Healing Stones

On my way to Idaho, I read a book recommended to me by my college roommate. While reading the first few pages I thought "I don't like this book" because I became convicted of its message. Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn tells the story of a woman caught in adultery and her journey to find forgiveness and healing. Some of the characters were ready to throw stones and others brought grace and healing. I questioned which one would I be. Do I extend grace to those who are hurting even if the hurt is due to their own bad decisions? Do I pick up a stone or point them towards a Savior who offers forgiveness? Do I remember that it is only by God's grace that I am not in the same situation? Do I love even when life gets messy? Truthfully I don't know the answer to all those questions. I am trying to show more grace towards my family and friendsm especially my kids. I am by no means perfect but I am a child of a Father who is not finished with me yet.

Dear God of Mercy, I praise you. Thank you for your grace and healing. Thank you that you never give up on us. Give us the wisdom and strength to love even when life gets messy. May we see your redemption of many people during our time. Amen

An inverse relationship between your head and your heart

This is taken from a book called Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin. Throughout the story, Miss Ella gives Tucker words of wisdom. Here is my favorite.

"You got something special in here. You may have the greenest eyes and the best bat in Little League, but you're more than good looks, home runs, and triples. You got something inside that few else got. God gave you a people place big enough for more than just yourself. You start believing all this stuff other people say and pretty soon you'll have room for you. Remember there's an inverse relationship between your head and your heart. If your head swells, your heart shrinks. Tucker, your are not the sum of your bat speed and batting averages. And when you find the thing that you do - maybe its baseball, and maybe its not, but whatever it is- don't let it go to your head. You stay down here with the rest of us. I don't care if you find yourself on the front cover of Time magazine; you be Tucker Mason. "

Why I Love to Read so Much

1. Reading makes you a lifetime learner
2. It is anytime or anywhere entertainment.
3. It is a great escape.
4. It inspires me to do or be better.
5. It reminds me that God can work in his people.
6. I love to talk with others about what we are reading.
7. It helps me learn about and travel to places I would never go otherwise.
8. It adds variety to my life.
9. Hopefully some of my reading makes me a better wife, mom , and friend.
10. Other people's stories are just fun and let us know that we are not alone.

What's that, God?

Philippians 3:12-17 is a common passage to preach on for the New Year but when the pastor announced the text, my ears perked up. You see, I have been studying this passage in a book a friend gave me. One of my BSF teachers used to say that when you hear the same message coming from more then one source, God is probably trying to get your attention. So as I go on in the New Year, I resolve to forget what is behind both the good and the bad. This does not mean that I forget the lessons I have learned but to quit beating myself over the head about not doing this or that with my kids or some other failure. It also means I need to forget my successes also. Elizabeth George reminded me in her book Loving God with All Your Mind that God is more concerned about what I am doing in the present then what I did in the past. So I resolve to reach forward to what lies ahead. I am not sure exactly what that will look like but I am sure it will include a commitment to look for the best in others and help them to become their best whether it is my children, my husband, my friends or my students. I resolve to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

May God bless you this year as you press on also. And now I guess you can all keep me accountable to my resolutions. Blessings. TJ

Hello, My name is TJ and I am a grouch

Right before Thanksgiving, my children and I finished a book about Eric Liddell probably known best through the Chariots of Fire movie. In the book, I was impressed with how upbeat and positive Eric was in all circumstances including being in a Japanese War camp. I was also convicted about how grouchy I had been since I had started to work. Yes, I was tired. Yes, I was overwhelmed. But circumstances were dictating my attitude. My children were used to seeing their mommy grouchy more then in a good mood. I had the habit of being a grouch. So the Friday before Thanksgiving I knew I needed to break this habit with God's help. I also needed some incentive. The deal was if I could go a whole week without being grouchy, my husband would take me on a date. My biggest breakthrough was first realizing I was a grouch and confessing that to God. Next I found so many things I was missing and took the time to be thankful. I decided to set my mind on things above for once. I did make it a whole week and had a wonderful date with my husband. I also haven't been perfect since then but being a grouch is no longer the norm. Hopefully being positive and thankful will soon be the habit of choice.

Dear God, Thank you for your forgiveness and love. Thank you for changing us from the inside out remaking us in the image of your son.

My picks of 2006

I thought I would list my favorite books of the year. Soon I hope to have my website going that reviews books but that is more of a someday thing at the moment.

My top 5 nonfiction
1. Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
2. Captivating by Stasi and John Elderidge
3. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartan
4. Lie Women Believe by Nancy Lee DeMoss
5. God's Guidance- A Sure and Certain Light by Elizabeth Elliot

My top 5 fiction
1. First Born Series by Karen Kingsbury
2. Daughters of Fortune Series by Judith Pella
3. Chronicles of the King by Lynn Austin
4. Blessed Child/Blessed Man by Ted Dekker
5. The Genesis Trilogy by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow

I would love to hear your favorites.

TJ

A few thoughts about the hard thing

Do you ever have times where you seem to be getting the same or a similar message from more then one source? Well here is the message I have been hearing lately. I am not going to add too much but let the quotes speak for themselves.

1. From Beth Moore: " Life is hard anyways so why don't we do the hard thing that matters."
2. From Captivating by Stasi Eldridge: " Security is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God."
3. From God's Guidance by Elisabeth Elliot: " Choose the harder of the two ways. If you have eliminated all other possibilities nad there still seem to be two that might please God, choose the more difficult one. " The way is hard, that leads to life." Jesus said, so it is likely that he is aksing us to will against our will."

God, Help me to do the hard thing with grace and joy. Amen