Turn on the Light I love the new battery operated candles. They look real. They appear to give light. To the casual observer, it has the characteristics of reality, but it is just a facade; the light source is not real. Jesus called His followers to be "the light of the world" in Matthew 5. Not look, not appear, but BE... Too many people pretend to follow Him. They appear sincere, they look good. But too many rely on their own light source (themselves) and eventually, the facade is discovered. The solution? Plug into the TRUE light, Jesus Christ. Shine for Him, because of Him, and be fueled only by Him. Then the call in Matthew 5 to "let your light shine" is easier than changing the batteries on those candles. Shine on! Amberly

Grin and Prayer It


My list of favorite activities does not include flossing my teeth.  It is often uncomfortable and frankly, gross.  I LOVE eating, but seeing that same food in small particles hours later plucked from my choppers is disconcerting.


But flossing is important.  It is an essential part of dental health and has links to heart health as well.


I wish I could say that I floss after every meal.  I don't.  Most of the time, I just "go through the motions", flossing because I know it is good for me.


When am I REALLY faithful to floss?  When there is a pending dental appointment.  When I know that some dental assistant is going to be in my mouth with a magnifying glass and a scrutinizing eye.  When I am afraid of disappointing my dentist.


My prayer life is similar.  Sometimes, I just "go through the motions" knowing that it is good for me.  I know prayer is vital to my growth and relationship to God.  Yet, sometimes, I just take enough time to get rid of the spiritual debris and no more.


The beautiful thing about the grace of God is that although I am not always faithful, He always is.  And just like flossing, prayer is good for my heart as well, even if my heart isn't always in it.


Amberly

Mission Possible We had a "state of the church" address yesterday. Our pastor reviewed the church's mission and then proceeded to ask how we thought we were doing. It was a good dialogue, but a risk indeed. It sparked my thinking about my own mission. Sometimes, I think my mission is limited to signing permission slips, keeping coffee bean harvesters busy, and making sure everyone in the family has clean underwear. But I know it is greater than that. It is greater than going to the gym, plucking chin hairs, teaching the benefits of a napkin at the dinner table, grocery shopping, grading papers, and packing lunches. It is meaningful, it is purposeful, it is joyful, it is eternal. And although it is greater than my previous list, it involves those things as well. Ephesians 2:10 reminds me: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." On top of all my personal "TO DO" list items, I have a "TO DO" list from Heaven as well! "To do" good works. Not list items I create, but those that God has prepared for me (and me for!) Have you thought about YOUR mission lately? Pray about what God has prepared for you. He never promised glamour (see chin hair comment above :), but He did promise preparation. And His message will never self-destruct... Blessings on your mission! Amberly

Good morning.  

Well, just "morning" actually.  I dragged myself out of bed this morning to work out.  Is it sad that it is not the workout but the actual GETTING out of bed that is the most strenuous part?  The cold air outside the warm comforter...the shock of disconnection of one's head off the deep and delightful pillow...the feeling of dismay watching my spouse continue to enjoy these comforts whilst I begrudgingly throw on clothes.  Ugh.

I once heard it said: "I'd like mornings better if they started later".

I could not have said it better myself...mostly, because I am still half asleep two hours later.

Enjoy your day.  The toughest part, leaving the bed, is behind you.  Anything else that life throws at you pales in comparison to the battle that broiled when your alarm went off this morning.  You've got this...

And if you don't, remember that there is a bed waiting to welcome you with open sheets when you get home tonight...

Sleep sweet!  Amberly

CREAM of the CROP

I love coffee.  Love.  Actually, love isn't a strong enough word.  I ADORE it.  Well, actually I ADORE coffee with creamer.  I would not drink coffee without it.  I am kind of a baby when it comes to java.  Creamer not only adds flavored deliciousness to the cup, it also cools it down.  My mom used to say that certain foods would "grow hairs on your chest" (I am guessing this is highly effective with boys), but with coffee, I actually believe it.  Eeek.  Bitter.  

Some people feel that way about the Bible.  They find it difficult to digest without sugary stories or anecdotes to "cool it down".    As a humorist, I LOVE telling stories on myself and pray that those stories point others to the God of the Universe who loves them with reckless abandon.  My prayer is that I would not water down the Gospel nor attempt to make it more palatable by avoiding speaking the truth.

Instead, my hope is that my words would be sweet.  A prayer that once hung on my refrigerator reminded me: "Lord, make my words sweet, for tomorrow I may have them to eat."

In my lifetime, I have eaten more words that I have Oreos.   One of my resolutions is to have sweeter and fewer words in 2012.

Proverbs 16:24 reminds us that "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

The next time you put anything in your coffee, remember to pray for me.  I will do the same for you!

Blessings!  Amberly

Happy New Year!

If you are like me, you have already broken at least one of your resolutions.  Many people vow to get up early and back to the gym when January one hits.

I REALLY hate getting up early to go to the gym.

It’s difficult to don tight fitting gym clothes (or ones so baggy a human form is unrecognizable underneath).  It is downright treacherous to watch other people in seemingly perfect shape lifting, running, and biking without breaking a sweat.  It is brutal to jump in the car in the wee hours due to the cold, shivering and chattering, only to have one’s car finally heat up just in time to arrive at the gym.  But the worse part for me is the waking up early.  I am not a morning person.  Not now.  Not ever.

Somehow, though, Tuesdays and Thursdays are not so bad.  I have an accountability partner on those days.  She is a lady I met at the gym whilst training for my 60 mile walk.  She is a runner.  She is blonde.  She is beautiful.  And frankly, at 5:30 in the morning, she is just what the Doctor ordered.

We talk about child rearing, Christianity, housework, good books, recipes, past failures, and present challenges.  We also discuss that, on many days, we would not have made it to the gym without the pressure of knowing the other would be there.

In the season of resolutions, I challenge you to find someone who might walk alongside you in your effort to improve yourself.  Find someone who wants to grow in the same area.  Meet one another there and hold one another accountable.  It is not always comfortable (it rarely is), but it is an easier journey with a friend.

Walk and roll!

Amberly

Blog Journey

I am soooo excited about beginning the “Blog Journey” with my readers.  So many have encouraged me to start a blog, but I am finally grabbing the “blog” by the horns! Recently, my son and I found an online list of interesting animal facts.  We giggled at the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of certain animals. One of the facts that caught my eyes pertained to ants.  If an ant is carried it 20 feet off its path, the chances of it finding its way back are slim, unless another ant has crossed that path recently; ants find their way back to their colony by going over their own trail.  It reminded me of blogging. Part of the reason I am starting a blog is to encourage people on their life journeys.  I love inspiring people to laugh and live out loud.  Another reason I want to do a blog is that I do not want to forget from where I have come.   God has done some amazing things in my life and I am so grateful for His faithfulness.  I frequently “walk the path” of my own trail and remember all the things by which I am blessed. Finally, I am hoping that when our paths “cross” through the blog, we will both be encouraged and strengthened.  I hope the words I share make your heart sing, make your brain think, and make your load a little lighter. Although nothing is set in stone, I thought the following blog schedule might work: Monday – Musings Tuesday –  Theology and Giggleology Wednesdays – Weight, Working Out, Whining, and Wonderful recipes Thursdays –  Trusted friends’ blogs Friday – Fabulous Feedback - book/ movie reviews Enjoy your week and know it is not my goal to “bug” you. God’s blessings! Amberly