Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for myfeet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 7:41-48 (NIV Bold Mine)

Do you have kids? I’m the mother to six. You might agree there isn’t a bigger responsibility in life than raising children to fear and love the Lord.

Applying this verse to my  children’s upbringing is a challenge. As mothers, we want to shelter our offspring from EVERY evil thing out there, and keep them from making mistakes.

But, knowing those who have been forgiven of the most sins are the ones who love the most sends shivers up my spine.

I’ve been forgiven much – Insomuch as I’m confident of my need for a savior and I cling to Him.

What about my children? How about yours? Where can we find a balance for their lives? Are we willing to trust God with their future’s by letting go of them at some point?

Sure, but when…

I recently shared this with an artist friend of mine named, Andre Lucero. He had a wonderful analogy I’d like to share with you:

As a gardener, when you want to grow something from seed, you must first prepare the soil.

Then you plant the seed and protect it from the elements. You may even need to cover it for a short time if frost is eminent.

At some point, while still a seedling, you will need to put it outside – uncovered in order to allow the new plant to toughen up. If you don’t take this important step, you will have a weak plant. You see, allowing it to toughen up causes the plant to become strong enough to weather the storms that lay ahead.

Just like the seedling, our own children need to be given the proper foundation of faith in God. But at some point, we will need to allow them to face some of the elements and toughen up. I believe this should happen before we send them off to college. You see, I think we need to be there for our kids when they make some of those mistakes. This way we can begin to counsel them and walk alongside them.

In order to pull the weeds growing alongside our plants, we must spend time in our gardens. The same is true of our children. If we aren’t actively involved in their lives, we will not see the temptations that are growing up to choke out their faith. Parenting is a full time activity!

Even if you aren’t currently a parent, you can sow into the lives of other’s kids. If you have the time and relationship with them, you may be the one who needs to pull a few weeds, or spread some living water.

What do you think?

“And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24 (NIV)

If we were perfect, we’d have no need of His grace. But we are sinners and our only hope of salvation is through the grace God gives us by His son, Jesus.

Grace can also be described as unmerited favor. If we don’t deserve it, then it shows our pitiful state of being before His existence in our lives.

Understanding God’s grace, really puts to death any pride or self righteous thinking. Apart from Christ we are all wretched and undeserving. God knew this full well when He sent His only son to die for our sins.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

As you celebrate Valentines day, take the time to give thanks to the most amazing valentine you will ever have. The God who loved you while you were still a sinner.

How have you seen God’s grace in your life?

This is how it looked as I drove the kids to school today. Thick fog – low visibility. Certainly not the best driving conditions.

It reminded me of our Christian walk.

We are expected to stay on the right path (road) which is narrow, the fog would represent the noise around us in the world (sin).

How should we, as Christians, navigate in such conditions?

First, pay attention to the road. I noticed how much more attentive and alert I became today. This didn’t represent the usual driving conditions. Sometimes the chaos around us will sharpen our focus on the road ahead.

Next, turn on your lights. Unless an oncoming car had it’s lights on, they would likely go unseen and risk causing an accident. I realized how all vehicles are equipped with lights, but turning them on in a fog is a conscious decision. We can turn on our spiritual lights by memorizing the word of God and then speaking it into our lives.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Have you turned on your lights today? If so, please leave a comment and tell us what you did.

According to Arthur Gordon, in A Touch of Wonder, “The deadly art of non-living is the tendency to observe rather than act, avoid rather than participate, not do rather than do.”

Are we as Christians, guilty of practicing the art of non-living? I say, “yes!”

Just today, as I watched the news, former executive Karen Handel, resigned from her position at the Susan G. Komen foundation.

What happened?

She spearheaded a decision to cut the nearly $700,000 in annual donations given from the Komen foundation to Planned Parenthood.

According to the newscast, “This inflamed a firestorm of criticism” from Planned Parenthood supporters (who also happen to support abortions).

Now, Handel has stepped down. Why?

They succumbed to the outcry and reversed their decision to cease funding for PP.

Now what?

My husband said to me, “Do you think the Christian’s around the world will storm their emails and create such a stink they’ll stop funding?”

I laughed out loud.

When in the past have we Christians stood up for anything with unity like this? We can’t even agree on which doctrine to preach on Sundays, let alone unite for a cause.

Why?

We are guilty of choosing the deadly art of non-living.

All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.

Let’s start living and do something!

Here’s part of an article excerpted out of the Baltimore Sun

A quick search on Google shows many medical studies reporting that women who have an abortion increase their risk for breast cancer. Despite the large amount of money raised for the Susan G. Komen foundation, they have done nothing to educate the public on these findings.

According to your paper, last year the Susan G. Komen foundation gave $650,000 to 16 Planned Parenthood clinics for breast-health services. It is irresponsible to give money raised to find a cure for breast cancer to the largest abortion provider in our nation.

• Perhaps the most disturbing part of the business relationship between the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood is the fact that Planned Parenthood does not even provide mammograms at its clinics.

If you want to start living your beliefs and make a difference, then copy and paste this article excerpt into an email to the Susan G. Komen foundation letting them know we want the funding to STOP!

Click here for the link on the Komen email information.

Let’s unite and make a difference today!  (Pass this on to as many Christian’s as you can!)

