I have taken many pictures over my lifetime, many more than I will ever get in an album or scrapbook. 

But the ones that I have done have been precious memories for myself & family.

I came across this challenge of 25 prompts for pictures.  There are some great ideas on here, but you could even add some of your own to fit you and your family! The idea is to be intentional about what you would like to save and remember. You can go to the link here.

Be intentional this summer to record some of your most fond memories and you too will have a keepsake to cherish for years to come!

Blessings to you on this beautiful day :)

From Him, intense, gentle love exudes 
In me, no doubt, just gratitude 
For joy and peace no more elude 

The perfect sacrifice He made 
A gift, unnecessary to repay 
For me, for all, and for this day 

God's grace, in Jesus, brilliantly shown 
His kingdom and family to call my own 
For in Christ's presence, I am home.

Christine Miller
Guest blogger 

When I learned that the source of these “little messes” was a ground mole, I was intrigued.  My husband, my go-to person for all outdoor knowledge, explained the life of the mole and that he was just doing what moles do, looking for food. 

As I pondered the whole “mole thing” I sensed a connection to our own lives. 

As Christians we can often encounter moles in our lives.  Just as when we encounter them in our yards making a mess, encountering them in our lives is never pleasant. 

The moles that I am referring to are those negative thoughts that come into our minds and wreck our peaceful days. 

As a Christian, I know that if I confess my sins, God is faithful to forgive them.
(1 John 1:9) He not only forgives them, but the best part is that he forgets them.  (Hebrews 8:12)

So why is it that I can be having a perfectly good day when all of a sudden something triggers a thought of a past failure? 

There it is, God has forgiven it, but the mole of shame or regret digs it back up and throws it into my mind, reminding me of my failure. 

Mind moles not only dig up our past failures, but they also like to feast on things like worry, past hurts, and feelings of insecurity. 

If I allow myself to ponder these kinds of thoughts, I am allowing the memory mole to keep me from being the effective, forgiven, victorious Christian that God wants me to be.

I was reading in Matthew 26 the story of Peter’s denial of Jesus.  Peter loved Jesus and was one of his most devoted followers.  In the beginning of the chapter he wants to fight the soldiers for Jesus, but by the end he denies he evens knows him. 

hink of the mind moles Peter must have had when he thought back on what he had done.  Yet we see later after Jesus’ resurrection that when Peter encounters Jesus for the first time since his denial, it is as if he had never failed his beloved Lord.  (John 21)

That’s the kind of forgiveness that Jesus offers us too.

When I asked my husband why I don’t notice the works of these destructive creatures in the summer, he explained that when he mows the lawn he flattens them with the tractor. 

Sometimes I wish I had a tractor that would flatten those negative thoughts that pop into my mind.  But there is something better than a tractor to get rid of these mind moles. 

We have the power of the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence to remind us that we are not captives to our thoughts or our emotions.  (Colossians 1:11)

We are forgiven children of God, equipped with everything we need to live victorious lives.

Don’t allow the mind moles to take control of your days.  Remember who you are in Christ and live victoriously!

Lisa Barber

This last week, we will talk about the word ponder.

The definition of ponder is to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply.

I was struck several years ago at the times Mary treasured things, pondered, or thought about them in her heart.

We live in an unsafe world. 

The reminder seems to be becoming more and more frequent these days.  It seems to touch deeper parts of our hearts as acts of violence increase around us. 

Jerusalem was so prosperous that she was bursting out of her walls. 

What is the promise of the Lord? To, himself, be the wall of protection. 

When crisis strikes, we are often faced with many questions from those who don't know the Lord.  They wonder why "things just keep getting worse."  They ask how a good God could allow such difficult circumstances to strike innocent people. 

We can find answers to these questions in God's Word. 

Things continue to get worse, just as Jesus promised in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, and this will continue to happen until the return of Christ.  We should not be surprised as we see these signs that the end is coming. 
 
Though we cannot fully understand, with our finite minds, all of God's ways, we can cling to his promises when trouble comes and conditions worsen.  Here are some of his promises to cling to today:
 
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.  Deuteronomy 32:4
 
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  Psalm 33:4
 
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.  Ecclesiastes 11:5
 
For on the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.  Psalm 27:5
 
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.  Isaiah 65:24

 
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Psalm 5:11
 
I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you.  Jeremiah 15:20
 
For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.  Psalm 5:12
 
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1
 
May you be encouraged as you claim this truth today.  Furthermore, may you share it with those around you when they doubt and seek answers.

