September 20, 2007 · 5:17 am

Word for Wednesday – Trust in the Lord

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him & He will direct your paths”  Proverbs 3:5

We don’t always understand why the Lord does or allows certain things into our lives and yet we often try hard to find the answers to the “WHY” question.  The word clearly says…NOT to look to our own understanding but to TRUST in God and to acknowledge Him. The young man in the following news article is a young Christian who is being challenged to trust God thru disapointing circumstances and in my opinion is passing that challenge with flying colors!

 “Hale is more than a football player to our team, he is the ultimate leader that every team needs to succeed,” Davis said. “But there is more to life than just football. He is a strong young man who loves the Lord. That is the great thing about coaching these guys.”

An avid cowboy and rodeo fan who once had dreams of joining the Professional Bull Riders tour, Hale would settle for his shoulder fully healing and playing collegiate football.

Hale, who is deeply religious, knows that staying healthy, working and being able to support a family is his first priority.

“I want to continue playing football, but maybe my shoulder injury is God’s way of telling me he has something else in mind,” Hale said. “If it doesn’t work out, I would like to settle down with my family and be a pastor of a church.”  Read here for the rest of the story

Keep seeking the Lord R.J. Hale and trust Him with your future. Your testimony here is bringing glory to God. He will direct your future path! 

How about you? Are you trusting the Lord even when things don’t go your way?

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Filed under Endurance, Jim Elliot Christian High School, Word for Wednesday

September 19, 2007 · 1:23 am

Tea Time Tuesday – God is my matchmaker

The weather in Stockton has finally begun to cool down so we decided to have our Tuesday tea on the back porch today.  It was lovely and we all enjoyed the fresh air.  dscn3590.jpgIn celebration of Rebekah’s birthday we had one of her favorites – blueberry scones – yummy! We continued on with our courtship classes this afternoon and as promised I shared the “rest of the story” about when my commitment to a season of singleness came to an end. (see Tea Time Tuesday from September 4)

This is the wonderful love story that God orchestrated just for me!  It was in the fall of 1985 when God began to move in my heart and do a new thing in my life.  Little did I know however that the man He would ultimately lead me to commit my heart & life to was a part of my life during the entire time I was in that season of singleness.

I had met Dan Lambdin as a freshman at the University of the Pacific.  His sister, Jennae was one of my dorm mates and since my own family had moved 3000 miles away from California to Virginia, she invited me to join with her family for many occasions.  Dan was not a Christian at that time and if someone had told me that one day he would be my husband I would have laughed.  He was certainly nice enough but his morals and lifestyle were starkly different than my own and spiritually we were miles apart. He was simply…my good friend’s brother.  He came to know the Lord Jesus the following Spring and over the next few years we developed a casual friendship.

After college I became the youth pastor at a local church and very quickly realized that as a single young woman,  I needed HELP from a few good men!  I asked several of my brothers in Christ, including Dan, to volunteer with the youth & disciple the teen boys.  During that next year Dan & I became close friends as we ministered together.  I grew to admire and respect his strong faith as well as his incredible ability to influence the teens in the youth group. We, along with the entire youth staff spent much time together praying, ministering & fellowshiping. During this time there were several men of God all around me and many friends who desired to play matchmaker, yet I was determined to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord & do His work until He showed me the man I would marry.

One weekend Dan’s mother called & asked me to come listen to her share at a Bible study at her church. Over the years we had become close so of course I agreed to come & listen along with a close friend.  At the end of the meeting, Dan stood up & closed in prayer.  I can not explain to you in the natural the feeling that came over me.  It was as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes & I was seeing this man for the first time.  I felt the Lord impressing on me that his would be the man I would someday marry.

I left the meeting a bit shaken and wondering if I really had heard the Lord correctly.  I asked that God would confirm it through His written Word & in prayer.  I also knew that if this was really God that He would speak to Dan heart &that I was not to say a word.  For the next several months I prayed consistently for Gods will to be done.  Unbeknownst to me at the time Dan was seriously seeking the Lord for direction in his life.  He spent a week up at Springs of Living Water Christian Conference Center praying & seeking God.  During that time he decided to quit his full time job and pursue full time ministry.  During that week the Lord also began to impress upon his heart that he may pursue a relationship with me.  He too took that to prayer.

