve at home: make each other’s beds, clean up someone else’s mess
25. Write thank you notes to people who serve you: postman, yard guy, doctor, etc
26. Sponsor a child monthly (cannot recommend enough)
27. Make relief kits for disaster relief victims
28. Sew a sleeping bag for someone in need (easy pattern)
29. Volunteer at a non-profit
30. Make up some Hygiene Bags to pass out to local homeless people
31. Take your family on a tour of Red Cross
32. Put a monthly date on the calendar for a Family Service Night
33. Take a meal to a new family
34. Create a card for Habitat for Humanity new home owner
35. Encourage your older children to be a Mother’s Helper to a mom with young kids
36. Fill a backpack to help give a homeless person a lift up
37. Make birthday cards and deliver them to a local nursing home monthly
38. Donate books to Africa
39. Take your kids to a local Food Pantry with canned goods to donate
40. Deliver food for Meals on Wheels
41. Pray as a family on a regular basis for the people in your life.
42. Donate your hair to Locks of Love.
43. Give blood. (Take your kids with you and explain the importance).
44. Donate nice toys to cancer ward at a Children’s Hospital
45. Buy a mosquito net and help prevent malaria
46. Randomly celebrate each other with a special treat, meal, time
47. Donate school supplies to a classroom in need
48. Compliment and thank the teachers in your life
49. Buy a soccer ball for a child in poverty
50. Give a used bike to a homeless person
51. Donate coloring books/crayons to hospital emergency rooms
52. Host a 40 hour famine in your home (fast something!)
53. Give clothes to a family in need (call your church/school to find one)
54. Read to a special needs child
55. Only drink water for 2 weeks, give proceeds for clean water
56. Buy a goat for a family in extreme poverty
57. Give a donation in someone’s name to an organization you believe in
58. Send your used shoes to Reuse-a-Shoe
59. Become Certified Respite Caregivers to give Foster Family’s a babysitting
60. Decorate a Christmas tree at an elderly person’s house
61. Hold a collection drive: makeup, lotions, etc for women at a shelter
62. Find a Food Bank near you to volunteer
63. Deliver popcicles to children at a homeless shelter
64. Offer your pet for therapy to the elderly
65. Decorate nursing home rooms of residents with homemade art
66. Have regular “family nights” with games, ice cream, time together
67. Visit the NICU with treats for the doctors and anxious parents
68. Write to unsponsored children
69. Read to patients at a local hospital
70. Plan a family missions trip
71. Bake cookies, host a bake sale and donate money to the poor or a cause
72. Volunteer at a local animal shelter
73. Plant a garden and share the produce
74. Hold a drive for lightly-used stuffed animals for police stations SAFE program
75. Write letters to servicemen
76. Give a micro loan and change a family in a third world country
77. Smile. At everyone.
78. Make care packages for children in the hospital
79. Instead of a birthday gifts, ask for donations for a charity or food for a food pantry
80. Shop fair trade
81. Offer to decorate hospital hallways during the holidays
82. Ask your city about volunteering to remove graffiti
83. Host a Lemon-AID stand and donate proceeds Blood Water
84. Make no-sew fleece blankets for Hospice
85. Collect pencils for African children
86. Send a care package to our military
87. Read the Bible together as a family every day
88. Collect shoes for Shoes for Kids (started by an 11 year old girl)
89. Let kids choose a charity to donate to for one of their Christmas gifts
90. Become a foster family
91. Pay for someone’s drink in Starbuck’s drive-thru. Make sure your kids enjoy the act of kindness.
92. Help your kids starts a neighborhood or school Bible Study with their peers
93. Volunteer to plant flowers for your school/church flowerbeds
94. Make a Care Bag for a child in need
95. Adopt a child
96. Welcome home a hero at the airport
97. Complain less
98. Start a Kindness Club with your family
99. Let your light shine!
100. Look for opportunities to be the difference in someone’s life
101. Host a virtual food drive
102. Start a KidzRap on your street!
103. Purchase gifts through families fundraising for adoption.
104. Make a quilt for NICU familes
105. Pay the toll for the car behind you
106. Invite friends to Vacation Bible School
107. Help keep families together
108. Take someone flowers from your garden
109. Participate in Operation Christmas Child

**For live links, view the original list here.

What a powerful list, Kristen! Thank you so much for sharing! :)

Kristen has also given permission to print off this list. I'm posting it on our refrigerator so we can start highlighting the ideas as we complete them. Anyone else??!

(If you want to visit/connect with Kristen, please hop on over to her blog and say thank you and hello!)

I'd love to hear from you, dear friends! What are other ideas of how we can make a difference? How has your family served recently? Share with us please! I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a blessed weekend! :)

Cornerstone Women's Leadership Conference (& Giveaway)

2012-01-12T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hey Friends!

I'll be honest....Women's Conferences used to scare me. Big time.

Because I've wrestled with insecurity most of my life, the thought of being surrounded by beautiful, "put together", wise, secure women made me terrified (and wanting to stay home!).

Of course I'm learning no one has it all together (whew!), and I've met AMAZING women as I've stepped out in faith and attended some fantastic women's conferences over the past few years!

Thankfully, last year I went to the Cornerstone Women's Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In fact, none of my friends could go that weekend so I went all by myself!

I loved it! The keynote speaker (Carol Kent) was fabulous, the workshops were engaging, the women were extremely warm and down to earth, and the experience was life-changing.

Not to mention I saw many women I knew as soon as I walked in, so I had friends for the weekend. Thank You, God! :)

Although the conference is called the "Women's Leadership Conference" - it is for ANY woman in any capacity of servant leadership....Bible study leader, children's teacher, church volunteer, church staff member, worship volunteer, etc... ANY woman would be impacted by this powerful conference! :)

Imagine my delight when I was invited to attend and teach 2 workshops at the same event this year. Woo Hoo!

(I'll be sharing "Expanding Your Ministry through Social Online Media" & "The Captivity of Activity - Pursuing Balance in a Leader's Life". Details here)

I'm humbled and honored to have this opportunity...and to serve alongside amazing, gifted women/friends like Jennie Dimkoff, Lisa Troyer, Donna Fagerstrom, Heather Hammond , and more!

As well as this years key note speaker, Elisa Morgan

Here are the conference details....

Cornerstone University Presents the 7th Annual Women's Leadership Conference

February 17-18, 2012

Location: Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

Cost: $65/person; $35 for students (ID required)

Registration is filling up quickly so reserve your spot today! Register online at here.

Registration inquiries can be addressed to Emily Rolls.

I recently received a note that I could bring a friend for $35 (the student price - a $30 savings). I quickly e-mailed the committe back to see if I could extend this invitation to YOU, my dear *She Sparkles* friends. The committe graciously said yes.

