It had been an annoying morning. Nothing earth shattering, just a few people in a row that happened to be a little on the insulting side. I reminded myself that I am not going to let things get me down anymore. No more sweet, sensitive soul, ‘cause that’s been looking too much like a doormat lately.

I am womaaaan! I hummed. Hear me roar! I don’t know the rest of the song, so I stopped there, but I continued my little pep talk. I don’t need those people to validate me! I’m strong, I’m invincible…I am woman!

Then it happened. Mid-roar. You are my strong tower. Another song, this one by Kutless. Hmm. I switched songs and began to smile.

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me, beautiful and mighty, everlasting king
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I’m weak
Your name is true and holy
And your face all I see

This song reminded me of Psalm 61:3: For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

Probably a better message to send myself. God’s strength, not mine. Yeah, definitely.

Have you ever had an epiphany and wondered how you possibly lived your whole life without knowing what you just realized?

I have always chosen music based on my mood. I have a CD mix entitled “Sad Songs” for when I need a good cry. I have pensive music, angry-girl music from the 90’s, and love songs for when I’m feeling mushy. I felt pretty safe about my choices. I mean, there’s no gangsta rap in my playlist.

One little whisper from the Holy Spirit and I realized that I have been so, so wrong. All those times I spent sobbing with Celine in the background could have been spent with my God, in His comforting presence.

Instead, I bought into the lie perpetuated by girl magazines and chick flicks…that a pint of ice cream and a sad CD is a perfectly normal ritual that we all need once in a while. That a strong woman has all the strength she needs…right inside herself.

Not so. I don’t believe life is hopeless. I don’t believe that we are to be self-sufficient. I don’t believe many of the messages that the songs I love are sending my brain, and ultimately, my heart.

Music affects my soul. A simple song on the radio can catapult me back fifteen years or more to a happy, sad, or confusing experience. The right song can list my mood as easily as the wrong one can send me into a downward spiral.

Why not, then, turn to music that points back to the truth, God’s Word? I’m not saying I’ll never again be moved by a secular song…and probably some Ben and Jerry’s too.

I’m just going to be more careful about the songs I listen to, because—like it or not—they eventually move from my brain to my heart.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23

Got any good song recommendations for my new mix?

photo by pshan427

I am pleased to tell you that I am now on the writing team at Exemplify Online.  If you’ve never checked out their site, spend some time over there today.  They have an incredible monthly magazine and have just launched several new blog channels.  I am writing on the Family Blog Channel, specifically about nurturing the spiritual growth of your children.  Exemplify is all about glorifying God.  You’ll love it! 

Here’s an excerpt from my post today

Imagine, if you will, each of your children ten years from now. What are your dreams for their future? Are they dependent upon the Lord? Do they sit daily at his feet? Are they a light in a dark world?

I can dream all day about everything I hope my girls grow up to be, but the real question is: What am I doing today? Have I made sure they’ve sat at His feet today? Have we depended on the Lord together today? Have I found ways to encourage them to be a light on this day?

Read the rest here:  Dreaming Big for Your Children

Her little hands hold the china pot carefully.  Biting her lower lip, she pours the boiling water into our dainty cups and gives me a grin.  This is big stuff.  Soleil, my six year old, has been able to use my previously-forbidden tea set for the last year or so.  She plops just one cube of sugar in and barely dips her tea bag before removing it.  She’s basically going to drink hot sugar water.  But I don’t care, because in the next forty five minutes, she’s going to share her heart with me and listen a little as I share some new things about our mighty God. 

Tomorrow, her sister will have her turn.  She likes her tea a little stronger, but still sweet.  She’ll take a little longer to start sharing, but once she does…just try stopping her!  She shares dreams, reflections, answered prayers.  She is so excited when God shows her something and often jumps up from the table to get her prayer journal and share it with me.

Every week, each of my girls has an appointment with me for tea time.  In the past, their tea time was the same day every week, and we would do it before we started school in the mornings.  Since I started the workbox system, I now just make sure I add a tea time note to their box each week.  This special time has become one of my favorite times, and theirs, too.

I think the girls appreciate the one-on-one time and I love hearing about what God is doing in their hearts.  Surely, this is something you can do with boys, too.  Maybe a manly tea pot and mugs, or even milk and cookies would be preferred at a certain age, but the routine of having a regular time set aside just for you is a priceless.  Boy or girl.  My girls know they are not to interrupt while their sis is having tea with me.  I usually keep little sister busy with a project.  Coco can keep herself busy.  That doesn’t mean that they don’t chip in from time to time with a comment from the other room.  But for the most part, they respect each other’s time and stay out of the kitchen.