Several months later in February of 1986 after we had driven together to the Springs of Living Water to pick up some of the youth group from counseling at winter camp, Dan decided to open the door to pursuing a relationship.  As I was getting ready to go home that evening he took my hand looked intently into my eyes and said with a twinkle in his eyes – “Perhaps you need to pray about if the Lord really wants you to marry someone with blonde hair & blue eyes”.  (Let me explain….over the years I had shared often with the youth group the list of  godly characteristics I would look for in a husband…ok so really 99% of them were NOT physical attributes but I did often throw in – “and I’d love it if he had blonde hair & blue eyes”) I knew when Dan said that he was opening up the way for conversation to begin about where this friendship may be headed.  With my heart pounding, I blushed profusely, told him I had already been praying & quickly left….a bit amazed a the events taking place before my very eyes. 

We did spend the next month in prayer seeking Gods will & confirmation.  Believing that the Lord often uses parents wisdom to lead & direct our lives, Dan called my father during that time to ask his blessing to marry me. My Dad said yes.

On March 18, 1986 at the end of our weekly youth service at church Dan stood up, took the microphone & said he had something to say.  At that moment one of the girls walked out & handed him a bouquet of red roses as I began to turn white realizing what he was about to do.  He told the youth group that he had a question to ask them – “I would like permission to marry your youth pastor”.  The room erupted in cheers, screams, clapping & jumping over chairs as he turned to me, got on his knees, opened a box with a beautiful diamond ring and asked – “Beth, will you marry me?”  I was a bit stunned but managed to say yes throughout all the chaos going on around me.  After the evening came to an end and Dan left to drive some students home, I sat alone in he darkened sanctuary singing songs of praise & worship to the Lord and thanking Him for His awesome plan for my life and for answering my prayers.

We went on our first official date two days later and thus began a nine month courtship where our six years of friendship and our new found passion would grow & develop into a deep and committed love.  We have now been married almost 21 years and Dan is truly the love of my life, my best friend and partner in everything! God is the perfect matchmaker!

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I pray that each of my daughters and my son will seek the Lord and let Him be the ultimate matchmaker in their lives!

 

  

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Filed under Courtship, Faithbooking, Tea Time Tuesday

September 17, 2007 · 10:11 am

After this day

In honor of the bright, talented, goal setting, driven, intense, persuasive, strong willed, lovely, going to change the world  #4 Lambdin lady  – Rebekah – who is turning 12 years old tomorrow, I am posting an updated Monday Motivation that I wrote seven years ago shortly after her 5th birthday. It is very timely in my own life as I am currently saying “after this day” in a couple areas of my own life.  Here it is from October 2000.

This morning I was snuggling in bed with my 5 year old, Rebekah, who wants to break her life long habit of…sucking her thumb! 

While we were laying there talking she put her head down on the pillow & popped her thumb in her mouth.  rebekah1.jpgI gently reminded her that she had made a commitment to stop sucking her thumb on her birthday a few weeks back.  She pulled her thumb out of her mouth, smiled wryly at me and said with confidence “Oh Momma…I will stop sucking my thumb…..after this day“, rebekah2.jpgand then promptly put that thumb right back in her mouth.  After quizzing her about why she was putting it off, why she didn’t just stop today and then going over all the compelling reasons as to why she should stop, she finally said with exasperation “it’s toooooo hard, Momma!”

Hmmmm, now doesn’t that sound familiar? Isn’t that pretty much what we all do when something is  just to hard or will take to much time, effort & energy?  We tell ourselves we will do it – “after this day”.  What types of things are you putting off doing? Do any of these hit home with you?

  • going on that diet or exercising regularly & eating healthy
  • starting that home based business (or really beginning to actually work at the one you’ve already started)
  • getting on a budget or having a financial plan and sticking to it
  • doing something with our precious photographs (you know the ones that you say are so important that they are first thing you’d save in a fire or flood?)
  • finally quitting smoking, drinking, gossiping, overeating, complaining (or whatever your bad habit or vice is…we all have them)
  • getting together with, writing a letter or calling that old dear friend of ours who we have not connected with recently
  • writing those long overdue thank you notes
  • beginning to work toward achieving that personal dream you have in your heart
  • volunteering your time or giving your money to that organization you really believe in
  • going to church, joining that Bible study or spending consistent time in the Word and prayer
  • being bold and opening my mouth and sharing my faith with those who need the Lord
  • mending that broken relationship or asking forgiveness
  • being purposeful about creating a meaningful family life & raising children who have your values, morals & faith
  • _______________________________ (list what you are putting off until “after this day”)

But unfortunately, too often for many of us “after this day” never comes.  Saying or thinking we will do things “after this day” just helps us to justify the fact that we are not doing what we say we want or need to do! It gives us a false hope that perhaps someday we really will.  Telling ourselves “after this day” pacifies us just like Rebekah’s thumb pacifies her.  

