Flossing

Several months ago I went to the dentist for the first time in, well, in a long, long time. Let's just leave it at that, shall we? Even with an aunt and a dearest friend who are both dental hygienists, I still managed to avoid that dental visit! But, earlier this year I finally went.

After the visit, I went through all of the thoughts of the spiritual applications of the visit. If I keep up with my spiritual life, I have much less painful cleaning up to do. If I slack, there's a lot of yucky build-up.

But, lately I've had a new thought about my dental health.

You see, I've been trying to be diligent this time around. For the first time in my life I'm flossing regularly. I've flossed before, but it was very hit and miss. Now I'm doing it daily - well, usually. I must confess that there have been a couple of stretches when I've missed three or four days.

It's actually those times when I've missed a few days that brought about this blog thought. You see, I've noticed something about my teeth. My top teeth stay pretty clean and clear. Maybe they have better spacing. Maybe I brush them better. Or maybe they just don't get quite the bombardment that my bottom teeth do. I don't know. What I do know is that my bottom teeth require much more flossing attention.

Because of this reality, I sometimes have to battle with a temptation...
I don't have to floss the top teeth today. I can just floss the bottom teeth, and get back to the top ones in a few days. They'll be just fine for a while, as long as I'm focusing on my trouble spots!

I have those areas in my spiritual life, too. There are some things that, for whatever reason, I think are in decent day-to-day shape and I don't need to pay them as much attention. After all, there are other areas of my life that need constant work and care, right? Why should I waste my time with the things that are stable?

I've got to go ahead and floss those teeth - all of them. I can't neglect them. They are just as prone to attack as my bottom teeth. It's the same in my spiritual life. If I grow slack in the care of any area, I am opening myself up to spiritual disease. So, diligent I will be!

Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer

I am so excited to be broadening my book review opportunities by teaming up with Random House to participate in their WaterBrook Multnomah Blogging for Books program! And, I can't imagine starting this journey with a better book than Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer.

When I read the description of Blue Like Play Dough, I knew immediately it would be a beneficial book. But, I never imagined it would be such a precious, precious journey! Occasionally a book comes along that draws me in, allowing me to "meet" the author as if she were sitting with me in my living room, sharing her heart with me. Blue Like Play Dough is just that sort of book!

Starting with snippets of memories from her childhood, progressing into her early jump into parenthood as a teen mother, and moving through her growth in Christ, Tricia Goyer weaves stories of her life into the grand scheme of how God has molded her into who she is today. She is so very honest, openly sharing the good and the bad rather than sugar-coating her experiences. Thanks to that honesty, her story is so very real and is one that I could identify with as I compared her journey to my own.

I cried buckets as I read of her ups and downs, hard moments, and sweet memories. My heart was touched the most as I read the precious, precious stories of those moments when her children lived out what she had been trying to pour into them day in and day out. I rolled with laughter as I read descriptions of her children and their personalities, partly because she could have been describing my children! I didn't want to put the book down until the last page, but I also hated for it to end.

I am so excited to be able to offer one blessed reader a free copy of this wonderful book! The giveaway will run for one week, from now until next Wednesday, August 5, at midnight. I will draw the winner Thursday morning - all who leave a comment between now and then will be entered! But, just in case you don't win, you can always go to Random House's online store (or any other book retailer!) and pick up a copy for yourself! And don't forget to stop by Tricia Goyer's website and let her know how you liked the book.

If you are interested in receiving free books for review for Random House, click here to sign up for the WaterBrook Multnomah Blogging for Books program.

Equipping

You know, we serve a really, really awesome God. I just thought I'd share that - just in case you needed a reminder this week!

Angela gave me that little reminder yesterday. It was so precious! We had been working on the pool we are enjoying and helping to care for this summer. The storm that took out our power Thursday night had dumped a massive amount of leaves and branches into the pool (as well as two plastic lawn chairs and a chaise lounge!). We had worked out there Friday morning getting the bulk of it out. Then I went back on Saturday afternoon to work on it some more. But, there was still some stubborn debris in the pool - and regular vacuuming and scrubbing seems to be the only effective tool against algae this summer.