If you live in the West Michigan area (or would like to drive/fly in) and would like to attend, I'd love to extend this discounted ticket price to one *She Sparkles* reader, and have you join me for the Women's Leadership Conference.

To Win my Cornerstone WLC's Discounted Ticket Giveaway: Leave a comment letting me know you'd like to win (and would be able to make the conference that weekend):

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Thursday, January 12th and ends Monday, January 16th at 9 PM. Winner will be posted on my blog during the week of January 17th.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Have a wonderful, fearless, power-filled, day!!

P.S. For more Things I Love Thursday ideas, hop on over and visit Jill at The Diaper Diaries. :)

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this review (I just love the Cornerstone Women's Leadership Conference) and, as always, all opinions expressed in this post are fully my own.

My Fruit Diet

2012-01-11T08:28:00.005-05:00

Hi Friends!

In honor of the New Year and so much talk about resolutions/weight loss/diets , I've decided to share part of my journey of living free from the scale. Enjoy this repost on my dreaded "weight topic".

As you know, my weight has been an area of struggle for most of my life.

You name it, I've tried it to lose weight over the course of my life ~ Cabbage Soup diet, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, eating disorders, and yes, even cocaine.

This past year, I decided ENOUGH. I would pursue FREEDOM with my whole heart. I would not allow myself to talk so unkindly to myself anymore ~ in fact, my life would be a "Fat Talk Free Zone"

And I've been enjoying this new freedom...until all of the issues with my breathing.

Between the extra steroids, being unable to exercise without an inhaler, and two bouts of bronchitis, my trips to the gym have been minimal.

Needless to say, the scale has gone up, and I'm not happy about it. At all.

How can you not go to the grocery store without all of the magazines screaming at you...saying "Look like me." "You, too, should be wearing a bikini" "Try this" "Buy this diet aid"....you get the drift.

Anyway...my commitment to myself is to continue to live Fat Talk Free. I will not buy into the "not good enough" mentality. I WILL pursue freedom, health, wholeness, self care, wellness, and TRUTH.

I will speak kindly to myself, with words of grace and hope.

I will not become self focused, crazy in the head, and allow my worth to be defined by a number on a scale or the size of my jeans.

I will not!

However, I do recognize I need a plan. I will be "careful" with my choices and select foods that are healthy and good. I am choosing to go without Diet Coke so that I will drink more water. I will increase my exercise (esp. now that I can breathe!!!). And, lastly...

I WILL FOCUS ON FRUIT.

In fact, I'm calling this my "Fruit ~~Diet~~ Healthy Living Plan"....God's fruit, based out of Galatians 5:22-23.

Rather than focusing on food, being hyper-sensitive about calories, and spending my days thinking about what I should/could eat ~ I will meditate on FRUIT, and ask God to help me be more...

*Loving
*Joy-filled
*Peaceful
*Patient
*Kind
*Good
*Faithful
*Gentle, and yes,
*Self Controlled.

When I'm tempted to run to food, I will STOP and ask God what is really going on (what do I really need?? Usually the answer is NOT chips and salsa!).

And then I'll ask Him how I can love someone else. Be kind to one of my kids. Share *joy* with a friend, family member or neighbor. And ask Him to fill me with more of His Spirit. I need an abundance of Jesus in my life! Anyone else??

This new "Fruit ~~Diet~~ Healthy Living Plan" has given me freedom, hope, and a Truth-filled head. Yippee! :)

Important Disclaimer: Please hear my heart...I'm not saying weight loss plans, going on a diet, etc.. is bad. For me personally, given my track record, I just recognize choosing a weight loss plan is NOT getting to the ROOT of my ISSUE.

If I'm ever going to live free (Galatians 5:1), it's time to eradicate the ROOT ISSUE, and allow God to plant NEW SEEDS ~ Seeds of Truth, that will grow HEALTHY FRUIT.

I need a healthy heart & mind, as well as life-giving, God-honoring habits.

And this is just personal for me ~ I am not judging whatever anyone else senses God is calling them to do.

Lastly, please know....whatever size you are, whatever body shape God has given you, whatever hair color you have, the size of your bank account, the job you have (or don't have), whether you are a wife, mom, student, grandma, or single woman, whether you have big muscles or small muscles....none of that stuff defines you.

None of it.

In fact....

....just the way that you are. Will you say that out loud, "I am beautiful."

It's true! You are Beautiful!!

How about for you?? How do you live separate from the culture's definition of beauty?? How do you pursue a "Fat Talk Free" life?? Share with us please! I would love to hear from you!!!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!

P.S For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over and visit Kristen at We Are That Family. :)

P.P.S. I was having trouble embedding this video, but it's too good to pass up. If you need a reminder of what GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU - take a minute to check this video out here. It will bless you - guaranteed! :) (Thanks for sharing, April!)

One Word

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends :)

By now you've probably heard about choosing one word for the year??

(If not, you can read a great Guideposts article or visit the Grit and Glory blog for more details).

Last year I prayerfully selected my one word - "Faith".

Truth be told, I wanted a word like "victorious" or "freedom" - but FAITH kept standing out to me. Little did I know that 2011 would stretch and grow my faith in such HUGE ways, and that I would spend half of the year studying what it means to have Red Hot Faith.

I was curious what my 2012 word might be. I spent Christmas vacation studying the scriptures and praying. Once again, I was leaning towards VICTORIOUS, HEALTHY, FREE - but I knew those weren't my 2012 words (maybe because in Christ I am victorious and healthy and free - I just need to walk in that victory each day. Another post....)

Anyway, I finally have my 2012...

FOCUS is my One Word for 2012.

I sense the biggest obstacle for me in 2012 is my easily distracted self. I need Focus. Big time.

Part of my problem is I just love everything.

I love being with people. I want to help out at school 24/7. I want to have coffee with every single person I know. I love Jesus and want to know Him more and make Him known around the world. I love planning parties and want to celebrate every day (yes, I'm even thinking about my Olympics party this summer - Lord help me). I love reading and could read all day long. I love the church and wish I had more time to serve. I enjoy praying and could easily spend a day in prayer. I love blogging and encouraging other blog friends. I love being a hockey mom and want to ride the team bus this weekend (but Jake won't let me. Boo!)

I love my family to pieces, and enjoy every precious minute I spend with them. I also love sending cards to people and staying in touch with my friends. I love memorizing scripture and get fired up about the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge. I love sharing Jesus with others and want to say yes to every single opportunity that comes my way. I love ~~going to the gym~~I enjoy the benefits of caring for my body. :)

See my problem?? Lord help me!

For 2012 I want to live with laser beam focus.

The Lord has opened some amazing doors (and I am humbled beyond belief), and I want to FOCUS on the calling He has before me. I want to focus 100% into the projects that are before me during my "working hours" and be 100% focused on my family when they are home.

I want to say Yes to God's best for me this season and No to the rest so I can serve with excellence. I want to be like Jesus and set out resolutely for the calling God has for me.