Our “after this day” often sounds like this –

  • after….this crazy, busy, out of control week (month, season or even year)
  • after….my kids start school (go back to school, get out of school, graduate from school or leave home)
  • after….I get organized (settled down, clean my house or office desk)
  • after….I have this baby (the next baby or the last baby)
  • after….the holidays (my birthday, vacation or that special event)
  • after….I get that job (quit that job, finish that assignment or retire)
  • after…everything is perfect! (“when the moon is in the seventh house & Jupiter aligns with Mars”  to quote a popular 70’s song that often makes me laugh at myself  & others when we make crazy excuses that we are waiting for just the right time!)
  • after…..____________________(fill in the blank with your favorite reason to put off something)

Of course occasionally it is appropriate to wait or put off something until a better time but more often than not it is simply just an excuse to not do something or at least get started in that direction.  Let’s get honest with ourselves today and first decide what is it that you REALLY want to do.

Do you really want to lose that weight & live a healthier life?  Do you really want to make extra income, have less stress and be able to enjoy some financial freedom that owning/working a business, budgeting or planning can bring you?  Would you love to have your photos and memories organized, preserved and available to be easily enjoyed regularly? Are you tired of bad habits, character flaws or unhealthy lifestyles controlling you?  Do you long to have restored relationships with loved ones? Do you want to have the personal fulfillment & blessing of giving of your time, talent or treasure to a worthy cause?  Do you need to be in a growing relationship with God? Do you want to live a meaningful life and pass on your values, morals & faith to your children?  Do you have a dream or goal that often wells up in your heart and mind that you would love to see become a reality?

What is it that you want to do that you keep putting off until another time?  Perhaps it is time to STOP saying  “after this day” and start saying TODAY IS THE DAY!  Forget the past failures, present hardships and put away the many excuses. Begin this very day to do the things you need to do to move you closer to accomplishing your life goals & your dreams! 

Here’s to starting….TODAY!

2007 update:  Rebekah did eventually stop sucking her thumb but not until she was forced to by the orthodontist who put a palate expander in the roof of her mouth.  She was nine years old by that time and had to suffer the pain & problems of extensive dental work in part because of her “after this day” decision.  There is almost always some type of consequence to putting off important things in our lives until “after this day”.  A life lesson that has hopefully been learned well so she can avoid in the future having an “after this day” mentality.

She is now a twelve year old and a tenacious “go getter”!  She is all about planning, working & accomplishing her goals & dreams.  And her attitude is always….Let’s do it NOW. Here is her current “short list” of things she wants to do and/or accomplish –

  • Start her own business this year (actually 2 different businesses – a “Moms morning out” and a trash can cleaning business)
  • Make lots of money (she wants to buy a high quality digital camera, travel, add to her beauty product collection, give money to missions and save.)
  • Travel to Hawaii & Texas in 2008
  • Glorify God by being kind & compassionate to others
  • To consistently help the homeless & hungry by having fast food gift cards & water in the car ready to pass out at any given time.

Rebekah – You go girl! Happy Birthday

Photo by Sallee Photography

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Filed under Goals & Dreams, Home Business, Monday Motivations, Time Management

September 14, 2007 · 5:46 am

Family & Friends Friday – Rite of Passage

This week marked the beginning of a year long ritual for our second daughter Amy, called a Christian Rite of Passage.   This is one of our most significant family traditions.  Let me share with you some details about this awesome experience.

What is a Christian Rite of Passage?

It comes from Jewish roots – the Bat Mitzvah – meaning “daughter of the Commandment”. (the Bar Mitzvah means “son of the Commandment”) In the Jewish community, the Bat Mitzvah is a period of instructing the child in her faith and traditions, culminating in a ceremony that recognizes entrance into adulthood.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put away childish things.” The Jewish Bat Mitzvah is a strong connecting point for the young woman between faith, traditions, family & the community.

There are four main goals of the Christian Rite of Passage for a young woman:

  • To provide instruction on what it means to be a godly woman.
  •  To create a point in time for the child to accept responsibility for her own spiritual growth. The child will enter into spiritual adulthood and we, as parents, move from being teachers to coaches. 
  • To establish mentoring relationships with adult women. These mentors will teach, encourage and guide the young lady in her walk with Christ. They are the her accountability team. 
  • To extend a formal parental blessing upon the child

It is the culmination of teaching many Biblical life principles to Amy and having her choose to follow them for herself. It is a time of commitment for all of us – to renew our commitment to Christ. To choose to be consistent in Bible study, prayer, church attendance, listening to God & being led by His Spirit. To let the world know we are serious about following Jesus – no turning back!

