Composure

Is your man a "Joke"?

2009-03-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

and for our men...

My Blog's "Theme Sermon"

2009-03-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Take an hour and watch this, you will not regret it!

Proverbs 31 Ministries

2009-02-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

Below is a daily devotional that I receive on my email everyday from a site called "Proverbs 31 Ministries". Everyday we are given the chance to choose how we react to others. My prayer is that I will be careful to react and slow to speak, I hope that's your prayer as well. Today's devotional from "Proverbs 31 Ministries" spoke right to me and I wanted to share it with you....

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

A few years ago, Art and I hit a rough place financially. Some investments we'd made went bad and we lost nearly our entire life savings. I was knee deep in 3 small children at the time and hadn't a clue that financial danger was looming on the horizon.

That is until Art came home one day and the look on his face spoke of utter defeat. How could we have lost so much? He'd been wise with our finances. He'd done his research. He was a faithful saver. I stood stunned in our foyer that day, as Art told me the news.

There were many different directions my reaction could have gone in the minutes that followed. I was upset. When Art first talked of making these particular investments, I shared with him that I didn't have a good feeling about it. But, in the end, I let him make the final decision.

So many times in my marriage, I've chosen the wrong words - words that were tainted with bitterness, words that were emotionally toxic. But I'm so thankful the Lord had been working on preparing my heart for this moment and instead of reacting immediately with what would have been a disastrous response, I paused. I allowed the Holy Spirit a few seconds to interrupt my natural flesh feelings.

Then, because of God's Spirit working in me, I was able to wrap my arms around my husband and speak life-giving words into his weary heart. "I love you Art. I loved you yesterday when we had everything. I love you today when we have nothing. I love you for who you are, not what you have."

A few years later, Art and I were on Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program. On the show Art was asked, "I know you and Lysa had a rough start to your marriage. But what happened that made you know you'd stick by her forever, no matter what?"

Without hesitation, Art recounted my reaction over the lost investments.

I cried.

Had I been left to my own flesh reaction that day, it could have set us on the road to marital disaster. But, because of God's response being stored up in me, this situation wound up bringing us closer together than we'd ever been.

I realized how crucial it is to always be aware of God's preparation in our lives. Because He stands in our yesterday, today and tomorrow, He sees all. And He knows the perfect way to prepare our hearts for every situation.

When we embrace His preparations, even a girl with firecrackers in her blood like me can have reactions that honor God and breathe life into relationships.

Dear Lord, remind me to pause before I react. Sometimes the stresses of life pull at my emotions, which cause me to have reactions that tear a t my relationships. Please forgive me for poor reactions in my past. Thank You for second chances. Thank You for the way You prepare my heart for everything You see that I'll be facing today, tomorrow and in all my tomorrows to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Useless Post...

2009-01-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

First let me say that this post has no rhyme or reason. Very plain Jane and random but here goes...2009 has been very busy already! I was finally able to upload some pictures from Christmas only to find that I look horrible in every single photo and you will see none of me on here, very depressing.

This is a pic of Elijah and his cousins, from the left-Devin who is the only one smiling but not at the camera, Shea on his lap- I believe shortly before this she was tossed to the ground, but it didn't seem to phase her... Cameron who is not paying attention at all, and then there is Elijah who is being held back from an escape by his daddy. So there was our somewhat failed attempt to get a decent group picture of the kids!

Onto the next... this is me trying to get Elijah ready to go out and play in the snow for the 1st time EVER!

This next picture was supposed to come after the next one, but I am too lazy to go back and correct it. Point being... he stood in the snow for while then just fell over. Very cute! :)

This is when he was just standing...

I enjoyed watching them play from inside the warm house!

So anyway, there are a few shots of my life for right now. Maybe someday the pictures will look better because I will have a new camera? humm....

I do find it sad that the look like they were taken in the evening when in fact, it was broad daylight outside!

Next post should be more entertaining... maybe a "10 Commandments" update or something. For now, I need to sleep while child is sleeping ;)

Living Proof on Tape!

