It's not about me...

Last night something awesome happened. I heard my daughter pray for the first time. Her prayer was short and filled with lots of toddler babble, but make no mistake, she was talking to Jesus. I heard... "Jesus, thank you, day"... (lots of babble) and then "Amen". Tears instantly filled my eyes... Nothing will bring me more joy than knowing Grace has a personal relationship with God. I'm so thankful to be a part of her story and to be able to witness her first interactions with our Creator.

What an awesome and a bit daunting responsibility- to be an example of Jesus to my daughter. To be in charge of her care and upbringing and ensure that she sees/hears/feels the love, grace, and mercy of God on a regular basis. As I was thinking about that last night I also realized that it fits with two other jobs I'm doing this week.

We are in full swing, actually nearing the end of VBS at our church. Eighty plus children have entered our doors eager to have fun and also soak up info about the love of God. After helping register the kids, Kristi and I head upstairs to work on the upcoming Upward Basketball and Cheerleading season where, Lord willing, about 150 children will be coming to have fun, play ball, and hear about what walking with Jesus means for them and for their lives.

Three things I'm doing....three fun things that involve little ones... all with big responsibilities. It's a bit frightening if you ask me... why? Because in order to do these jobs to the very best of my ability and do what I know God is calling me to do I have to realize one thing... It's not about me.

Ha! We all probably know that but seriously... aren't there times when we do want it to be about us? When we don't want to think of others or what's best? There are times when my little one wants a book read to hear, or when she needs something from me and all I want to do is veg out and sneak cookies. :) Or when a ministry opportunityBut again, it's not about me. It's about the fact that I already have a solid relationship with God and I have chosen a path that I believe pleases Him (when I follow it!)

ok, I'm challenging you today. Here it is... find one thing (at least, I have found a handful!) of things going on in your life where you are working on making a difference but sometimes your sweet little self wants to intercede and then say It's NOT about me. It's about changing lives. It's about that amazing feeling of knowing that we are His and that we have security about our future. It's about putting others first no matter how awkward, uncomfortable, hard, or unpleasant it may be. If God is calling you to do something, get over yourself and get on with his business.

Love you ladies!

A Giving Heart

As a parent, it's hard to know exactly how to teach my children how to develop certain characteristics my husband and I would like to see in them...... honesty, courage, compassion, dedication, (to name just a few.) When I came across an article in the Focus on the Family publication "Clubhouse Jr." for kids, I had a feeling that this mission project was something I needed to do to help my kids develop a giving heart.

Over the span of a month, my children collected shoes for an organization named "Shoes 2 Share", which sends new and used shoes to Haiti and other countries. They helped me write a letter to our church, make a box to collect the shoes in, empty the box every week, match the shoes and rubber-band them, count them, and then put them in the box to ship. We prayed almost every night that someone special would receive a pair of shoes just for them. It was so exciting to see the kids run to the shoe box each week and look in to see how many shoes we had collected. With help of our church, friends, and the local library, they collected over 300 pairs of shoes to send to this ministry!

My hope is that God instills in their hearts a giving spirit, compassion for the poor, and a sense that they can do something to help, even as a child. I pray that they feel that God used them to do something for his kingdom, and that He can use each and every one of us, no matter our age, race, or economic status. How can God use you today? How have you taught your children to have giving hearts? I would love to hear your ideas!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. ( 1 John 3:17-18)

Sing for Joy

I am having one of those days were I am constantly on the go, children are crying or giving attitudes, and I am so busy but nothing is getting done! I decided to take some me time while the little ones nap and check the GLOW blog to only realize it was my day to blog! I feel a little like a dog chasing it own tail. Do you know the feeling ladies?


I don't enjoy my day just being a blur so I pulled out my Bible. I opened to Psalm and found a verse that relaxed me . Psalm 90:14 says... Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.


This speaks volumes to me! I have my quite time in the morning before the kids get up. This morning they woke up early with much excitement about vacation bible school and we have been running ever since. I feel guilty for not even thinking about my time with God! I am so thankful God doesn't treat us like we treat Him! So now that I have gotten my God time I feel satisfied with His unfailing love, ready to sing for joy and be glad in my day!

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perserance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Sabbath

What a day! We had NO plans for this day.... it was WONDERFUL! We ended up doing things around the house and getting ready for baby. Gracie had a bit of a tough time adjusting to baby things not being hers but she ended her night well with lots of smiles.

I was excited for this weekend. My family all home and just being together. It's been nice even though we've been working on stuff. The weather even cooperated! Now on to my next task.... to have a Sabbath. I've been caught up lately, as I've written, in being busy and doing things and now that is starting to slow down, I need a Sabbath. By that, I don't necessarily mean a day of total rest, but I do mean a day with my Lord. I need a day where I don't pick up a novel, but instead my Bible. I need a day where I turn on the praise music instead of Elmo.