We officially began Amy’s Rite of Passage year with a Tea Luncheon this past Sunday.  It was a wonderful afternoon of warm fellowship & sharing.  Amy picked out her favorite teas (peach and cinnamon apple), tea sandwhiches (almond chicken, shrimp crescents, cucumber cream cheese & egg salad) and the dessert (banana cream pie).  We began a new tradition of purchasing a special tea pot to commerate this occassion. (don’t worry Michelle we will let you retroactively get a tea pot too!)  Amy picked out a perfect “Amy” teapot….with a yellow butterfly on the lid.

We shared with her mentors the importance of this Rite of Passage and told them the specific areas they would be mentoring & teaching Amy in over the next year.  The topics included the following:

The Word of God
Prayer
Purity & Holiness
Lessons from Women of the Word
Ministry/Service/Outreach
Evangelism & Missions
Friendship – Developing & nurturing Godly relationships
Defending your Faith/Biblical world view
Christian Marriage
Christian Family Life & Children
Christian Leadership & Influence

We closed our time together gathering around & praying for Amy. 

It is really an incredible & meaningful event for the child going thru this experience as well as the mentors & the entire family. It truly is being purposeful about your job of raising up your children in the faith.  Perhaps my eldest daughter, Michelle who completed her Rite of Passage four years ago, as well as possibly her mentors or even those who attended the ceremony will comment here as to their thoughts on this ritual and its significance & impact on them.  I hope it inspires you to consider doing something like this for your children.

If you want information on this ritual as well as celebrating other spiritual milestones with your family….let me recommend Spiritual Milestones: A Guide to Celebrating Your Child’s Spiritual Passages A Guide to Celebrating Your Child's Spiritual Passages (Heritage Builders) by our friends from Colorado, Jim & Janet Weidmann.  It has been a fabulous resource for our family.

I will occassionally keep you updated on Amy’s progress and of course next fall you’ll get the full story of her Rite of Passage ceremoy & celebration!

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Filed under Faithbooking, Family & Friends Friday, Family Traditions

September 13, 2007 · 11:55 pm

Thursday Thankfulness

At this exact moment I am thankful for……my very comfortable bed & soft down pillow!

After a very late night (catching up with my dear friend Teri Helms who always makes me laugh until I cry and really should have a blog site of her own!) and then a day of getting up early and going, going, going…..and then going some more, I just arrived home and am headed promptly back to my room to catch a quick nap before the evening activities of soccer practice, dinner, homework and getting caught up here around the house.

Am I ever thankful for that bed & pillow. (and for the sisters & cousin Ashley who are more than willing to entertain the baby while I nap) 

What are you thankful for at this very moment?

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September 12, 2007 · 6:28 pm

Word for Wednesday – Acts 12

Today we have been praying for God to do something that could require some “special forces” to be at work on our behalf…when I read this –

Acts 12:1-11 

That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter – all this during Passover Week, mind you – and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover. All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!  Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists.  The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.”  Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel – he thought he was dreaming. Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze.

At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way.  That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it – this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”

Wow!  How exciting it must have been to live during that time in church history.  Sleeping peacefully while in jail awaiting your own execution (oh my!), angels appearing giving you a personal escort, slipping past wide eyed guards and gates opening all by themselves.(before the advent of electric ones!)

I want to be a Christian on the cutting edge of the supernataural….experiencing perfect peace & trust in God, being visited by angels and a life that includes Gods miraculous powers at work.  Don’t you?

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September 12, 2007 · 2:30 am

Tea Time Tuesday – 9/11 Remembrance

 It is Patriot Day! 

A day to remember the events, heros and victims of September 11, 2001. We decided to have a patriotic tea party and special remembrance of 911 for our weekly Tuesday Tea Time.(for those of you anxiously awaiting the next part of my courtship classes…it will be coming next week!)

We set up our tea with a patriotic theme – festive red, white & blue table settings and flags as a centerpiece. (for those of you who think this was planned out in advance and that I am super organized…think again! I simply realized this morning that it was tea day & that it was September 11 so I “threw it all together” on a whim!)  The girls (including cousin Ashley dscn3511.jpgdscn3517.jpgwho is here visiting from Redding) got into the spirit & dressed for the occassion. We even found an instrumental CD called “Stars & Stripes Forever” to play as background music. As we served our tea & cookies we talked about September 11, 2001.  Each of the older girls shared what they remember from that day. Most could remember the television showing the planes hitting the towers, the feelings of fear and sadness as well as the American pride & patriotism that prevailed.  Aunt Jennae showed up unexpectedly and joined our tea time. (What a blessing! I knew I should have listened to that still small voice that said I should always have an extra tea setting on the table.)  She shared her remembrances of that day and touched our hearts with her passion.dscn3522.jpg