I need focus. I need a miracle.

Hebrews 12:2 AMP is my verse for 2012.....

THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

OK friends, any tips on staying focused?? I would LOVE to hear your tips and ideas!!! Please?!

Have you chosen one word for 2012? Share with us!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!

P.S. A huge thanks to Melanie for my pretty graphic.

P.P.S. I'm linking up today with Jen and friends at Soli Deo Gloria. (She's also in the midst of planning a retreat in Austin, TX this October 2012. Woo Hoo!) Be sure to check out this amazing sisterhood of women! :)

Praying for Your Husband

2012-01-08T22:30:00.005-05:00

Today I am thrilled to once again join my dear friend Julie from Come Have A Peace for Marriage Mondays! As I recuperate after a loooong weekend (3 out of 6 of us are on antibiotics -ugh!), I'm going to spend my normal "blogging time" resting and praying.

Enjoy a Marriage Monday repeat....!

First, I should let you know ~ I am not a marriage expert. I am not a trained therapist or counselor. I've not written any profound marriage books.

I am just a simple girl, passionately in love with Jesus and my man, trying to figure out how to enjoy marriage and celebrate life together.

Thankfully, by God's grace, we celebrated 11 years together this August! (Can I get a "woo hoo"?!)

I wish I could tell you it's been 11 years of pure bliss ~ but I'd be lying. Big time.

I now look at marriage like a roller coaster ~ an adventure filled with its ups (and downs), twists and turns, excitement and fun, and unfortunately, sometimes, hang on tight, "why did I say yes to this thing?!" times as well.

Thankfully, John and I are enjoying a "Wow, this is really fun" season!

And do you know what's the number one thing I've learned to strengthen our marriage over the past decade of being together? The power of prayer!

Years ago, I read Stormie Omartian's book the The Power of a Praying Wife. Stormie does an awesome job of reminding us of the power and importance of lifting our husbands in prayer.

After a very difficult season of our marriage a few years ago (one that I wasn't sure we were going to make through) ~ I made a promise that I would pray for John and our marriage every single day.

Unfortunately, at first, I struggled with how to make my promise a reality. You know how it goes ~ life gets busy, right? Kids take up our time, energy, affection. Family members get sick. Life keeps going. We get sidetracked with so many other things to do.

But what I've learned is this....I must make time to pray for John and our marriage. Even if it's while I'm brushing my teeth, washing the dishes, or sick on the couch ~ I've made the predetermined decision, regardless of my circumstances, I will pray for my husband and our marriage every single day.

Like Nike says, "Just do it" :)

If you feel like it or not....

If he was loving this morning or not...

If he's praying for you or not....

JUST DO IT! :)

One thing that has really helped me make my promise a reality is my Prayer Guide (click here for my Prayer Guide recap).

Using my prayer guide, I can look at John as I pray, record my prayers, and have a list of specific things to pray for him. (See the yellow post-it notes in the pic? My little Sarah used to sit on my lap while I prayed for "Daddy" and write out her prayers too. Aren't her little notes sweet??)

(In the picture on the left is a download called 31 Days of Praying for Your Husband. You can print it off here)

Please know, I do not use my Prayer Guide everyday (I sure wish I did). There are some days that my prayer time is while I walk the dog, or sit at the bus stop waiting for the kids ~ but thankfully, I can see the FRUIT from committing to praying for our marriage and John every single day. Prayer has breathed new, fresh life into a marriage that was fading fast. Prayer works...of this I am sure!

What about for you?? What have you found has been helpful to strengthen your marriage?? I'd love to hear from you! Also, be sure to join Julie at Marriage Mondays for more great marriage tips!!

Many blessings to you this week!! Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!

10 Ways Your Household Can Serve the Lord

2012-01-06T00:01:00.019-05:00

(Photo above - Dani, an A to Z memorizer in Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Hey Friends!

Happy Weekend to you!

I'll be spending the weekend cheering for my two favorite redheaded hockey players (yes, I am a hockey mom!), I have strep throat - boo! and hope you have some fun, joy-filled activities planned too!

During my treadmill time this week, I've been thinking about the "A verse" from the Memory Verse Challenge.

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15b

Not wanting to be just a hearer of the Word, but also a doer (James 1:22), I've been asking God how we might best serve Him this year as a family.

As I was pondering and praying, my friend Amy Sullivan came to mind. Amy has an amazing blog where she shares her family's journey in finding God-sized ways to give in the everyday.

Although we live in different states, I had the chance to hang out with Amy at She Speaks this past summer.

(Pic below: Lisa from Glad Chatter, Jen from Finding Heaven, me and Amy Sullivan).

Amy has such a beautiful heart for others, and is a huge encouragment in sharing creative ways to serve God in the midst of everyday life! I sent Amy a quick note and she was more than willing to share some fun ways to serve!

Here's Amy...

10 Ways Your Household Can Serve the Lord

The phone rings. The teacher emails. The dog needs food, and come to think of it, so do your kids. The calendar fills. The laundry piles, and that verse, that newly memorized verse, haunts you.

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

See, verse memorizing proved easy. It’s the living out the verse’s meaning that’s hard.

How does your household serve God in daily, practical, and yet, meaningful ways?

Not so long ago, my family stood paralyzed by the greatness of our inadequacies and the needs of the world.

Then, God started whispering, you know those soft whispers you hear in your head and feel in your veins. He told us that serving Him meant serving others. He told us to quit defining what service looked like and just start serving.

So, we did, and guess what? You can too.

Need some ideas? I thought you might. Check out this list (and links because who has time to look for links?) of 10 practical ways your family can serve the Lord today.

1. Write letters of encouragement to soldiers. Soldier's Angels assists you in flooding our country’s heroes with mail and thanks.

2. Cut fabric for shoes. Sole Hope provides closed-toe shoes for kids in Africa, and you can help.

3. Color pictures for the lonely. Color a Smile encourages even the littlest servers to send some crayon, colored love through the mail.

4. Find the courage to look at hard topics. What’s the fastest growing division of the porn industry? Child porn. Makes you sick, right? Good. Go see what the Sold Project is doing about it.

5. Lend a microloan. Kiva changes lives by lending small loans (as low as $25.00) to an entrepreneur across the world. These entrepreneurs then use your money to buy livestock, start a store, purchase a bike, or allow them the opportunity to earn money. Then, through Kiva, these same entrepreneurs pay you back.

6. Invest in kids that are not your own. Maybe it’s the girl at : Breanna's House or maybe it’s the kid from the single-parent family home down the street.

7. Love even when it’s not convenient and especially when it’s hard.

8. Watch a video, even if it makes you uncomfortable. Need direction? Try this one, The Girl Effect.

9. Read words penned by a world changer. Kisses from Katie will make your heart hurt and swell at the same time.

10. Pray always.

Question for you: What does the daily and practical ways of serving the Lord look like to your family?