Wouldn’t you like to set aside a little time each week to focus wholly on each of your kids, and more specifically, God’s work in their lives?  I didn’t have a solid plan when I started this routine, but this is what it has turned into.

1.  We pray

I ask my girl if she’d like prayer especially for any specific thing.  Even though we share all our days, I am sometimes surprised at what is fresh in their minds.  For a grandparent to have a good day, or for a friend to be more loving.  I then pray for them and their week.  Often, they’ll pray for me, too.

2.  We chat

We pour our tea and usually enjoy a small treat.  I told them when we first started that we might not always have a snack on hand.  Yet, there is always something.  Sometimes it is just a slice of toast with cinnamon sugar on it cut into a heart shape.  While we drink our tea, we just talk for a while.   My girls are both big talkers, so this is their time to shine.

3.  For Soleil, I read a story

We have a couple of books that I read from, and then we ask each other questions. The focus is most often either on who God is, or who we are in Christ.  We like Just Mom and Me Having Tea (but all I use from it are the stories).  Sometimes I’ll read right out of the Bible.

4.  For Coco, I will ask her…

“What has your quiet time been like?”  She is working her way through a couple of devotional books and Bible studies, and she’ll share with me what she’s learning.  Sometimes, she’ll have questions.  Often, she’ll share prayers God has put on her heart or scriptures He’s shown her in answer to prayer.  We talk a lot about His will.

5.  I’ll offer my two cents

While our time isn’t super-structured, I will usually end up sharing a story or an insight that relates to what we’ve talked about.  I didn’t actually think of it this way until I went to write this post, but God has been so faithful to bless my mind during these times.  I try to listen more than I speak, and towards the end there is usually something I can say that encourages my girls, or helps them find an answer.  Always, we end up at how to live for Christ daily. 

Tea Time Tips:

Don’t have an agenda.  Once in a while, I’ll have a specific plan, like creating a morning routine. But that is very rare.  More often, I come with no expectations other than to let the girls share their hearts.  There are plenty of opportunities in a normal day to direct, teach, and prompt with questions.  Tea time isn’t about that.  It’s about listening, and then gently guiding as the Lord leads.

Keep it simple.  This way you will be more likely to repeat it every week.  Every once in a while, we’ll have a “celebratory tea,” complete with a tablecloth, multiple treats, and fancy decorations.  Our regular tea time is pretty simple.  Just us, the tea set, a small snack, and our Bibles.

Tune-out distractions.  I don’t answer my phone or anything else during tea, unless it’s my husband.  Usually, I will call him before hand to say hi and see if there’s anything he needs.  Then I can tell him, “Ok I’m off to tea with Coco now, so I’ll talk to you later.”

Occupy younger siblings before-hand.  I think this is one of those times a short video would be a perfect distraction!  Setting up an independent project or task is another way to cut down on interruptions.  Another trick is to let your younger children have their time before the older sibling.  Then you can praise “how nice big sister is being, letting us have this time.  Isn’t that so kind of her?  I know you’ll be just as kind when it’s her turn for tea!” 

Enjoy yourself.  Yes, this is all about the kids.  But the fact is, if you’re bored or checking your watch, your kids will sense that and they’ll begin to dread it, too.  If you say often, “Ooh!  I can’t wait for our tea time!” and show them how much you enjoy spending time with them, they’ll have a better time.

Be creative.  For our first tea time, I sent an invitation to each girl.  I often say that invitations just make everything more fun.  The girls could hardly wait.  Sometimes, I’ll put a tea bag in their workbox, or cut out a card in the shape of a tea pot that says, “Time for tea!”  Other times I’ll just wake them in the morning and the table will already be set so when they come out, they’re surprised.

One of the many blessings of being a mom is that you get to be the person to teach your children how awesome our God is! Don’t you just love it?

I read an article today at Exemplify about hearing God’s voice through His Word.  I had planned to write about this subject this week, but when I read her post, I realized that what I wanted to say has already been written, and written well.  It is both inspiring and practical.

“Do you desire to hear His voice, to become more intimately acquainted with Him?  Here are eight tips to help you.”

- Reflections on Hearing the Voice of God, part 3.