2008-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

In order to understand today's post you would have had to read yesterdays! So scroll down and do that if you have not already :) Anyway, as I was thinking things through last night, I remembered going to Freddy Hill Farm this past fall and showing Elijah the large dirty buffalo that was head butting the wall of his home. Perhaps Elijah stored that image in the back of his mind and settled on the plan of one day attempting to be like a buffalo? Well here he is, just 2 months later living out his dream. Today I had the opportunity to video tape him in the act...Enjoy!

This is the buffalo I was telling you about!

Here is the living proof of Elijah's recent strange actions, please note that the red marks on his forehead have since disappeared!

Dear Santa...

2008-12-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

This was emailed to me. I can totally relate to the part about power tools and clothes after getting dressed for church today! Enjoy :)

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children On demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold Sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on The school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over Several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red Crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and Who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, Which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, But are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle In the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month Of my last pregnancy.If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint Resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television That doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a Refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can Hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't Fight and Three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the Use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the Living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice Seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be Heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough Time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the Luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being Served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten The holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a Vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if You could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding Payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet Under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a Safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in And dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave Crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my Children young enough to believe in Santa.

Nothing to Give

2008-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

I have been MIA for a while on my blog. Jason asked me why, I replied with “I have nothing to say!” Well, we all know that’s a lie! I always have something to say. The truth is that I have been feeling out of it the past couple weeks. A little emotional (OK, A LOT emotional) and off center would describe my days well.
When I have times like this it makes me draw back and not want to talk about it so therefore, I abandoned my blog!

I woke up this morning to a text message from a real special girl who has been in my life for a long time. She is reading this and I hope she doesn’t mind that I am sharing it! Things are not well for her right now and she has asked me for help. I just stood there after reading the text thinking, “I have nothing to give”. I myself am in need of a spirit lift! I went out to the kitchen to eat and check my email before my eye doctor appointment. When I opened my computer there was a message from my MOPS small group leader named Claudia. God used Claudia today to speak to my heart in a way that was just what I needed. She sent me a devotional email that brought things into perspective for me. So after crying the whole way to the eye doctor and reflecting on Gods mercies, I am left with nothing to do this afternoon but blog about it.

I am human…I have my days…God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords…he also has my days, and my life and my being engraved on the palm of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
No matter how weak and drained I am, the Lord is strong and his mercies are new every morning. I may not have a lot in the “help” category to offer my friend. But my sovereign God does, and through prayer and simple transparency I will give her all I can give, Christ will give the rest.

The Nursery of Miracles

2008-10-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

There are many things racing trough my mind today, and for several days in that matter. I have been in such distress over this election and have been continually reminding myself that no matter what happens, God is still in control. I have spent many afternoons sitting at my kitchen table crying over the sin of abortion, today being one of those days. I told my Mom last night that I always knew that we should hate sin, and I do hate sin. However, it has not been until the past few months that I really understood what it was like to HATE sin. Looking at an innocent baby, completely helpless in the womb gives me an overwhelming desire to protect and love that child, regardless of race, gender, circumstance or preference. God loves those children and he has them in his presence. That truth has been the only peace I can find amidst such an evil, selfish sin. Our country is in danger when a presidential candidate cannot recognize the simple fact that no matter the circumstance, in no way shape or form should an innocent child pay the price. The sovereign Lord is holding in his hands a nursery of little miracles who are worshipping in his presence, soaking in his glory and being healed by his love…

Autumn Extravaganza!

2008-10-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my lack of posting…I will try harder to think better! Today was a tough day. I woke up 30 minutes before the baby did. If you have children you can understand how that might feel. Midway through the morning I stabbed myself in the eye with my tweezers. This brought about crying, pain, blindness and several other emotional issues. I had a lunch “date” with a friend and I thought I was going to have to cancel on her. I couldn't imagine why she would believe that story. Seems a little far fetched. So I kept the plans for lunch. My eye felt better by the time we needed to leave anyway! When I got to the restaurant a man came up to my car and told me that the place was closed. I did not believe him at first, I thought he was just hitting on me…but then he said the place was on fire. I turned around to see what he was talking about and I found that the place was indeed...on fire. My day has been a little “off” but we had a great weekend!