~ Amy Sullivan

What a powerful list, Amy! Thanks for sharing! (If you want to visit/connect with Amy, please hop on over to her blog and say hello!)

I'd love to hear from you, dear friends! Let's answer Amy's question, "What does the daily and practical ways of serving the Lord look like to your family?" Share with us please!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a blessed weekend! :)

A to Z Memory Verse Challenge ~ Fun Updates & Giveaway Winners

2012-01-05T09:47:00.036-05:00

Hey Friends ~

Today I'm linking up with my real-life neighbor, Jill from the Diaper Diaries for "Things I Love Thursday".

Can you guess what I am loving this week??

Yes, it's true, I am loving the *She Sparkles* A to Z Memory Verse Challenge! Woo Hoo!
Here are my Top 5 Reasons Why I'm Loving the A to Z Challenge!

1. I love reading all of the different comments and stories of WHY others are joining the challenge.

Like this....

Happy New Year Cindy!! The reason I have decided to participate is multiple, not just one reason. First, This warrior NEEDS some tools. Second, what a perfect way to spend quality family time. Third, it's a way to stay in and to be constantly thinking about the word. Plus you have others in the house keeping you accountable...challenging you.

Fourth, for 6 years I worked on an Alzheimer unit and the resounding thing that people were always left with was their ability to recall hymns and scripture, when all else seemed to have left them. This brings new meaning to Hebrew 13:5 I need something (God and His word) that will not leave me even when all I know has. Looking forward to the A-Z challenge!

# 2 I love hearing stories/seeing pictures of HOW you are memorizing the verses.

Here are some of the fun pictures I've received this week...

3. I love hearing stories of HOW the Memory Challenge is impacting you.

Hey Cindy -

We're finding lots of places to put our memory verses! The kids are so proud to tell me the verse...my older daughter repeatedly! I've asked D (my younger daughter) a few times this week if she could say it to me without me helping her. She told me she looks at it every night when she is in bed and when she brushes her teeth and she just reads it to herself.

I wasn't really sure if she was being honest, as some of the words she doesn't know. Tonight she walked into my room and just started to say the verse. I was extra proud of her, with all of her learning struggles that she has to overcome. Getting choked up as I write this, yep gonna cry:)

Ya know she has a hard time memorizing her spelling words each week like jug, bug, dug etc. but she was able to memorize a whole verse from the Lords Word and the book it is from. How cool is THAT!!! Just wanted to share...Starting out STRONG!

Don't you just love it?? Yippee!

# 4 Reason Why I'm Loving the A to Z Challenge......I already blew my "No Starbucks Vanilla Lattes in 2012" Resolution ~ but I'm still going strong on my Memory Verses!

(me & my bff Julie. Please note ~ she had nothing to do with me giving up on my Starbucks resolution!)

Please tell me I'm not the only one who lacks self discipline and gave up on a resolution already?!
Thankfully, together, we can ALL persevere and memorize scripture from A to Z. The verses I've selected are "family friendly" (i.e. ANYONE can memorize them).

Last year, my first verse for 2010 was a paragraph long. I still don't quite know that verse. Not this year ~ this is one commitment I can and will keep! You too!

# 5 I love sharing GIVEAWAYS with my *She Sparkles* friends!

Thanks to Darlene, one of my very generous sponsors, I was able to share almost 50 customized A to Z versepacks with *She Sparkles* readers around the nation. Yippee!

If you are a blogger, hopefully you contacted Darlene about receiving a versepack (if not, please send her an email - darlenedykstra@yahoo.com.

If you are a Memory Verse participant and entered the giveaway, please check my P.S. below where I'll list the 25 names selected for the giveaway. (If your name is listed, can you please make sure I have your email. Thank you!)

Whew! There you have it - my Top 5 Reasons Why I'm Loving the *She Sparkles* A to Z Memory Verse Challenge!

How about for you? What are you loving this week? I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks so much for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!

P.S. Here are the 25 winners of a personalized A to Z versepack from Verseability.... (** means I need your email please)

1. Lindsey Merrill
2. Angie Ohlman
3. Tara Eiken
4. Michelle @ moma3homeschool
5. Jenny C.
6. Amy Hodgkinson
7. Sara B.
8. Chrissy B.
9. IamSsmom
10. Shannon @ dias88@hotmail.com
11. Wanda
**12. Dawn
13. Rene
14. Karen
15. Melody Mae
16. Liz R.
**17. Stacy
**18. Kim
**19. amyb
20. Natasha
21. Tricia
22. Laura Kuperus
23. Marilyn Kralt
24. Phoebe
25. Nana D

A Mama's Prayers

2012-01-04T06:47:00.016-05:00

I'm so excited for the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge! What an amazing response! I'll be posting the 25 winners for the 1st giveaway later this week. If you haven't signed up for the challenge - it's not too late. Here's a New Years Resolution you'll be able to keep (the verses are short & easy to memorize ~ promise!) Come join the fun! :)

Hey Friends~

The other night I went to bed but, even though I was completely exhausted, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned and tossed some more. As I often do when this happens, I asked God if I should be praying for someone.

My 17 year old son Jake came to mind, so I started praying for him and his safety.

Jake was at BW3 (a local restaurant) watching the Red Wings hockey game on TV with a friend.

After praying for Jake, I got out of bed and came downstairs to read/pray some more. There was Jake (and his buddy Travis) just entering our foyer. They both had eyes as huge as saucers and were obviously very shaken up about something. My first thought is that they had been in an accident. My heart stopped!

It turns out that while they were at BW3, two big tables near them (one on either side of Jake & Travis) started to trash talk to each other. At first they thought the guys were joking with each other, but tempers escalated quickly. In a matter of minutes, a huge fight had started!

One guy picked up a chair and broke it on another guy (and almost hit Jake)! As fists were flying, Jake nearly got punched in the face in the midst of this brawl (yes, in the restaurant!). Travis ended up jumping over a wall, landing on a table (while patrons were eating) and both guys ran for safety.

I am praising God Jake & his friend made it home safe ~ and thankful that the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray! Thank You, God! ♥

James 5:16 reminds us the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. I might add so are a mama's prayers!

For more ideas of how to pray for your children, check out this resource. (I have my copy hanging right by my bathroom sink. I read it/pray it every day while I brush my teeth)

How about for you? How has God answered your prayers? I'd love to hear from you!

Prayer works for me! For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, head over to visit Kristen at We Are That Family.

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Welcome to She Sparkles

2012-01-03T12:25:00.022-05:00

It's not too late to join the A to Z Scripture Memory Challenge 2012! Tons of great giveaways through Tuesday, January 3rd at 9:00 PM. Come join the fun! (details here).