She gives two different acrostics to remind us how to dig deeper into what the Bible is saying and how to become intimately acquainted with God through His Word.  I am copying them into my quiet time journal so I can remember these principles.  Check it out!

But before you go, I have a question for you!

I’ve been thinking lately about doing a weekly (or so) post with a few links to great articles and ideas online. I’m coming across so many great things that I’d love to share with you all. Let me know in the comments section if you’d be interested in this!  Thanks!

Last week, I posted about saving money on groceries.  While many of us are having to tighten our grocery budgets as costs rise and incomes drop…that doesn’t mean we can’t still share the blessing of cooking for others.

I love to cook and bake for others!  Preparing a meal for someone is such a basic way of sharing love.  Whether we’re dropping a dinner off, making someone some cookies, or having people over for dinner, we’re sharing love!

All this food has to come out of our grocery money, though, and sometimes that can be difficult.  Here’s some ways I’ve managed to keep blessing others when we can sometimes barely make our budget work as it is.

First:  Keep it simple.  Sometimes I think we get overwhelmed because when we cook for others, we want it to be perfect, and kind of amazing.  By keeping it simple, you can afford to bless more often and special touches like a sweet note or pretty flowers from your backyard can make someone feel special and are free for you.

Tithe your grocery money.  Take 10% of your grocery budget and plan a meal for a hurting family, or bless them with some groceries.  Ask God to bless you and believe me, He will lead you to some awesome deals and multiply that gift!

Cook Double.  Cooking double is an easy way to bless someone.  All your ingredients are already out, you’ve only got one mess to clean, and you kill two birds with one stone!  As long as you’re doing this…

Look for sales.  Keep your eye out for sales on ingredients to make someone a casserole, baked goods, or other recipe.  If you find a great deal on something you use often, buy in bulk and keep it on hand so you’re ready for your next blessing! 

Have a couple go-to recipes for hurting souls.  If you know you make killer chocolate chip cookies or chicken pot pie, use that!  You might become known for comforting with a batch of cookies, and that’s okay. When you’ve perfected a recipe, you can cook it with almost no thought and have it on the ready for a friend in need.  So stock up on those chocolate chips and start your own ministry!

Share a meal.  Often times, a recipe will serve more than just your family.  Instead of waiting for a special occasion, invite a lonely friend over to share a casual dinner with your family.  Food mixed with friends is a sure-fire way to cheer someone. 

Pretty-fy your gift.  Even half a dozen brownies can make someone feel special, and you can stack them and tie a pretty ribbon around the packaging.  An extra-large single serving of a dish for a single friend or elderly neighbor is more appealing when delivered on a beautiful plate with a cloth napkin.  If you find you just don’t have much to share, start small, and over time you will find ways to do more.

This year my six year old, Soleil, is starting first grade.  Now that summer days of sleeping in are over, I asked her what she thought she should do each morning before school.  Her first five answers all included something that pretty much added up to her own quiet time.

While she had her own prayers each morning last year, it was clear to me that she was ready for a little more.  We made a little list for her and now in addition to getting ready and doing her chores, she has her own quiet time each day.

Can you imagine this little girl even five years from now if she develops this daily habit at such a young age?  Maybe by the time she is my age, she won’t struggle with this important discipline the way her mom does.

I wanted to encourage her in this, so I made her a little quiet time bag.  The idea started out as a quiet time basket or box, but I found a very cute sturdy bag, and used that instead.

Here’s what is inside:

• Her Children’s Bible (at her reading level so she can read it on her own)
• A devotional book
• Lyrics to a few songs
• A scarf to dance with (one of her ideas was to dance for the Lord)
• A composition book to write down prayers or songs
• A triangle that she has started using during worship

These ideas are pretty specific to Soleil.  There are lots of things you could add for your own kids, depending on their ages.  Shortly after I put Soleil’s together, I made Coco (12) one.  She had all her materials on her headboard, so I just found another cute bag and added some Bible study materials to go along with what she already has.

Some more ideas:

• Worship CDs
• Journal
• Book of prayers or promise book
• Bible study book
• Concordance, Bible dictionary
• Bible Highlighters, pens, etc.
• Bookmarks or ribbons, or post-it-flags

I gave these to the girls at our special tea times.  I’ll be sharing about this weekly time I have with each girl soon.  It’s another great idea for your girls…or boys!

Not just for kids!

