Try Giving Thanks

November 21, 2011 in Devotionals with 6 Comments

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. — Psalm 7:17

From the very beginning of the book of Psalms, David gives thanks. Of all people in the Bible, David knew what it meant to experience trials of every kind. He knew the purpose: One day he would be king of Israel. In the meantime, that didn’t take away the fact that everywhere he went, he was a walking dead man.

King Saul, the current king of Israel, had a hit out on David. Even though Saul had watched David defeat Goliath and save the Israelites from the Philistines–and was soothed by David’s skills on the harp, Saul knew that the Lord had rejected him as king and that David was to be next in line (see 1 Samuel 16:1).

So David hid.

In mountains, caves, enemy towns, and any place that Saul’s men wouldn’t find him.

For me, this means no iPhone service, portable laptop, cushy job, food to eat, or warm place to live.

Can you imagine?

And yet David still praised Jesus and still became the next king of Israel.

Today and every day start by giving thanks. The same God who spared David’s life can and will spare yours too.

Dear King Jesus,
You are worthy of praise. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Help see us through our trials from the moment they make us hide to the moment we begin walking in freedom again. By the power of your name we pray. Amen.

To Read Further: Psalms 30:12; 75:1

[Devotional Taken from Faithbook of Jesus (C) 2010, NavPress]

Book Study

November 18, 2011 in Conferences & Events with 0 Comments

The Fall/Winter Book Study has begun! I choose “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson for a number of reasons. We’ll be meeting every other Tuesday (Nov. 22, Dec. 6, & 20, Jan. 3, 17 & 31).

I’ll be posting questions for further study the day of on my blog for those of you who want to read along.

1. Ordinary didn’t think he was Somebody.

2. We are all Somebody.

3. To become Somebody you have to leave your Comfort Zone.

5. Ordinary didn’t know how to pursue his dreams.

6. It’s an amazing allegory to teach us the power of the dream!

So grab a book on Amazon, Barnes, or wherever you please!

*There is also “The Dream Giver” Teen Edition, so if you’re a mother/daughter team this would also be the perfect time to do it together!!

 

10 Things Marc Learned From Marriage

November 15, 2011 in Dating & Relationships with 4 Comments

I asked Marc to write 10 Things He’s Learned From Marriage as a response to the 10 Things I’ve Learned From Marriage. Enjoy his first official blog post (hopefully there will be a lot more where that came from)!!

1. There is always a deeper beauty to be found in your wife, it does only get better, when God designs something like marriage He knows what He is doing.

2. Taking time to stare into the eyes of your wife everyday is meaningful and well worth it.

3. Dying to self takes on a whole new reality.

4. It is harder to care for the things of the world when you are married then when you are single.

5. There are no time-outs in marriage.

6. Society is almost 100% wrong about EVERYTHING pertaining to marriage. While you are single–study God’s Word not the movies or tv or magazines.

7. No one has the answer to your marriage. Seriously go to God first and stay away from those people who think they have an answer to the problems your marriage will have/has. No one can understand the depths of you and your spouse except God alone.

8. Cooking is better when you are cooking for someone else.

9. The best remedy for most problems that arise is to re-focus on those things that matter eternally!

10. And most importantly, goats are the key to a happy marriage! Just ask Renee ;)

The Goat Story [from Renee]: Marc told me he wanted to buy me a goat instead of an engagement ring. We had a good laugh about it, but I eventually said “no.” (Shocker). Then he told me he wanted to propose at a petting zoo. When I said “no” to that as well–we eventually compromised by naming my ring “the goat.”

[Goat picture found on Pinterest, my new favorite obsession. Second picture is Renee's ring also known as the goat].

10 Things I’ve Learned From Marriage

November 14, 2011 in Dating & Relationships with 6 Comments

So Marc and I have only been married a month as of this Tuesday (tomorrow), but in my short few weeks I have learned a LOT about marriage.

1. The Little Things. It doesn’t matter who’s right if you brush first, then floss or floss first, then brush.

2. Marc is an amazing cook.

3. In sickness and in health…really means in sickness and in health. (We both got the flu on our honeymoon. To the person who gave us the flu at our wedding, we forgive you. But…)

4. Owning a home is a lot of work. There’s endless projects that can occupy our time.

5. It’s important to pray together. Where two or more are gathered. That’s it. Just two.

6. Insecurity Sucks. Any lies I believed when I was single–can come creeping back in if I’m not careful. Marc does not complete me. God does. (To all the singles out there: This is the key to your future marriage. Work on you now, BEFORE a relationship. Things don’t just “magically” get better. It’s quite the opposite in fact, especially when you’re married and living together).

7. I love my husband.

8. Community is important. No matter if you’re single, dating, or married–we need each other.

9. Money Matters. Pay your debts off now while you can. It’s amazing what you can do together without debt.

10. Marriage is a series of adjustments. Some are little. Some are big. There’s a lot I have to learn about marriage and about Marc.

[Photo taken at North Coast Calvary's prayer wall from the Unveiled Conference, written by a high school girl. My prayers are with her].

Book Review

November 8, 2011 in On Writing with 0 Comments


Today I am reviewing Ally Spotts eBook, “Asking All the Wrong Questions: Why Christians Are Waiting For Marriage For Sex.”

It is being released for $.99.

What?

That alone should want to cause you to snatch it up right away.

The neat thing about Ally is she blogs also for the 20-somethings and writes a lot about relationships. She is recently engaged, and her fiance Darrell and her are planting a church in Florida. Both Darrell and Ally spent a lot of time getting this book ready to release today.

I love that Ally is super ambitious like me and has a heart for ministry.

Please consider purchasing a copy to learn more about how to ask all the right questions about sex. Seriously.

You can even read it all in one sitting if you like :)

3 Questions Ally talks about in “Asking The Wrong Questions”:

What is the big deal about sex before marriage?

I know the Bible says it’s wrong, but isn’t that just cultural?

So if I’m waiting for sex can I do other stuff? How far is too far?

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