Hi Bloggy Friends and new friends from the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge!

Welcome to *She Sparkles*!

To be honest, Darlene (my A to Z sponsor) and I have been blown away by the response for the challenge ~ in a good way! How fun to think of individuals and families all around the world memorizing God's Word together. Woo Hoo!

Given all of the great new friends I've been meeting this week, I thought it'd only be proper if I introduce myself once again to you!

My name is Cindy and I'm so glad you are here! :)

First, you may be wondering, how did I come up with the title, *She Sparkles*??

Well, many years ago, my friend Shauna Niequist shared if she had to describe me in one word it would be "*sparkling*" (I thought to myself.."hmmm...sparkling ~ I like it!").

Years later, when I came across Zechariah 9:16...

The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. They will *sparkle* in His land like jewels in a crown.....

....my creative wheels starting turning ~ and *She Sparkles* was born!

(And trust me ~ after many, many years of rebellious, defeated, sinful living ~ I now count it a huge privilege and honor to *Sparkle* for Him!)

My hope is that *She Sparkles* is a joy-filled place to talk about faith, family fun, marriage, parenting within our personality, prayer, and even finding hope in the midst of great tragedy.

I've been very honest with my life long weight struggle, and my desire to live Fat Talk Free.

I also love books and giveaways...so anytime I come across a book/resource I love ~ I try to pass it on! (In fact, don't forget, it's not too late to enter my latest versepack giveaway!)

My husband, John, is a controller for a local country club. He is handsome, hard working, loyal, an amazing dad, and enjoys doing laundry (a rare gift, I realize!). We have been married 11 years!

John and I are blessed to have 4 great kids ~ ages almost 8, almost 9, 10, and 17. Trust me, there is never a dull moment at our house!

This fall I stepped out of my comfort zone BIG TIME when I was asked to film my testimony for the Day of Discovery television show. Yikes!!

The filming is nearly complete (we just need one more scene to be shot on a snowy day!)....and the documentary should air on TV this spring. Only God!

I'll also be filming my first Bible study (based on the Lukewarm Church) in ancient Laodicea this March. I just received my plane ticket/itinerary last week. Yikes! As it gets closer, I'll be begging you for prayer support! Our God is such a God of miracles, isn't He?!

After the amazing transformation God has done in my life, I just LOVE sharing about Him! If you live in West Michigan, you can see my speaking schedule here. I'd love to meet you!!

Whew! that's a lot about me..sorry!

Mostly, I hope any time you visit *She Sparkles*, you will leave you feeling joy-filled, encouraged, ready to have a party & celebrate, and pointed to Truth!

(And, if you're ever feeling stuck or defeated, feel free to shoot me a quick note. Just ask my friends, I love to give little pep talks filled with Truth and hope!)

Thank you so much for stopping by *She Sparkles* ! I hope to see more of you! I'd love if you'd leave a quick comment and introduce yourself to me. (please feel free to leave your address so I can come visit your lovely blog too!)

Sweet blessings to you~

P.S. I'm linking up today with Women Living Well and Soli Deo Gloria. Be sure to check out these amazing sisterhoods of women! :)

"She Sparkles A to Z Memory Verse Challenge 2012 starts TODAY! (& huge GIVEAWAY!)

2012-01-01T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hey Friends!

Happy New Year!!! Are you ready to start our A to Z Memory Verse Challenge 2012?! Woo Hoo!

***In case you missed the details, you can catch up here !

Basically, I'll be sharing a new verse every other week (A to Z style) through December 17th, 2012. I also have lots of fun prizes to share each week with Memory Verse Challenge participants!

Let's get started! Here is the first official verse - Joshua 24:15b

A - As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Memorizing Ideas ~

* Purchase a spiral index card holder at your local office store, Walgreens, etc.. Write all 26 verses for 2012 in this spiral.

* For families, you may want to print off a letter A (here) on colored cardstock. Write the verse on the "A", and hang it on your refrigerator.

* Write the verse on your bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. Say your verse aloud each day/night when you brush your teeth.

**Feel free to share your favorite tips, ideas, even pictures. I'd love to share your suggestions and/or link to you in the weeks to come!

Questions to Ponder/Discussion Ideas~

* What does this verse mean to me? to our family?? Spend time reflecting, journaling, praying, and discussing how Joshua 24:15 can help shape you and your family in the New Year.

* What are ways you can serve the Lord in 2012? In your home? School? Neighborhood? Community? World?

* Is there anything getting in the way of serving the Lord? (busy-ness, "screen time", unbelief, etc..). Pray and ask God that He would use you and your family in a special way this week to serve Him!

Giveaways ~

Thanks to the extreme generosity of Verseability, my Verse Challenge Sponsor, I am thrilled to share TONS of great GIVEAWAYS with you!

* Bloggers ~ To any blogger who shares this A to Z challenge on his/her blog, you will receive a free Verseability Versepack ($7.00 value, plus free s/h). (Bloggers, please see notes in P.S. below.)

* Memory Verse Challenge Participants ~ In addition to the blogger giveaway, I have 25 free custom A to Z Verseability Versepacks ($7.00 value, plus free s/h) to share. Woo hoo!

To Win my first week of Giveaways: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:

Why have you've decided to participate in this A to Z Memory Verse Challenge?

Extra Entries:

•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Sunday, January 1st and ends Tuesday, January 3rd at 9 PM. Winners will be posted on my blog during the week of January 4th.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Grab your index cards and let's do this! Yippee!

Happy New Year!!

P.S. To help get us off to a great start, Verseability has made a custom A-Z Versepack that contains all 26 of the verses for the year. The Versepacks are business card sized and perfect for carrying in your purse or pocket and are available for a special price of $ 5.00, plus shipping. You can order them by e-mailing: darlenedykstra@yahoo.com. Be sure to mention *She Sparkles* to get the special rate.

(I encourage you to check out the Verseability website to see the personalized Versebooks and Versepacks available, too. Great gifts for any occasion! Note: the A-Z Versepacks are not listed on the website).

P.P.S. Bloggers ~ Thanks so much for sharing the *She Sparkles* Challenge on your blog. Please include the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory Verse Challenge button on your post. (The button with embedding code is listed on my sidebar). Once you've written your post, please send your mailing information, as well as a link to your post, to Darlene Dykstra, the founder of Verseability at darlenedykstra@yahoo.com. Darlene will be sending out your versepack to you! Thanks so much! :)

Disclosure: I was not provided with any financial compensation for this giveaway, and as always, all opinions are mine.

Our Favorite New Years Day Tradition

2011-12-30T14:00:00.009-05:00

I'm so excited for our *She Sparkles* 2012 Scripture Memory Challenge. We'd love to have you join the fun!

Hey Friends ~

Happy (almost) New Year's 2012 from our home to yours!!