We took Elijah to Freddy Hill Farm on our first "Autumn Extravaganza" as a little family. The farm was about 45 minutes North of where we live. They have hayrides, pumpkin picking, pony rides, pig races (very cute, by the way), a petting zoo (where you can't actually touch the animals), tons of food and my favorite…HOMEMADE ICE CREAM!
It was a perfect day…Enjoy the autumn like pictures!

No longer a "Mystery"

2008-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

It was not my intention to blog two days in a row but I couldn’t resist this one…

I was in a big hurry to get out the door yesterday. Lunch plans with friends at 11:30, it was 11:10 and it takes about 25 minutes to get there. So I was LATE! I had Elijah in the living room and I ran to the bedroom to grab my cell phone. When I came back out (seconds later) the baby was not in the room. My heart sank and I prepared myself for what I would find ahead. Where was he? Right where I thought he would be…soaking in all of his glory eating and touching everything that he could get his little hands on in a matter of seconds. The trash.

You see, I pulled the bag out of the can to take it outside because it was full. Of course I didn’t tie it yet and of course Elijah helped himself at the first free moment he got. It’s like he saw me do it that morning and made a mental note of the fact that the trash is now accessible to him. He would get it at the first chance he had! I guess I can take back the part I said in my post yesterday about our only challenge with him so far has been keeping him away from the “ever so mysterious” white bin. It’s no longer a mystery for him. He now knows exactly what kinds of things are kept in the big white thing in the kitchen! Apparently coffee grounds are yummy…
I wasn’t sure if I was mad or just amused at the situation, however…I did make time to run and grab the camera!

Heart's Image

2008-09-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

My favorite chick flick is “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” staring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. In the movie Kate Hudson plays a woman who is an aspiring writer with a lot of knowledge. However she is stuck working for a fashion magazine called “Composure” (which inspired my blog name) writing tips about self image and vein issues that women face. I’m not sure that Kate Hudson’s character realized that beauty is deeper than skin treatments, make up and fashion, but she did know that the things she was writing about were unsettling and empty. She wanted to write about “real” issues.

In 1 Peter 3:3 he says: “Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear…”

After just having a baby 7 months ago I often times find myself unhappy with the way I look. None of my clothes fit me right and half of them are out of style. God does not care about our outside appearance; he only cares about our heart. Of course we need to take care of our bodies with eating well and exercising, but to obsess over it is a dead end street and more importantly it’s a sin. I recently came to the conclusion with myself that I will do my best to care for my body the way Christ would ask me to, and if I never loose that baby weight or go back to that “oh so small” pant size…it’s ok. I am happy, healthy and I have a beautiful baby boy to show for it all. That is more precious than any new wardrobe full of trendy size 3 jeans!

Many women are concerned with self image when our focus should be on our heart’s image. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vein, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

Why Composure?

2008-09-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

You might ask why I would create a blog and name it "Composure". If you look up the word composure this definition comes up: "serene, self-controlled state of mind; calmness". Don't we all want/need a little more of that? As a wife of a very busy man (pastor, social worker, seminary student), and a first time mother I find times that I need to gain a positive composure.

For years I have been trying to learn how to be that women that is talked about in 1 Peter 3. The one with the quiet & gentle spirit about her.
I admit that I have been so far from this concept over the years, but as the Lord leads me into new roles and areas of life I am seeing the transformation that He is doing in my heart to grow me into the wife and mother he has called me to be.

Sounds easy...If we just think before we speak, be loving to others and never react out of harsh emotions then we will have that "Composure" of the 1 Peter 3 women. Right?

Ahhh, I wish it were that easy! I hope that you plan to follow and join in on this journey that the Lord has placed on my heart. My prayer is that we can grow closer to God through his word and the life experiences that he leads us through. This blog will be a reflection of mine, enjoy!