So, yesterday morning we dropped Doug off at work and headed to the pool so I could work on it a little more (with the intention of going back to swim yesterday afternoon. Who'd have thought it would be too cool to swim in south AR in July?!).

Almost as soon as we arrived, I noticed the increasing gloominess of the clouds. I quickly asked God to allow all of the equipment to work efficiently and the rain to hold off so we could get the pool good and clean before the next rain came through. I prayed for cooperative kids. Then I prayed for the chance to have a good prayer time.

He honored all three! Just over two hours later, we all headed back to the van. The kids had played happily, the pool was completely clean, I had enjoyed a neat prayer time while working, and the rain...well, as we were pulling out of the driveway, the drops started to fall.

I pointed it out to the kids. Sweet Angela said, "Mommy, God always takes care of us! Even in the hard times!"

Why does a five-year-old grasp that better than I do?

God loves it when we honor our commitments. He loves it when our hearts are turned toward Him. He loves it when we teach our children well. All three of those fell into place yesterday.
He equips us for what He calls us to do.

Before all of this yesterday morning, the Lord really wanted to speak to me through some verses in James (which I'll probably be sharing later). I was so very sleepy! I asked Him to help me truly "hear" Him during my time, despite my sleepiness. After groggily reading through Jeremiah and Proverbs, I began reading James. With the first verse I read, I was wide awake! I'm not saying there weren't great things in Jeremiah and Proverbs, but James was where He wanted to "get" me that morning! And He equipped me to receive and learn.

Last week He equipped me as well. I had committed to getting up Tuesday morning, even without air conditioning, and going through with my exercise. Shortly after I started my quiet time, He sent the first of several thunderstorms. Within a few minutes, the temperature of the house began to fall until the house was at a comfortable temperature for me to exercise with the fan blowing. I was fully equipped.

Sometimes my grouchiness causes me to miss the way He provides. But, if I'm open to it, I always find that when He gives an instruction or has an expectation, He always equips me to follow through. I just have to be willing to see it!

Will Post Soon...

I have a list of posts I can't wait to write! But, this will probably not be the week. Between needing to be away from the house during the hottest part of the day (the A/C went out this morning) and having VBS this week, I doubt I'll be posting much. But, I do hope to return to regular posting within the next couple of weeks. Thanks to my handful of readers for your patience!

And the Winner Is...

I'm a day late on the drawing for Tight Ship...Loose Cannons, but the winner is....

Mom!!! Congratulations!

(You have Angie to thank for that by the way. She was my lovely name-drawer and was thrilled to know that Nanny won!)

Steadfast Mind

One of my desires is to have a focused mind. I spend so much time letting my mind flitter here and there while I'm washing dishes, folding clothes, sweeping the floor - even exercising and showering. It is so precious when I can use that time to pray and just interact with my Savior. I just fail at that so frequently.

But yesterday was precious. Perfectly precious. I started in the normal way - my mind flittering here and there. Then I stopped and asked the Lord to help my focus!! Isaiah 26:3 immediately flew into my mind. Such a beautiful verse.

The steadfast of mind...the steadfast of mind...

What followed was a beautiful interaction with my Savior as He showed Himself through everyday things. There was delight in listening to Steven play, intermingled with a few moments of stopping to squish his belly with my foot while he lay on the floor. There was sweetness in hearing the girls play down the hall. But, more beautifully, there was joy in folding laundry, a chore I usually hate. He kept whispering to my heart ways to pray for friends and loved ones. Ideas for blog posts flew into my mind, and I took a break now and then to go jot them in my planner. Scripture passages I'd committed to memory - or at least to familiarity - joined my thoughts and prayer at appropriate times.

If God states something in His Word, He means that it's true. He doesn't have to promise. He doesn't have to restate. It's just the way it is. He reminded me of that with Isaiah 26:3 by keeping me in perfect, beautiful peace yesterday.