After they each shared I got out my 2001 photo albums.  I was actually in the Washington DC area on a business trip on that fateful day in American history, along with my then 7 year old daughter, Kristen. (she is now 13!) We were getting ready to fly home on that very same morning those planes were flown into the twin towers. dscn3523.jpgI read to them my reflections & remembrances of that time. (I am so thankful that I took the time to write this down!)  Here is an excerpt from my album –

From the moment I turned on the television at my mothers home in Springfield, Virginia…everything began to become surreal.  I sat frozen alone on the couch as I realized the atrocity and severity of what was happening.  All I could think was that I wanted to be home with my family. I was 3000 miles away and with all air traffic being suspended indefinately, there was no certainity of when I could get home.  I called Dan who was still unaware of what was happening on the East Coast (It was still very early in California).  He prayed for me & told me how much he loved me.  He also shared how relieved he was that I was at home at my Moms and not on an airplane at that moment.

As I sat back down to watch the unfolding drama I learned that another plane had crashed just down the freeway from where I was into the Pentagon.  I was stunned! What was happening…and what would be next?  It was at that point I looked down at my confirmed airline itinerary dated September 11. 2001 from Washington DC to California.  The full impact hit me.  I easily could have been a passanger on one of those airplanes heading to California. I began to cry & praise the Lord that it was not my time to die and that I was not on an airplane right then being divereted to another city somewhere in the U.S.  I was at my mothers home with my sweet daughter. I had a lot to be thankful for that day.    We finally did get home four days later. (but not without several delays including getting stuck in Minneapolis for a night and being graciously taken in by a business associate Leanne Anderson) I was so happy to be home with my precious family.

In the aftermath of 911, it was inspiring to see patriotism come to life in America. Everywhere you looked people were wearing red, white & blue, flying flags, putting up signs & showing their love for their country & fellow citizens.  Flags were everywhere – on every home, hanging from bridges, on cars, on buildings, on clothing…it was overwhelming & emotional.  I found myself with eyes filled with tears and getting choked up several times a day as I witnessed the love of others and the patriotism that had been sorely missing in the daily life of most Americans.  People also began to give of their time, talent & treasure in abundance.  On every street corner money  was being collected & people gave freely.  Many volunteered their time and stood in line for hours to give blood.  It was an incredible moment in history to witness this outpouring of love & generosity.

This tragedy of 911 also turned many peoples hearts back to the Lord and to faith.  Everyone was in desperate search of answers and in great need of peace, hope & security.  People were coming together in droves to pray and seek God. Our common faith in God became evident to all.  The cross rose up out of the ashes of the towers and became a symbol of hope for those at Ground Zero in New York.  We all knew that we desperatley needed God.  No one was offended by people praying or evoking the name of Jesus. There was a National Memorial Service broadcast worldwide where Billy Graham boldly proclaimed the gospel.

September 11, 2001 was truly a day that changed everything. 

We ended the tea by watching this video.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did as you remember where you were on September 11.  We here at the Lambdin home…will NEVER forget!

 God Bless You & God Bless America!

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Filed under Faithbooking, Tea Time Tuesday

September 10, 2007 · 6:03 am

Live, Love & Laugh

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

from Casting Crowns song – “Who am I?”

I have spent the past few days pouring over photos of a mans life in preparation for a slide presentation for his memorial service today.  He lived 64 years and from what I can tell thru those photos he packed a lot of living, loving & laughing into those years.   

The photographs depicted a man who loved & stayed committed to the wife of his youth, a man who was actively involved in his childrens lives bringing him joy and fulfillment, a man who had children that adored him, a man who had stayed close with his extended family, a man who enjoyed fishing, photography & the outdoors, a hard working man who once proudly served his country in the military and a man who smiled a lot, laughed and enjoyed life.

To some he lived a long & fulfilling life, to others his life was cut short.  To me……he lived a lifetime.  His lifetime happened to be 64 years.  His appointed time covered 768 months or 3,328 weeks,  or 23,296 days.  Each and everyone of us has been given our own lifetime to live.  We do not know is how long that appointed time will be.  It could come to an end just around the next bend or it could be next week, next month, next year or in the next decade or beyond.  We could have thousands of weeks or days left to live or we could have just a few months or years.  We just do not know. (and in this world of “knowing”  and being in control of almost everything…this really bugs some of us!)  All we do know for sure is that one day all of our lives will come to an end. (as my dear darling hubby tells his Junior/Senior world view class  – “Here is an accurate statistic for you  –  10 out of 10 people die”)

At the end of my appointed lifetime ….what do I want the photographs of my life to depict? 

I want people to see someone who lived –

I strive to live my life with compelling purpose & with passion.  I hope to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I live to glorify God! I want to have energy, enthusiasm & excitement. I desire to live a fulfilling life and to have very few regrets.