I love New Years Eve! For many years, our family got together with two other families - the Brown's & the Morton's - and we loved it! (Pic below - Sally Brown, me with NY tattoo, and Jill Morton) But then Jill and her family moved to Minnesota. Big tears. :(

Anyway....this year we are trying a new "family-friendly" tradition. I'll keep you posted on how it goes ~ but I'm REALLY looking forward to it, and I'll probably be wearing these 2012 Celebration glasses.

I'm also looking forward to New Years Day (Sunday) when we can celebrate with our special New Years Day family tradition.

I'll bring out markers and paper, and then each family member draws two pictures.

The first picture is a note reflecting on things for which we want to say "Thank You" to God.

For example, here is my picture from 2002...

That year, I was thankful for John, my two boys (the girls weren't born yet), Harbor Clubs (a ministry at my church), the opportunity to serve in Africa, and growing as a disciple of Jesus.

Here's a fun example from my son Jake (shared with his permission). Jake is now 17, but here's his Thank You for 2002.... :)

Or here is Benj's from a few years ago...

For our New Years Day tradition, after we share our "Thank You" page, we take a new piece of paper. On this paper, we write out/draw specific prayer requests for the coming year.

For example, this is Benj's paper for 2009....

It is always so fun to see what the kids come up! It's also a blessing for me and John to put our requests on paper, and then watch how God works over the year!

When I pulled out John's paper (I keep them all in a special New Years tub) ~ I gasped out loud.

God answered every single item on his list (and they were big prayers!).

For my New Years Day prayers last year, it included prayers for my Red Hot Bible study. My exact words, "retreat, book, ministry, open huge doors, ministry opportunities, spread Truth around the world".

I cannot wait to share with you how God is answering these prayers. Want a hint?? I'll be flying this March to film my Bible study on location in a different country. ONLY GOD!!

So that's our family's favorite New Years Day tradition!! What about for you?? Do you have a special New Years tradition?? Share with us please!! I'd love to hear from you! :)

Happy New Year! May 2012 be a year filled with much joy, peace, health, and God's richest blessings!

P.S. Don't forget about the Memory Verse Challenge starting January 1st, 2012. I'd love to have you join us!

Scripture Memory 2012 - Come Join Us! (Part 3)

2011-12-29T13:50:00.011-05:00

In case you missed the first two Scripture Memory posts - you can catch up here & here

Hey Friends ~

I am so excited to tell you more about the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory A to Z 2012 plan!

In 2009 a group of us all across the US accepted the challenge to memorize 26 new verses, ABC style. It was so much fun! In 2012 we'll do it again ~ this time with new verses, plus prizes and incentives too. Woo Hoo!

Here's some details....

* The first verse (starting with the letter A) will be posted this Sunday, January 1.

* After the first verse, new verses will be posted every other week on Monday (i.e. Monday, January 16th will be the B verse). The last verse (Z) will be posted on Monday, December 17th.

(For the weeks I'm out of town or just crazy busy, I'll post ahead, promise. Lord willing, there will always be a new verse posted on time.)

Let's do this together...

* Every week that a new verse is posted, you are invited to "check in" by leaving a comment (or sending me an e-mail if you are unable to leave a comment).

* There will be a giveaway EVERY TIME a new verse is posted (Starbucks e-cards, CD's, books, versepacks, and more!) Yippee!

* We're going to get this ~~party~~ , I mean, "A to Z Memory Verse Challenge" started in a GREAT way. I have 25 GIFTS, yes 25, to giveaway on January 1st.

***Also, any blogger who shares this challenge on her blog will also receive a free gift.***

* Feel free to use the *She Sparkles* A to Z blog button (in my side bar). :)

Wait until you meet one of my sponsors for this A to Z challenge. I'll introduce her on Sunday. She's extending such generosity and is willing to giveaway these great first gifts. What a huge blessing!)

About the Verses....

* I've prayerfully tried to select verses that are "kid friendly". Our family will be doing this challenge together (yes, all of us!) - I hope yours will too!

* If you participated in our A to Z plan in 2009, please know the verses are different this year.

Grand Prize....

At the finish line in December, there will be FUN, EXCITING prizes to giveaway for individuals and families. Yippee!

Whew! What a lot of details! What am I forgetting?? Please feel free to e-mail me any comments, questions, or thoughts. My hope is that the A to Z Memory Verse Challenge will be fun, inspiring, encouraging, power-filled and a huge blessing for all! Time spent memorizing God's Word is never wasted time!

Lastly, whether you choose to follow the ABC plan or another way, may I encourage you to pick one verse before you close this post that you can commit to memory. (Do you have your verse??) Now grab an index card, write it out, carry it with you wherever you go, and say it aloud often!! Let's allow God to transform our minds!!

Happy Memorizing!!

P.S. In case you don't want to miss any of the Memory Verse Updates, you can subscribe to *She Sparkles* to get my posts by e-mail.

Scripture Memory 2012 - Come Join Us (Pt 2)

2011-12-28T21:15:00.011-05:00

In case you missed the Scripture Memory Part 1 post - you can read it here.

Hey Friends ~

I am so excited to tell you more about the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory 2012 plan! Woo Hoo!

Y'all know I'm a huge fan of memorizing God's Word. Please know, I'm not some great memorizer and certainly don't have extra time on my hands ~ I've just experienced FREEDOM, HEALING and JOY like never before by renewing my mind with God's Word.

How can I not invite you to join me?!

Could you use more peace? Ready to experience more joy? I know I am! Let's do this together!

I've memorized scripture in all sorts of ways ~ with a Bible study, picking verses with a friend, Beth Moore's Siesta verses, trying to memorize a whole book of the Bible with a friend, and my Scripture Memory A to Z 2009, to name a few.

I've found thate during "full seasons" of my life the A to Z plan works best. I prayerfully pre-select the verses (before life gets crazy), map out a year long plan, and then it's easy to practice and review anytime, anywhere.

I'm not the only one who has benefited from the A to Z style. A dear friend sent this to me yesterday...

Cindy, I would love to have the verses that you are going to be memorizing. I remember verses (all by the alphabet) that I learned when I was about 12 or 13 and I can still recite them. Sometimes when I can't sleep at nite I start with A (All we like sheep have gone astray) etc. and go thru the alphabet................it seems like I never get to Z and it's probably a good thing 'cause I don't know any verses starting with Z. Great idea................ Thanks!!

And before you say you can't do it ~ do you remember the two sweet girls who memorized all 26 verses last time? If they can do it, we can too!

I'm not sure about you, but my 2012 is a bit nutty already! This year is going to be filled with such faith-building, character building opportunities (I can't wait to tell you where I'm going in March - only God!!!) ~ I need a WHOLE BUNCH of God's Word or I might have a melt down! It's definitely another A to Z year!

You too??

Would you prayerfully consider joining the *She Sparkles* Scripture Memory Challenge 2012?