While I am talking about this, I think it’s a great idea if you happen to know a new believer!  Sometimes I have been blessed to mentor a young woman who is new to walking with the Lord, and I love presenting her with a little box to inspire her own daily quiet time.  Do you know anyone you could bless with a quiet time kit?

I am in a season of waiting. 

Waiting for God to reveal His plan in so many areas.  Waiting for a church where my family will belong.  Waiting for a new group of friends after losing many when we left our old church.  Waiting for the right time to implement some ministry ideas.  Waiting for the time to write the book I have started.  Waiting for the go ahead to put into effect all the things I want to do on this blog.

Waiting.

I had this epiphany today in the shower, where I do all my great thinking.  I have discovered a great secret.  If you let my TV-deprived kids watch an episode of a favorite show on Netflix, I am guaranteed to have 15 whole minutes to myself to shower.  I try to spend this time singing praise songs, but often my brain creeps in.

When, God?  I said today.  The time to write my book is not now.  The time to plan next school year is not now…not yet.  There’s some waiting I need to do, there, too.  So, when?  That’s when it dawned on me.  The season of waiting thing.  I pictured myself wandering through this little valley and wondered where I’ll end up. 

With a little sigh, out of the shower now and combing through my wet hair, I resigned myself to the fact.  Maybe God is trying to teach me something.  Or, ooh…maybe He is using me in some way.  Even better!

I lifted my head, noble and proud.  Yes, I am Waiting On God.  Sounds kinda cool, doesn’t it?  I walked then through the laughter in my living room to hang my swimsuit on our clothesline in the back yard and a small voice interrupted the regal soundtrack running through my head as I marched. 

You don’t have it too bad, do you?  I guess if I have to wait, this is a pretty good place to do it.  Here I am, freshening up to go to a movie with my sister-in-law after a day of lounging in the pool with my kiddos.  I pictured someone coming home to an empty apartment waiting on God to bring them a family.  Or an imprisoned Christian, waiting on God to break them free.  A mom waiting for God to bring her runaway child home.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel so noble anymore.  In fact, I felt downright ordinary, in a very blessed sort of way.  I may be waiting on some things, but I know this for sure.  Right now, today, God has called me to be a mom to my kids and a wife to my husband.  And even if that is all He ever has for me to do, it’s enough.

Last weekend, I was blessed to hear Elizabeth George speak at a women’s conference.  While I was encouraged and inspired by her in many ways, there is one thing in particular I am very excited about.

For many years, I have heard about doing a study through the Bible on the attributes of God, and I even started one or two verses a couple of times.  Well Mrs. George spoke about it this weekend and I began to get so excited I knew I just had to try it for myself.

Yesterday, I had a few extra minutes while I waited for Coco to be done with volleyball practice.  Fortunately, I had my Bible with me so I began to read and jot down a few verses.  I started right at the beginning—Genesis—and in faith wrote the date on the top of my notebook page.  June 1.  I did this because I hope to read through the Bible in one year, noting everything I learn about God. 

Before I knew it, practice was over and I was into Genesis 11.  This morning, after my quiet time, I could hardly wait to open my Bible again and get going.  Already I had been reminded that God is:  the Creator, compassionate, good, all-knowing, just, and did not want us to even know of evil…and so much more.

So, this morning, I began to read some more and God reminded me that I have a few study Bibles around my home.  I grabbed my life application Bible and started to read the commentary on Genesis 1-11.  What a great resource!  Yes, God is the Creator, but I had not thought to include that He is creative!  He is orderly—he fashioned the earth in perfect order—He is eternal, and in control.  And this is just the first few verses.

I have learned all these things before, of course.  I don’t know about you, but I am in need of constant reminders of, well, pretty much everything.  One prayer I have is that by devoting myself to this study I will remember more of what I learn! 

I know I could spend my whole life studying God and never fully understand Him.  (Romans 11:33-36)  Yet I do have God’s own word to reveal more and more of Him.  And I desperately need to know more of God.  Who doesn’t need that? 

I also know that any time I start a good thing; the enemy wants to take it from me.  I am sure he would rather I went through my days responding to life based on how I feel, rather than the truth.  So I am praying for myself to stand firm against his plans to stop me.  With God’s help I can! 

With this, I hope to encourage you to start your own study.  Maybe you have already done this, but there is always more to learn.  We can study what God says about himself, ourselves, Jesus, and so much more.  I hope to one year do a study on motherhood and marriage.   On forgiveness.  On prophecy.  On money.  On spiritual battles.