I'm feeling the need to nest and clean and get ready for this little man coming but I'm also feeling the need to refocus on God and my relationship with him. So... my Sabbath starts in just a few. I'm gonna go to bed and take my Bible and journal and go to town. I love writing down my thoughts/ prayers to God. It just seems to flow so much better and also helps me focus.

Praying you all get a Sabbath this weekend or if not, that you'll take one soon!

Love,

Shan

Fruit of the Spirit continued

I wanted to post this last night but ran out of time. Still trying to finish up the many little things that need to be done for bible school next week and ended up coming to visit our son for a couple days so I've been busy trying to be a granma, too!! (I'm sure my daughter in law will be glad to see all my 'stuff' go when we leave today! I've been cutting out felt arms and legs, etc all week!!)


So our church has continued to study the Fruit of the Spirit. I think I've missed one week maybe. Lots to think about! Many things we can all do better, right. Some harder than others! Reminds me of the Beth Moore study we did awhile back. Well, as many of you know my daughter, Monica, is back into doing children's ministry and they also have been studying the same 'fruit'. Cool and funnie story.....

I just happened to be talking to a granma that goes to our church and she mentioned that her grandchildren have been going to Monica's church and what they were learning. She said she mentioned to her grandchildren that we also have been learning the fruit of the Spirit and the youngest who is three could recite them in order which amazed the granma!! The granma said she couldn't do that herself and I know that I can't.

I can remember when Monica was teaching at our church and I was helping with a craft during children's church. The children were making a bracelet that had nine colors which was to remind them of the nine fruit of the Spirit. As they were making their bracelets, they were reciting the nine fruit and most of the children knew them all. They even had little motions or signs for each one. I remember being surprised that they all knew them, in order. Which made me think, first of all, I should be able to memorize them so that I could constantly be reminded how to follow Jesus and let the Spirit influence my life and reactions to it. (and not the world so much!) Also, that we as adults let so many things in our minds crowd out the things that God gives us that will help us to live as Jesus showed us.

So let us all be as children and follow Jesus, memorize the nine fruit of the Spirit (every time I spell the word s-p-i-r-i-t, out it makes me think of a cheer!!! from school. We need to act like we have the SPIRIT!!!!!!) and let them guide us.

" the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

Dear God, Help me today to clear my mind of the busyness of life so that I might be able to better to show your love and serve those around me. Help me to be mindful of the fruit of the Spirit that you have given us in your Word that will direct us as we go. AMEN.

What I Love About Summer...... take 2

Last summer I wrote a post about all of my favorite summertime things... and since school is starting very soon, I am starting to feel nostalgic about summer again. So I thought I would do a yearly post of my favs of summer. So here it goes.......... (and some of these may be repeats from last year!)

*the smell of sunscreen
*my kids' rosy cheeks and brown arms
*driving down a road surrounded by corn
*fresh corn on the cob
*flip flops
*skirts
*getting everyone out the door without worrying about coats, hats, and boots
*floating on a boat in the lake watching the kids jump off the side
*summer camp!
*bonfires
*the smell of cut grass
*elephant ears
*lemon shake ups
*grilling and not having to use my oven
*goggle eyes
*flip flops (oh wait, I already said that! I love flip flops!)
*driving my family around the golf course
*never being cold
*ice cream
*spending more time with my kids
*lazy mornings in pajamas

I am thankful for every season that I get to experience on this beautiful Earth God created for us. But I am especially thankful for summertime. What are your summer favs?

Here It Goes!

Hello All!

I am excited to be back! I have been asked to blog on a regular basis and I am so honored!

I know in previous posts I have told you a little about myself but let me tell you a bit more. I went to a "farm" school and I am sure that is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE FARMS! Anything to do with them! I am amazed how much work farming is and how some people have never seen a cornfield. Cornfields are my favorite, I love to watch them grow. I have fond memories of playing in cornfields.

I love for the past two years how interested my 5 year old has been about the farming. We have talked about the very first job God gave to Adam was farming and how Noah was a greatest farmer of them all. He had to be! Seriously think about it! Noah had to build a floating farm! Most important our Good Shepherd.

One story she and I both enjoy is of a beautiful stock of corn. How it grows from a little seed, thrives during the heat and storms. All the while it stands tall and beautiful growing toward the sun.

Does that sound familiar? I identify a lot with it. God has planted us, His seed and no matter how many storms we battle in the end we are still growing tall toward the Son.

I pray all of you are growing tall toward the Son today!