I want people to see someone who loved –

I love the Lord my God. I love my dear darling hubby. I love my wonderful children. I love my large extended fabulous family. I love my dearest life long friends. I love my former students and their families. I love my co-workers & clients. I love my large circle of friends from different seasons of life & different parts of the country.

I want to love those who are hard to love – the destitute, the outcast, the unlovable. I want to love those who see me as their adversary or who make my life difficult. I want to love with an unconditional love.

I want people to see someone who laughed –

I want my life to be joyful & filled with memorable moments. I want to smile a lot. (as my daughter reminds me often… “Smile Mom! It releases endorphins!”) I want to be less intense and more relaxed (ie: stop sweating the small stuff) I want to laugh a lot!

 When your appointed lifetime comes to an end….what do you want the photographs of your life to depict? 

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Filed under Attitude, Goals & Dreams, Monday Motivations

September 7, 2007 · 7:09 am

Family & Friends Friday – Happy 18th Birthday Michelle

18 years ago today, I gave birth to my first sweet baby girl – Michelle. prom-007-007-2.jpgShe changed my life forever! She is currently 6,000 miles away from home in Australia with YWAM. (Youth with a Mission) She is one incredible young lady who is going to make a difference in the world! I am blessed to be her mother. The following is the letter I mailed to her in celebration of her life.

September 7, 2007

My dearest Michelle,

Happy 18th Birthday!

You are my first born sweet baby girl and I will never ever forget the moment that you were placed in my arms and the overwhelming love & joy that filled my heart and life. No one can prepare you for that moment when you look into the eyes of the precious life that God has given you. I came to have a completely new understanding of the unconditional love of our Lord. I loved you with a true, pure & perfect love.

That unconditional love has never changed and never wavered, even for a moment. You were a very colicky baby & a strong willed toddler yet I loved you totally & unconditionally. What a miracle that the Lord lets us share in that “agape” type of love with Him. It is AMAZING!

You have grown into everything I hoped & dreamed for you and more. You are such an impressive young lady. Your love for the Lord and desire to know and serve Him warms my heart and gives me an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. dsc_4912.jpgYou are bright, talented, creative and a strong leader who has the heart of a servant. I know that God has great plans for your life and that He will use your gifts & talents to glorify His name! I am your biggest fan. Know that I will always support & encourage you in everything you do.

We will miss celebrating your 18th birthday together with you….but you are in our hearts & on our minds all the time. We pray that your day is wonderful and that you are blessed beyond measure! We will be “rejoicing over you with singing” (all 4 birthday songs!) on your special day!

I love you so very much. Big hugs and kisses to you – Michelle-my-Belle!

Always,

Mommy

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September 6, 2007 · 6:50 pm

Thursday Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for the life God has given me at this very moment.   We all only have this day to live, love & laugh….we are not promised tomorrow.  None of us knows when life will take a tragic turn or when our own life or the life of a beloved will end. So yes…today I am thankful for life!

We have a long time friend of 18 years who had a horrific accident at work on Tuesday and his life is currently hanging in the balance.  Mike Harper is a God fearing, kind, compassionate & friendly man.  He has a gentle & peaceful spirit that makes it a blessing to be in his presence.  He & his dear wife Diane have raised to adulthood four of the finest children I have known.  He has lived a life of integrity, loving God & loving others. 

Please join me in praying for Mike & his precious family as they walk thru this valley.

Live your life today as if it were your last — love & serve the Lord, make meaningful memories with your family & friends (even within an “ordinary” day), forgive those you are holding something against, let go of your frustrations and stresses, appreciate and cherish your spouse, hug and kiss your kids, smile, laugh a lot and sing with gusto!  Enjoy and be thankful for your life in this moment.

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September 5, 2007 · 7:00 pm

Word for Wednesday – Sharing

 “Share with your sister!” has come out of my mouth regularly as a mom of many little ones.  We’ve all heard those words at school, in the church nursery, on the playground….almost everywhere there are kids together there is an adult reminding them to share their things with others.

Then we become adults and somehow our “sharing” philosophy changes. In fact we quickly reverse our sharing stance even with our children when they become teens and want to share clothing, phones, DVD’s, Ipods etc.. with their buddies.  We say things like…”you need to take care of your things & not let others use them” or “that’s expensive & you shouldn’t be loaning it out to just anybody” or we make it spiritual and say “God wants you to be a good steward of what He has given you!”

In my adult life I have known precious few people who have been really open and willing to share their “things”.  Even then, some who do share…do so with a little bit of cringing in their heart or with “restrictions” on what they are sharing with you.