So much to learn!  Will you join me? 

Yesterday, I introduced the series on The Quiet Times of Godly Women.  Today, I am going to share about a friend of mine, Kathy G.  Kathy, busy as she is, was the first one to reply to my little questionnaire. 

Kathy and I met a few years ago when I began attending the church where her husband was a pastor.  Every time we served together, she would tell me these amazing stories of God working in her life, leading her to do things, visions, and miracles she’s seen.  She really should have her own blog!

Kathy is an amazing singer, and acts, teaches, mentors, leads worship, writes songs, prays, home schools her son, and keeps a beautiful and inviting home.  She also teaches voice lessons and she does singing telegrams!  On top of all that, she does all that stuff a pastor’s wife does –and her husband is one busy pastor. 

I also happen to know that she brings meals and hands-on help to hurting families and is a source of encouragement for many.  She is mother to 4 and grandmother to 2 babies.  She is a mighty prayer warrior and just one awesome lady. 

Kathy is very beautiful–in fact she used to be a model–, really sweet, and a little on the tiny side.  So I think it surprises people when she begins to talk because she is a riot!  She is always cracking jokes and isn’t afraid to do a funny face or dance move to make someone laugh.  One of my favorite memories of her is when she did an impression of Jessica Simpson singing.  It was hilarious, and very accurate!

A while back, I lost a couple of good friends and Kathy suggested we get together for coffee and chat.  I was so nervous because I am super-shy, but I needn’t have worried.  She made me feel right at home, even having brewed extra-strong coffee for me because she knew I liked it. 

She was so open and real that I was instantly comfortable talking with her, and besides, she constantly had me cracking up at some of the crazy things she’s been through over the years.  We met weekly for a while and she was a great source of encouragement and wisdom through a rough time. 

I have shared all this to say: there is evidence in Kathy’s life that she draws near to God.  In her speech, her actions, her prayers, her many gifts, her hospitality, and even her pretty face.  God is just all over her!

Now, about Kathy’s Quiet Time.  (By the way, in case you can’t tell, this is one woman I would suggest imitating!) 

Where do you have your quiet time (QT)?       
In a room alone or outside on my back porch.

When do you have your QT, and is it the same time each day?

Usually mid-mornings. 

 What do you do during this time?

 Pray, read, and sing.

 Do you use any special resources?

Yes. “Morning by Morning” by Charles Spurgeon, and the Bible(of course!) and worship music or hymns. 

 Describe in a few sentences the importance of a QT for you personally.

 ”Better is one day in His courts than thousands elsewhere.”

 Any other thoughts?

Sometimes I just inhale and exhale Jesus, and just try and be still and know that He is God!!! No reading, no talking! 

Kathy and her husband, Mike have started an organic church-planting ministry, here in the USA and all over the world.  Their heart for the lost is so awesome.  You can read about their ministry here:   Lifequest Organic.

How Do You Spend Your Quiet Time?

I asked this question recently to some wise women I know and got a great response.  I have been away from my blog for a while, for a number of reasons, so I’ve been sitting on all these great ideas that I’ve just been dying to share with you all. 

It was very encouraging once I sat down and thought who I would ask these questions of, I realized that I happen to know many great and godly women!  As I read the many replies, I thought of how much these women do for their families, and for others.  Each of them has touched my life in some way, so I decided that I would feature each one of these great ladies and share their routines with you.

Maybe you have a quiet time established already and could use some refreshing ideas, or just encouragement.  Or maybe you have slipped from an everyday routine and need a little jumpstart.  Perhaps you have never had a regular one-on-one time with God and you’re starting from scratch.  Whatever your situation is, I am sure you will be blessed by these women’s stories.

I hope to post one of these stories each week to encourage you in your own walk with Jesus.  Reading about these godly ladies will hopefully encourage you and maybe even inspire you to find a real-life mentor.  The lessons we can learn just by watching the lives of godly women are boundless. 

Here are the questions I asked these gals, maybe you’ll want to answer them for yourself:

Where do you have your quiet time (QT)?         

 When do you have your QT, and is it the same time each day?

 What do you do during this time?

 Do you use any special resources?

 Describe in a few sentences the importance of a QT for you personally.

 Any other thoughts?

 Tomorrow, I will start this series with a post about one of these special women, Kathy G.  I hope you are encouraged by her as I am.