Stacey

I haven't written in months, because my story hasn't been pretty. A lack of wisdom, cycles of sin, shame, and regret have led me to make choices and decisions that I am not proud to share. There have been moments of my life where God has revealed truth, but I was still shackled and in bondage. On October 8th, 2012, the Lord broke the chains and pulled me up from the pit. I haven't been the same.

Now, the Lord is beckoning me to write again. Not by the tapping of keys, but rather the contrast of graphite lines against a background of white. Of course if you are reading this, it implies the use of modern technology, but it didn't begin this way. There is something raw, and perhaps more honest about writing in this fashion. Gone are the quick fixes of auto-correct, backspace, and delete. Hello crossing out, erasing, edit marks, and squeezing forgotten words into less than ample margins.

Now, the Lord is beckoning me to write again. Not by the tapping of keys, but rather the contrast of graphite lines against a background of white. Of course if you are reading this, it implies the use of modern technology, but it didn't begin this way. There is something raw, and perhaps more honest about writing in this fashion. Gone are the quick fixes of auto-correct, backspace, and delete. Hello crossing out, erasing, edit marks, and squeezing forgotten words into less than ample margins.

You know the questions...the same ones you may ask your kids when they want to do something or go somewhere :)  (If they aren't old enough yet - these are the questions you will want to ask them when they are going out as teens!)

They are also great questions to ask as you are going through the Word! If you have started to slow down while you are reading that is great because you now have the time to start asking questions.

Who?  
Who is speaking?
Who is the audience?
Whois involved? 

What?
What took place?
What is the meaning, context, time period?

When?
When did this take place?

Where?
Where did it take place?

Why?
Why did it happen?
What is the reason or purpose?

How?
How was it done?
What was the method or means?

As you take time to explore these questions you will find more depth in the meaning of what you are reading.  It will be like unlocking hidden treasures!

I challenge you to take a verse that is familar to you - one you don't think you can get anything new out of.  Pray, get your journal, slow down and start asking questions. 

My guess is you will find some treasure in that time!

(You can also go to this link for a handy printout with more detail on asking questions, and an example)

Be blessed by the wonder of His Word this week!

Moody Radio recently had guest Chip Ingram explain how comparing ourselves to others, favorably or unfavorably, erodes community.  It made such an impression on me and has helped me in some of my thought processes that I wanted to share it with you. 

He broke it down like this: when we judge others as “less than” us in an area, we put ourselves in a position of pride and become vulnerable to the sins of prideful thinking.  When we judge others as “more able” than us, we can be distracted or disheartened by the comparison and not as focused on God’s love and unique purpose for us.   

What we have in common is that we are all needed; we are all loved by God.  How we are different is to the rich and creative glory of God. (1 Corinthians 12:14-31)

The destructive nature of comparison affects how we perceive ourselves (too high, too low) and how we relate to others, both of consequence in the Kingdom and in the body.

The simple reminder is to check my thinking process on both days when I feel like more and on days when I feel like less than another sister.

God brings me back to who Christ says I am (beloved, victorious, a sinner saved by grace) and more importantly, who Christ is (teacher, healer, counselor, redeemer, friend). 

When we look more at who Christ is and who we are called to be, and less at the erratic variable of what others do from one day to the next and how well they do it, we are moving in the right direction.  The more we look out, the less we look across the aisle in comparison and the more confident in God’s plan for us we become.

Are you more or less drawn to fellowship with other women who know their identity in Christ, operate in their unique gifts unapologetically, and accept others for who they are and where they’re at? 

Checking our mental processes when we compare ourselves with others and aligning our thoughts with those of the King brings us closer to God and closer in fellowship with others.

Beth Husband

Just to give you a taste of what is to come - here are a few videos.

Hope to see you there!  For more info go to the Spring Simulcast page!
(Tickets available at the door)

Your Weakness. God's Strength. from LifeWay Women on Vimeo.

Countdown to Gideon - Week 5 from Going Beyond on Vimeo.