Every January my husband and I get away together to have our annual State of the Family and Finances review.

Getting away from the hustle and bustle of your normal life is extremely important because sometimes the only way to see the solution to a problem is to step outside of the issue for a moment.

We both write out our annual goals, then pray together about the lists.

We discuss any major purchases we see in our upcoming year (i.e.. drivers ed for our almost 16 year old, vacation’s, etc.).

Next we talk about any character issues we are having with the kids. At this point, we focus on each child, one by one, and discuss issues and possible solutions. Then we discuss how to implement these new solutions.

We discuss our family life and make sure we aren’t too busy and that we are getting fed at our local church as well as evening Bible study.

Finally, we check in to be sure we are both satisfied with our marriage life.

Of course we take lots of breaks to just relax and recharge our batteries (This year we added prayer walks which were amazing).

For 2012 we stole away to the mountains for 5 days in a small two bedroom cabin with a fireplace and hot tub.

When we finish, we are both revived, refreshed and recharged. The kids know enough to be tense when we arrive home, because change is imminent. But we know the issues we’ve come to expect are now going to be addressed and in time resolved.

When’s the last time you and your honey got away for a time to reflect? If you aren’t married, you can still get away with a girlfriend and disconnect long enough to work out any kinks in your daily life.

This is an annual investment I believe everyone should make. It’s well worth the money spent for a better year and mentally refreshed you.

What are you waiting for? Make a reservation, hire a baby sitter and get going!

Goals are not so easy to meet. We want them to challenge us and improve our lives, but boy do they get in the way when things get busy.

Here are a few tips to help you (and me) reach our goals by the end of 2012:

1. Be realistic. Don’t set goals so lofty you need a miracle to reach them.

2. Be prayerful. Once you have goals in mind, take them before the Lord.

3. Be specific. Be sure to write down the specific steps needed to reach those goals.

4. Be committed. Research has shown that people who actually read over their goals on a daily basis are 80-90% more likely to reach them, so get into the habit of reading them over daily.

5. Be flexible. By February, most of us will have missed it on at least one goal. Don’t throw them all away, instead ask the Lord to give you fresh resolve and start fresh that day. You still have many more months to be faithful to reaching your goals.

6. Reward yourself. As you meet goals consistently, reward yourself. Buy a book you’ve been pining for, or go for a peaceful walk with the Lord, basking in His creation. Pat yourself on the back because you did it with His help!

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Habakkuk 2:2

Thankfully, the issues are finally resolved and my site is back up and running.  I am looking at it as a fresh start for 2012.

I am excited about 2012. I have big plans for the new year. I have my goals set, with steps needed to take to reach them.  And I am ready with my resolve.  I sometimes think half of the battle is my resolve.

I also found a study that showed people who read over their goals daily are 80 or 90% more likely to meet those goals than people who don’t read over them.

Given these facts, I’ve put my goals in a place where I will read them daily. I hope to post at the end of the year about my success in reaching my goals!

Have you set any goals for 2012? Have you heard of anything to help us reach those goals?  Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Have you made your list and checked it twice?

Is your shopping complete?

Have you wrapped those gifts?

How about the food? Have you bought the Christmas dinner?

Don’t forget decorations, are they all in place?

The clock is ticking and the days are counting down until CHRISTMAS! You’d better be ready, because ready or not, December 25th will be Christmas day. December 26th will be too late.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” 2 Peter 3:10a (NIV)

Unlike Christmas day, we neither know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but that does not excuse us from being ready! God expects us to be watching and waiting for His return.

How can we be ready for this fabulous day?

1. Make a list – of scriptures you’ve memorized, or ones you intend to memorize. We are told to hide His words in our hearts.

2. Check it twice – or more often if needed to ensure those verses are really in your hearts and minds.

3. Be sure you are nice – not naughty. Check your behavior and be sure it’s lining up with those scriptures you’ve memorized. Confess your sins and He will forgive them.

4. Pray. Spend time getting to know God himself through prayer. Pray the Word of God, pray your needs and pray your hearts desires.

5. Praise. Give God the glory. Praise Him for everything in your life, and for who He is.

6. Tell others. We are expected to bring others with us to Heaven.

As you prepare for Christmas, let it stand as a reminder to prepare yourself for His return!

Merry Christmas!

Make a list – and check it twice, right?

On Sunday, I had each child come into my office and tell me what they hoped to receive for Christmas. I neatly wrote each request down in my notebook. Next, I added other friends and family members – along with a gift idea.

Have you ever wondered Why we indulge one another with material gifts when God is the one who gave us the best gift of all, Jesus?

My husband and I are going to really downplay the gift giving this year. Not because we feel it’s wrong, but because we want the kids to realize the best gift ever is the gift of receiving God’s salvation through Jesus.

To encourage right thinking, we will do a family project to help those in need. We can get involved through different local churches in feeding the hungry in our area, Christmas Mother, Toys for Tots, etc… By doing something for those in need,as a family, we will be unifying our beliefs and creating long lasting memories.

Do you remember exactly what you received for Christmas when you were 13? You probably only remember one or two gifts. If I asked you to tell me about a time when you helped someone in need you would probably be able to give me word for word details. Why? Because that’s what really matters in life.

How do you make lasting memories with your loved ones at Christmas?