I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to live in the time during the beginning of the Christian church when sharing was the way of believers….the “norm” instead of the exception.

Look at what the Word says about those believers –

Acts 4:32  

“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them”

Wow!  No wonder they added to their number daily those who were being saved! Can you imagine if we as believers had this mindset today.  Yes, we are sometimes willing to give away our money (in moderation & with wisdom of course…read sarcasm here) but when it comes to sharing our valuable “things” we are not often so willing – ie: cars when someone needs one, opening up our homes to others either for a few nights or even longer, expensive equipment to take on a project in the yard, blessing others with our “toys” – boats, RV’s, backyard swimming pools, vacation homes that sit unused most of the time, fill in the blank with your precious “thing” that is hard for you to share ___________________.

Church organizations are just as guilty as we believers are of not sharing.  Have you ever tried to get a room in a church for a meeting or activity? (even one that is a good cause or even directly a Christian activity)  After filling out mounds of paperwork that goes from one committee to another & then to the church board before you finally get back an apologetic…”We are sorry but it is against the policies of our church to allow the use of our building for your event. blah blah blah…..”  Often things are cited like insurance issues, janitorial problems or needing to be “good stewards” of their facility. (since when is it being a good steward to let a large multi room building sit empty most weekdays & several week nights?? I’d call it bad stewardship….but I digress)

So….. just last week my dear darling hubby was on his way to school camp in the mountains (an awesome way to start the school year at Elliot – lots of inspiration & bonding with both students & faculty). He needed to drive his own vehicle to camp because he would be joining us at our own “family retreat” (see Family & Friends Friday).  Bless his heart….Dan has always driven the “second” car in our family (read here- very old, broken down, scary, on it’s last leg, you never know if its going to start in the morning….but its paid for & has cheap insurance!). When Miriam, our school worship leader,  heard that he was driving to camp she instantly & without hesitation said….”Dan! Do you want to take my car?” (read here brand new, very nice complete with all the “extras”).  My first thought was….did she realize that meant she had to drive Dans car for 3 days? (not a very pleasant experience but it does build your faith when you have to pray everytime you get in it)

How refreshing!  Here is a young adult who truly is living out the Word of God in her life. I’m praying & looking forward to the day when the entire body of Christ will all truly live what they say they believe!

“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them”

 Are you sharing your things?
 

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September 5, 2007 · 12:40 am

Tea Time Tuesday – Season of Singleness

Today we had a wonderful surprise – guests for tea!  Our dear friends Amy & Kylie Williams stopped by this afternoon and we quickly added another table and invited them to enjoy tea with us. dscn3469.jpg We served peach & english breakfast tea with our Peppridge Farms fancy cookies as we enjoyed relaxing & fellowshipping with one another.

I shared with the girls about the “season of singleness” in my life when I decided to no longer date but to give myself exclusively to seeking & serving the Lord while waiting for Him to bring me the perfect match.  The Lord gave me this scripture during that time in my life – 

But I want you to be free from concern; One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord, but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife and his interests are divided.

The woman who is unmarried, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

I wanted to be wholly undistracted & devoted to the Lord and I commited myself to seeking Him & Him alone and forsaking all other dating or intimate relationships until He clearly told me it was time! 

That decision to not date resulted in four years of developing an intimate relationship with the Lord where He became my “everything” and I grew more into the person He wanted me to become. I was able to fully serve others and led many close friends to the Lord as well as becoming a full time youth pastor ministering to hundreds of youth. 

A bonus to this “season of singleness” was being able to avoid the pointless dating, relationship & break up cycle that often results in a broken & damaged heart and physical impurity.

I shared how this “no dating” decision was met with disdain & ridicule by some friends, family members & even other believers.  I was considered “strange” or “out there” by many.  But I held my ground, despite others opinions, knowing that the Lord clearly led me to make this commitment.dscn3470.jpg

That season lasted a short four years (although the girls shouted in unison &  in disbelief “FOUR YEARS!” like it was an eternity! Too funny!) and was an incredible and awesome time in my life!

Of course they then wanted to know – the rest of the story (how I met their daddy & got married!)  Next week – My love story with God as the matchmaker!

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September 3, 2007 · 3:03 pm

The apple of His eye

Wow! Am I ever “it” …”the one & only”…”the living end”…”the love of his life” and “the apple of his eye”……

Being a mother to a precious new baby is certainly good for ones self esteem.  When I walk into the room he simply can not take his eyes off of me.  A contagious smile spreads across his face and he squeals with delight!  He can’t get enough of me and never tires of being with me.  bw-beth.jpgHe finds pure joy & delight  in this strong willed, obstinate, opinionated, flabby, hopelessly flawed, middle aged woman  that he only sees as his awesome, cherished and beautiful Mommy. 