Although today my mind has been much more occupied thanks to bill-pay day, interacting with the girls, and blogging, I still have been striving to maintain a steadfast mind. In fact, as I was getting a little antsy because I couldn't find a note pad I was seeking, he reminded me that my mind was not steadfast and therefore my peace was slipping. He nudged me to stop and redirect my mind to Him. I asked Him what He wanted me to be doing right then. When I redirected my focus to Him, the peace returned. I still haven't found the note pad, but I will when I really need it. Meanwhile, the afternoon has been so pleasant.

I wonder sometimes why I struggle. I wonder sometimes why it is that I can't even seem to focus in prayer some days. It's because I haven't established the habit of keeping a steadfast mind.

When I practice that daily, He is faithful, just like His Word says.

Win a Book!

I just edited last week's book review post a bit to include my first ever giveaway! Next Sunday I will be randomly drawing a name from all who comment on the book review post, and that reader will win a copy of How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? So, click on over there and leave a comment!

How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias

This review is going to be more personal than my usual book reviews, primarily because this book was very personal to me. (Feel free to hop over to Amazon for my more objective review of the book.)

Nearly seven years ago my husband and I moved into seminary housing. We were surrounded by other couples who were continuing their training for a wide array of ministry positions. I immediately wondered how I would ever fit in to this group. All around me were ladies who seemed to be able to keep their homes in order and their families in line while staying perfectly composed themselves. Although I was passionate about serving alongside my husband in ministry, I struggled with my own shortcomings, especially in my home. Three months after moving in, I became pregnant with our second child, a pregnancy that left me perpetually exhausted. Any organization I had established after moving in fell apart, and I was discouraged.

At some point I picked up a book that dealt with what it means to be a modern-day Proverbs 31 woman, and I became even more discouraged. My exhaustion intensified simply by reading about the necessity of maintaining an immaculate house and keeping myself occupied from dawn til long after dusk. I persevered and finished the book with good intentions, but by the end I was even more convinced that I could never truly be a Proverbs 31 woman. I just hoped I could be a decent pastor's wife anyway.

Over the years that mental image of perfection has remained for me each time I have read that particular chapter in Proverbs. Although I came to the point where I was no longer discouraged by the Proverbs 31 image, I was also convinced that I would never resemble her in any way. I had simply resigned myself to that "truth."

Then I received this book from Kathi Macias. Having thoroughly enjoyed her books My Son, John and Mothers of the Bible, I knew I was in for a treat with this most recent read. I didn't realize I was in for a total mental transformation.

As a young mother and new Christian, Kathi was determined to become a true Proverbs 31 woman. In order to do so properly, however, she felt she needed the perfect mentor. So, she set out with a mission - find a Proverbs 31 woman who would be willing and able to train her to follow the ways of this amazing biblical example. As she embarked on this journey, however, what she found greatly surprised her - and encouraged me.

Kathi learned that being a Proverbs 31 woman does not, by any means, mean being a woman of perfection or even success. What it does mean, however, is being a woman of faithfulness - a woman who learns and grows continually, allowing God to work through her in each phase of her spiritual development. Usually the women we see as having it all together see themselves in a very, very different light. They see their failures. They see their "face-plants." borrowing one of Kathi's terms. They see their own struggles and have insight into the attitude of their hearts.

I was over halfway through this book when a couple of other women referred to me as a true Proverbs 31 woman! I honestly was humbled and overwhelmed by the reference. My gut reaction was to say, "Oh, if you only knew!" But, after reading so much of Kathi's journey, I realized that they were seeing glimpses of my Savior in me. That, my friends, is a treasure and a delight.

I know I have far to go. I know I fall on my face so many times. But, thanks to an open and honest woman by the name of Kathi Macias and her willingness to share her journey, I am realizing that becoming a Proverbs 31 woman is not so overwhelming after all. It is simply the journey of becoming the woman God created me to be. It is allowing Him to grow me even when it hurts. It is allowing Him to develop in me the talents and passions He planted there in the first place! Thank you, Kathi!

I very highly recommend this book to any woman ready to laugh, cry, and discover what a real-life Proverbs 31 woman looks like!

I think Kathi's suggestion in the comments is a great one...anyone up for winning a copy of this book? If so, leave a comment between now and midnight CST this Saturday night, July 11. I'm looking forward to reading your comments and to hearing your ideas about this book!