It's That Time of the Month!

Alright, let’s face it. There is a certain time of the month when our husbands wonder who we are and what happened to their wonderful, witty, sweet, beautiful wives. Last week, my husband was asking that very question. The poor guy, I really felt sorry for him. I went from being mad to bawling my eyes out. He had no clue what he had done. I’m not sure I knew either, but I know he did something! Sound familiar?

The fact is, we women go through hormonal changes every month before our cycle that distort our thinking process, our logic, our feelings and emotions, our patience and our ability to simply function the way we normally do. I know you may take exception to these thoughts and differ with me, but if you honestly evaluate yourself, you will agree with me. I’m not saying every one of us experience all of these debilitating characteristics to their fullest extent every month. I am saying to one degree or another we experience one or more of these each month. There are months I simply get a little emotional. Other months I have absolutely no patience. I think you get the idea.

It seems as if God has thrown us a curve ball. Our physical bodies are leading us down one path, a path where our actions and our words are often times the exact opposite of God’s nature. And He’s the one who made us with all these raging hormones and fluctuating moods. That does not give us the right to follow our flesh. It does give us the opportunity to overcome our flesh and win the prize.

I Corinthians 9:24-27 reads like this: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

I don’t want to be led around by emotions and mood swings like a dog on leash…do you? I want to discipline my body and bring it into subjection. I want the Holy Spirit to lead me, not my flesh. It’s time we stop making excuses for ourselves and learn to be temperate in all things. It’s time we put an end to “it’s that time of the month!”

Being Thankful...

Being thankful, what does it mean?

This has been a hard year for so many of us. Whether you have been laid off, downsized, fired, or simply had your hours cut, you have been one of those dealing with making ends meet. This has been hard, especially since the cost of living has not been compassionate on those of us trying to support our families in tough times.

If someone close to you is sick, perhaps in the hospital or if you have lost someone you love this year, you know what it’s like to have a heart that is hurting and full of grief. Pain and suffering is no stranger to any of us.

Yesterday morning, when I was reading from Proverbs 24:10, these words pierced my heart: If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Wow. This disqualifies no one. Every person created will face adversity. The question is, how will it grow us? Or, will it grow us? Jesus Christ faced troubles while living on earth. If He, the son of God, is not exempt, where do we come up with the idea that troubles will pass us by?

I don’t know about you, but I want my strength to be huge! I want it to be as tall as a mountain, as large as an ocean and as big as the sky. I want to be thankful for everything that I go through; the good and the bad. With that being said, I am thankful for the following:

I am thankful for friends who have loaned us a car, not only does it help me be mobile, but it teaches me humility.

I am thankful that I have learned that my husband’s belief in himself is more important than how many dollars we have in the bank.

I have learned and am thankful for the knowledge that possessions come and go. They are just things. Things don’t make the woman. Respecting and supporting my husband and loving and caring for my children show my character and integrity more than the finest gold in my jewelry box. I want my life to be measured by how much I loved, not what beautiful things decorated my home.

I am thankful that I have a warm home to live in and that by the grace of God, our rent and our bills are paid.

I am thankful for the feast that I will toil over tomorrow to show my family that I love and appreciate them, regardless of the fact that no guests will grace our table. They are worth it!

I am thankful that tomorrow, when my husband eats the pumpkin pie I baked just for him, he will know it was just for him. He will also know that it is because I honor him as the head of our home that he gets a pie no one else in our family will eat!

I am thankful for Pastor Charles and Pastor Stacy. Not only are they wonderful pastors, but the dearest of friends. I am blessed to be able to call them both.

I am thankful for our entire church body. I have learned and grown through the love of my brothers and sisters. I appreciate each and every one of them!

I am thankful that God, using extreme measures of mercy, chose to use me to Glorify Him. What an honor to write the words burning in my heart. I will never understand how He can love me, and the extent to which He loves me.

I could go on and on. There is so much to be thankful for. I think you get the idea. I am choosing to be thankful in the face of adversity. I am choosing to trust God in all things and believe that He knows what is best for me and my family. I pray that you ponder your life and find the huge, big, great strength it takes to be strong in your trials.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Becoming Women of God Called to a Higher Purpose

For the past couple of months I have had quite the conundrum. There haven’t been any new posts to my blog for a while now. I wouldn’t quite call it writer’s block, as I could have written pretty much anything about any subject. Perhaps, being a writer who is first and foremost a Christian played a bigger part in the lack of writing on my part.
Up until this point, I have written about various topics, all completely random, no purpose or end in mind. I was like a small child learning to take her first steps. Seeing a random shiny object at the other side of the room, she decides to go for it and gets distracted along the way when something more attractive comes into view. That was me. My writings had no clear purpose. I have read that one should post to their blog at least once a week with two to three times per week being optimum. I was averaging once a month.
In both areas of my writing life, both my blog and the novel I am currently working on, I have been seeking the direction that God wants me to write in. Up until late last night, I was at a loss. What do I write? What should my subject matter be and what specific message(s) should I send.
Have you ever been in the dark about something, been praying about it, when suddenly God takes the blinders off your eyes and instantly, you see clearly? That is what happened to me last night. All of a sudden, God opened my eyes and showed me with clarity where I am to go. I love that about God. When He reveals something to me, maybe it’s the same for you, it is so obvious, makes so much sense, that I think I should have thought of that. God’s plan is perfect. He knows the big picture, the end result and everything in between. Each tiny detail is important to Him.
My first novel, Until Forever, is part of The Women of Prayer Series. The next few books I write will be part of this series as well. While each novel is a stand alone story, praying for and mentoring young Christian women is a common theme in each of them. What my blog is now going to focus on is the practical real life applications that the women in my books learn and work through. In essence, the blog is going to focus on becoming women of God that are called to a higher purpose. Some posts may be humorous and poignant, others may be blunt and to the point. You will not find anything politically correct here. Each post will be written to an audience of one, me. I realize that there is much God needs to do in my life to ready me for His purpose and plan. I pray you find yourself being challenged to change and grow as well. We are women of the most high God and He has great plans for us; plans that require us to be ready to go forth when called to do so. We must have oil in our lamps and our wicks trimmed. I am looking forward to traveling this journey with you. Together, we shall go forth.