I'll post the first verse this Monday, January 1 ~ so grab some index cards and get ready! I'll share more specific details tomorrow - including the incredible ministry who is helping to sponsor this fun opportunity. You'll never believe the first set of prizes! Woo Hoo!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! May God bless you with much joy in Him!

Scripture Memory 2012 - Join Us!

2011-12-27T13:49:00.010-05:00

Hey Friends ~

I'm curious...are you working on New Years Resolutions for 2012??

I'll confess, I am! I'm making a list of "growth areas" - physically, spiritually and emotionally - for this upcoming year. It's quite the list, trust me! :)

If you've spent any time around me, it probably won't surprise you to know I have "scripture memory" on my 2012 Resolutions list. I am absolutely passionate about memorizing God's Word! Now this hasn't always been the case - but after 20+ years of empty, self-defeated living, I know God's Word works!

My life has been transformed because my mind has been transformed ~ and this has come by memorizing God's Word!

I have been set free from many areas of addiction, bondage and "stinkin' thinkin'" because I have learned to think new thoughts (God's, not mine!) about my challenges, circumstances and situations.

Not that I'm perfect, we all know this, right?! Far from it! But praise God I'm not who I used to be! :) (testimony recap here)

Anyhoo...as we head into the New Year, I'm putting together a Scripture Memory plan for 2012.

I would love to have you join us!! More details tomorrow...but in the mean time, here's some background information. (This is a re-post from our Scripture Memory of 2009). Enjoy!.....

******

Last fall, I had a sudden awareness of how soon my son Jake will be heading off to college.

A bit premature, I know (he's only 14) - but 4 years will go fast! Yikes! So I told Jake that in 2009, I wanted us to memorize 26 new verses (My thinking is when he is in college, I can pray that the verses would come alive in his heart and in his mind when he is faced with difficult choices).

Me, being the simple girl that I am, started praying over a list of 26 verses I would like Jake "to take with him" - and I wanted them to be in A to Z order.

That way, when we are going over them, it will (hopefully) make it easier for the verses to build on one another. So, if we are on a walk, driving in the car, or even at the dentist - we can be going over our verses.

My hope (and prayer) is that by the end of 2009, we could start at A and make it all of the way to Z with God's Truths.

I figured I would e-mail or text Jake his verses (seems cooler than making him have colored note cards with stickers like his mom :)). I even bought a calendar and figured out when I would send him a new verse (every other Monday) - and the beauty of it all is that with 52 weeks in a year, it works out perfectly!!

I was sharing this with a friend on New Years Eve, and she, too, wanted to memorize more scripture in 2009, but wished someone would give her the verses to memorize.

I offered to send her the same verse I pick for Jake - and she liked that idea. It made me think maybe some of my other friends might like to join us as well. I sent out an e-mail with my idea, and the response was EXCITING!!

Men, women, boys and girls - young and old - all over the United States signed up! How fun is that?! :)

There is so much POWER in God's WORD ~ so to think of the many, many friends committing 2009 to the renewing of their minds is THRILLING to me!

And the excitement continues...one friend e-mailed all of her old college roommates and invited them in on our A to Z journey - and so her college roommate (who now lives in CA) e-mailed me to say she is in on the challenge. One dear man (who is, let's just say, older than 70) is mentoring a young man attending the University of Michigan. They have both signed up for the A to Z challenge. And my very best childhood friend (who now lives in PA) sent me a link to her blog with her little girl Emma (who is not yet 3) saying her verse. I could go on and on with how the A to Z challenge is spreading.

Isn't God fun?! :)

All of that to say, if you are interested in joining us in our memory work - I'd love to send you the verses as well. Like I shared with Jake - this is something I am SO PASSIONATE ABOUT!

My life has been TOTALLY TRANSFORMED because my mind has been TOTALLY TRANSFORMED and this has come from studying and learning and memorizing God's Word.

I promise the verses aren't long and difficult - and learning a new one every other week seems really doable. And you can jump it at any time ~ we're not trying to be legalistic about this ~ even if we each learned 5 new verses ~ Praise the Lord! May those 5 new verses replace 5 lies we have picked up from the world!!

Now that I have this blog, I will be posting the verses on this site. If you would like to receive the verse as an e-mail to you, I would be happy to send you a new verse every other week.

Time spent memorizing and meditating on God's Word is never wasted time. So what do you think...are you in on the challenge??!

Let's pray: Dear God, I pray YOU would help us with the A to Z challenge. Open our minds and our hearts, Lord, and equip us as we commit to memory the life-changing TRUTHS from your Word. And Lord, please give us perseverance! When life gets busy (and it will), remind us of the importance of letting Your Word dwell richly in us! Thank YOU that memorizing Your WORD can be fun and exciting! May our passion for Your Word spread!
For Your Glory Alone!!!! Amen!

********

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for more details on the 2012 Scripture Memory plan...including prizes! Woo Hoo!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!!! :)

Lord Undo Me

2011-12-26T22:33:00.007-05:00

Hey friends!

Merry Christmas! I pray your Christmas was filled with much love, joy and celebration of Jesus.

Our weekend was filled with lots of fun family time...and now I am beat. I'm definitely ready for a long winter's nap! :)

I came across this prayer today and felt compelled to share it. You can either listen to the prayer said by JD Chandler, a k-love radio DJ here (if you have a minute to listen to it read aloud I'd highly recommend it!) or read it below.

“Lord Undo Me” By: Blake Williams

I don’t really worship these day
I don’t really stand up to praise you with songs
Or prayers or actions
or with anything
I am full of all the right moves
I am full of all the right words
I am full of all the right religion
But it is all just illusion
I am really
Lonely
Lost
Calloused
Jaded
Cynical
Too religious
Too realistic
and well really just to lazy
to worship you anymore
I have lost my first love
I have lost the joy of your presence
But most of all I have lost the fear of your glory

Father I need to see you again
Like Isaiah I want to stand in awe of your glory
To fall down at your feet
To come face to face with your
Perfection,
Radiance,
Goodness,
Holiness,
Awesomeness
I want to stand before you and see you for who you are
and me for who I am
I want to be undone

I want to know me for who I really am
I want to see the depths of my heart
And know that you are the only way
You are the only truth
You are the only life
I want to see me and understand
What it really must have taken for you to
Love me
Care for me
See me
Speak to me
Want me
Communicate with me
Die for me
Die for me
Die for me

Lord, I want to stand in that place where all I can see is your glory
And my sin
Because in that place I can’t help but worship you.
Lord let me come undone
Undo my heart
Lord, undo my heart
break down these walls that I love so much
No, wait don’t,
I’m scared I don’t know if I can handle this
don’t
But I can’t live this way anymore
I can’t stand here in this half-life
this going through the motions life
this not really alive life
Father, I need you so come in and do what you must
Cut out the tumor on my heart
Break down the walls that I love
Lord let me come undone
Undo my heart
let me worship you again

Amen…

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. May you experience God in fresh, new ways this week!

