Reactive or Effective?
I threw a spoon across the kitchen yesterday.  It felt good for about two seconds and then I realized I was being an idiot.  My girls had been screaming and picking on each other all afternoon and I had reached my limit. "She's looking at me!"  "She's touching me!" "She won't leave me alone!"  "Why did you have to be born?!" Initially, I chose to stay out of it and try to let them work it out.&nbs

Seeing Through His Eyes
I am always amazed by how Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 16 - He said to him "Get behind me Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's." Can you imagine? Why would Jesus say something like that? Seems extreme.Peter thought he was defending Jesus when he said "Heaven forbid, Lord, this will never happen to you!" after Jesus told him He was going to suffer, die and rise again. But sometimes things are not what they seem, are they? Sometimes God's purposes can work out even in the most seemingly hopeless situations. Peter was seeing things through man's eyes, not God's. As a result, he began to fea

Seeking Wholeheartedly
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.   If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me."I read this scripture passage this morning and kept backing up over the word "wholeheartedly".  According to the dictionary, the word means fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic, energetic, etc.; hearty; earnest.  Am I seeking God like that?  Because if I am, that means I'm going to find Him.  There are days when I know I'm not seeking Him like that - the days w

Public Opinion
It seems like God is always in the process of teaching me something important.  I'm so glad it seems He really only focuses on one deep-rooted issue at a time.  I don't think I could handle more than that at once!  This week has been very painful, but I'm beginning to see what He's up to and honestly, it's pretty cool.  But I won't lie, it's been tough.Last week I came across an article written about me by a woman who attended an event I spoke at about a year ago.  She wrote things that were very hurtful.  She claimed I said things that I did not say and she held me up as the example of what not to be as a Christian.  She said I was telling peo

Twas the Night Before Christmas
In celebration of the coming holiday festivities, I wanted to share this poem I wrote a few years ago as I lamented the holiday party pounds I seemed to gain each year!  Hope you will enjoy it...Twas the night before Christmas, when to my surpriseI saw in the mirror someone I didn't recognize.I was too busy to notice the weight I'd put on,