This morning I found myself battling aches & pains in my back (from an injury earlier this month), feeling extremly tired as well as overwhelmed by the week looming ahead of me and a bit melancholy while contemplating the absence of my eldest daughter who will celebrate her 18th birthday this week…6000 miles away from home (& me!).  As I glumly headed back to my room to get Sir Daniel Guy out of his crib (while mentally berating myself for not getting up early enough to start a much needed exercise regimen),  an amazing thing happened!  As he looked up at me with awe in his big beautiful blue eyes and as a huge smile spread across his face, all my aches & pains, overwhelming feelings, negative thoughts and heartache melted away and I felt my spirits lift and my heart sing! I was instantly transformed by his exuberant & unconditional love.  Everything about life seemed better and brighter under the adoration of this child. I confidently walked out of that room with praise on my lips, a smile on my face and a positive confidence to take on the day and week ahead of me!

If only we could all tap into this type of transformation on a daily basis wouldn’t life be just wonderful?  We could shake off our nagging feelings of incompetence, worthlessness or unattractiveness and confidently know that we are valuable and lovely just the way we are. We all struggle with negative thoughts and feelings that paralyze us and stop us from being our best, doing incredible things and living a fulfilling life.  If only we could replace the negative in our lives with the positive confidence that comes from joyful, unconditional love and acceptance.

We can!  You see we have a heavenly Father who thinks we are “it” …”the one & only”…”the living end”…”the love of His life” and “the apple of His eye”!  Read what He says about us –

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.”  Psalm 139:17-18

“He kept him as the apple of His eye.”  Deuteronomy 32:10

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

 “Lord….Your lovingkindness to me is better than life.” Psalm 63:3

“the Lord appeared saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3

Read those wonderful words often, believe them, memorize them, recite them. Picture the Lord smiling down upon you with joy & rejoicing over you with singing.  Let the love of God pour into your heart and life and transform your  negative thoughts and feelings, your heartaches & headaches and your worries & weaknesses into everyday living with a positive outlook, confidence, contentment & joy.

bth2.jpg

Baby blessings of wide eyed wonder, contagious smiles, deep belly giggling and squeals of joy to you all today,

Beth &  Sir Daniel Guy

 

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Filed under Attitude, Monday Motivations, Positive Words

September 2, 2007 · 8:41 pm

Family & Friends Friday – Weekend Get-away

We just spent a wonderful few days with some dear friends in Pioneer, California to celebrate my 45th birthday!  It was a fabulous get-away full of fun, food & fellowship –

Fun!  

We did a few new things for our household of girls – riding motorcycles and shooting guns!  The girls had a blast and took right to it!  There was never a dull moment – swimming, playing games, jumping on the trampoline, roasting marshmallows & making s’mores – just to name a few. Every moment was fun filled, exciting & memorable.

Food!

We were treated to fabulous feasts all weekend.  My favorite meal was served on Friday night – tri tip, corn on the cob & baked potatos…doesn’t get any better than that!  Homemade zucchini bread, blueberry pancakes, breakfast egg casserole, bbq hamburgers, brownies, ice cream sundaes & more! Becky Collins was the perfect hostess making everything very special for us all.

Fellowship!

The fellowship we enjoyed with this Christian family was sweet.  We were all uplifted & encouraged as we talked about life and the Lord.  What a wonderful peek into how heaven will be as we all bask in the presence of the Lord and share in the fellowship of the believers. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1   It was truly good & pleasant!  Thank you Alonzo, Becky, Logan, Breanna & Shane Collins (& both Thomas families too!)

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August 30, 2007 · 8:37 am

Thursday Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for….air conditioning (even if it doesn’t work as well as it should…only getting the house cooled down to 85), ice cubes, ceiling fans & cold showers!  It is HOT! HOT! HOT! here in the Central Valley of California….we are talking 106 yesterday. Yuk! And I have to admit it makes me very cranky, fussy and I have had a very bad attitude.  

Last night as we headed on over to the mall to eat dinner at the “food court” (I refused to turn on the oven to cook dinner)…I got convicted about my attitude.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I could be homeless and outside in this weather with only a freeway overpass as shelter or I could live in a house without any air conditioning relief.  I could not have access to clean water or a shower.  I could live in a 3rd world country with no freezer or ice cubes at my disposal. In fact, I began to feel even a bit spoiled by my many blessings in the midst of this heat wave.  I humbly apologized to my kids and made the decision to stop complaining about the weather and enjoy my air conditioning, ceiling fans, ice & clean cold shower.

What are you thankful for today?

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