Beat the Blues at Christmas

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends ~

Happy almost Christmas to you! Hard to believe Christmas will be here in a matter of hours!

In the midst of preparing for Jesus' birthday, I can't help but think of others who are struggling this Christmas.

Families like Judy's, and Samantha's, and Derek's. Will y'all join me in keeping these families in your prayers? Who else do you know who has an "empty chair" this Christmas season? Let's overwhelm them with prayers and love.

In case you too are wrestling with some "holiday blues", today I'm thrilled to feature Poppy Smith as she shares some simple ways to Beat the Blues this Christmas! Here's Poppy....

Eight Ways to Beat the Blues at Christmas by Poppy Smith

Instead of a houseful of kids and their little ones running around laughing, crying, playing with toys and sneaking treats, this year my husband, Jim, and I will be home alone for Christmas. My automatic reaction is to feel sad—but I am glad that all of them will be celebrating the coming of Jesus with their in-laws. After all, we are usually the ones who get that privilege!

But—it’s easy to be sucked down into a “poor me” mindset and play the blues, unless we decide to change our perspective. So here are eight simple ways to help you enjoy the holidays whether you’re physically or emotionally alone. Why not join me and let’s beat those blues which aren’t where God wants us at this special time of the year—or at any time!

•Sing.

Play music. Listen to the words and join in praising God. Singing is a guaranteed mood lifter and perspective changer. “Sing for joy to God our strength” Ps.81:1.

•Smile.

Smile at little children. Their harried moms. The older shoppers who are trying to find just the right present. Make smiling your chosen expression (not through gritted teeth, however!). It will make you feel so much better and maybe lift up another lonely soul.

•Invite.

Is there someone you haven’t had time for this past year? Could you suggest meeting for coffee, lunch, or even over to your home? Perfection isn’t needed—only a loving heart that looks beyond it’s own world.

•Rest.

Remember all those too early mornings when you longed to just stay in bed? Now’s your chance. Take time to read a book of the Bible or several psalms. Choose a special book, magazine, or television program. Make or buy some once in a year yummy treats and ENJOY this gift of time!
•Give gifts to others.

Go online and look for simple Christmas recipes. Make peppermint candy or a cranberry loaf and go drop it off at a homeless shelter or place that serves those without a home. Change your perspective from looking inward to looking outward—as God our Savior did when He gave us the most amazing gift of love any one can receive.

•Write a list of your blessings.

Think back over this past year. Even if it has been one of the most difficult you’ve experienced, ask God’s Spirit to show you where He was present, loving and supporting and guiding you through. He will show you something and lift your heart.

•Go to a Christmas Eve Service.

Even if you’re by yourself, don’t miss the presence of God amidst the beauty of this celebration. Let your senses feast on the beauty, your ears delight in the music, your heart be moved to new heights of gratitude and love.

•Pray about your dreams for 2012.

What do you want to see happen in the coming year? Have you thought about changes you want to make? New paths to walk? Write out what comes to mind when you think of taking better care of yourself physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

May your “Home Alone” Christmas fill you with joy and a fresh awareness that Christ is with you, whether you’re surrounded by people or peacefully alone. ~ Poppy Smith

With her fun personality and passion for communicating life-changing truths, Poppy Smith inspires believers to thrive spiritually and personally. Poppy’s practical how-to messages (in print or in person) uses colorful examples from her own struggles to be more like Jesus. She encourages women (and men, at times) to grow in every kind of situation—whether joyful or painful! Poppy is British, married to an American, and has lived in many countries. She brings an international flair seasoned with humorous honesty as she illustrates Bible truths. A former Bible Study Fellowship Lecturer, Poppy’s teaching challenges women to look at their choices, attitudes and self-talk. As a result, God’s speaks, changing hearts, changing minds, and changing lives.

Check out Poppy's website or sign up for Poppy's THRIVE newsletter.

What helpful ideas, Poppy! Thanks for sharing!

And I'd love to hear from you, dear friends! How do you stay joy-filled at Christmas, even in the midst of disappointment? Any way we can pray for you this Christmas Season? Share with me please!

Have a wonderful, refreshing, Christ-centered weekend! I thank God for you!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

2011-12-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

Hey Friends!

Happy almost Christmas to you!

As I mentioned last week, one of our Top 10 Favorite Christmas Traditions is our annual "Happy Birthday Jesus" party. Although some of the details change each year, here are some ideas that have worked for us....

**Hosting a Happy Birthday Jesus Party**

Who: We hold our party every year on Christmas morning. Some years (esp. when the flu has gone through our home) it's just our immediate family, however, our hope is that we'd always have a spot for anyone wanting to celebrate Jesus with us.

Food: What's a birthday party without good food? Since our party is in the morning, I plan a yummy brunch with all my family's favorite dishes. This year I'll be making french_toast_casserole (thanks, Lisa), cinnamon rolls, turkey sausage, and fresh fruit. Any other ideas?

Also, you can't have a birthday party without cake, can you?! Some years we've made a "Jesus birthday cake", although last year I ordered this fun cake.)

And yes, we do sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! If only we sounded like this....

Festivities: Every celebration needs a couple of fun games. Here's some of our favorites:

• Christmas Bingo (You knew I'd say that, didn't you?!) with M&M's as markers.

• Christmas Card Toss - Have children stand in a line and try to toss Christmas cards into a bucket.

• Musical Chairs with Christmas Music (my kids never outgrow musical chairs!)

• Pass the Gift - Wrap a present. Have guests sit in a circle and pass the gift while the music is playing. When the music stops, the guest with the gift gets to pick a candy cane off the tree and leaves the circle.

• Christmas Charades - Make a list of common Christmas items on the back of old business cards. Divide into 2 teams. Let the fun begin!

• Christmas Wreath Toss - Place three wreaths in a line on the floor. Have guests try to toss a Christmas stuffed animal into the wreaths.

• What's Missing? - Place a nativity set on a tray. Let children look at it for a couple of minutes. Turn around and remove an item from the tray. Let children look again and see if they can spot what is missing

• Christmas Old Maid - You play this game exactly like Old Maid, except instead of an Old Maid, you have a "Happy Birthday Jesus" card. And instead of trying to get rid of it, you win by being the last person to have the card.

Presents: We all bring a "gift" to present to baby Jesus, and then read the story of Jesus in Luke 2:1-16.

Thankfully, everyone at our home is healthy this year (thank You, God!) ~ so I am so excited about our Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration!

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?? I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you this CHRISTmas season!

P.S. For more "Happy Birthday Jesus Party" ideas check here, here, here.

P.P.S. For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over and visit Kristen at We Are That Family. :)