I Promise I’m Not M.I.A.

Long time, no post. If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, wonder no longer.

Illness, Easter, and vacation.

In that order.

In the weeks leading up to Easter, a mild virus was causing havoc in my house. My oldest daughter caught it. Then, my middle child. Then my oldest, again. Just for good measure, the virus included me in the fun. Along the way, our viruses became ear and sinus infections. The party never stopped, and I certainly didn’t feel like typing on my Mac.

Easter was a bright spot during all that coughing and pill taking. Our family celebrated, our ministry team at Mountain Lake celebrated, and our church celebrated. We were busy with tons of ministry details….again, no time for my Mac.

And, finally, vacation. Yep, it’s Spring Break around these parts, and my kids are home which means I’ve been doing a lot of playing, laughing, movie-watching, and ice-cream-eating. Throw a theme park and a few bike rides in there, too. You guessed it: no time for posting blogs on my Mac.

I’ll be back, though. Next week. I have a few more days to ignore my regular routine and responsibilities. Which is a good thing. Rest is good for our minds, bodies, outlooks, and, creativity levels.

So, I’ll talk to you guys next week. Until then, why not join me? It’s Fun-Day Friday! Read a book, go on a date, take a bike ride, or meet up with a friend. Break your normal routine and enjoy life today! have a great weekend, friends!

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!  I pray that today you celebrate BIG with the people you love, enjoy TONS of good food, and open a few gifts that make you SMILE! Our family will enjoy all of those things, for sure.  But, before we do, we’ll take a few minutes to celebrate the One who gave the best Gift of all.

It all began long, long ago….

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” Luke 2:6-20

But, the story doesn’t end there….

Jesus grew to be a man – fully God, yet fully man.  He taught others to follow Him, and ultimately He laid His life down as a sacrifice for all.  His death – the shedding of His blood – paid the penalty for the sin of all mankind.  For my sin. For yours.  I can’t begin to imagine what that was like for Him, but it brings tears to my eyes.  His gift is the greatest ever given.

Today, if you are a Believer, celebrate Him.  Take time to pray.  Praise Him for His goodness, mercy, and grace.  Thank Him for family, friends, and blessings.  Intercede for those who don’t yet know Him.  Walk with Him awhile.  He really is the Reason for the season.

Merry Christmas, friends!

 

Yesterday’s Lessons Learned

A quick review of my day yesterday taught me a few lessons.

1.  It’s probably a good idea to take a quick look in the mirror before taking the kids to school just in case I have to walk them inside for some reason.  Putting on shoes would be an even better one.

2.  I can multitask like no other.  I gave medical advice to a friend, edited a magazine article, and shopped for sweater leggings (thanks, Facebook friends!) all while watching The View.  (Yes, I watch The View.  I feel it’s my duty to keep up with pop culture.  That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.)

3.  Chopped cucumbers and carrots are divine when sprinkled with Feta cheese and Salad Toppins and drizzled with Italian dressing.  (If you are taking notes, you’ll realize that my recipe is actually a salad minus the lettuce.  I need to go grocery shopping, and I’m trying to keep a positive outlook.)

4.  Wearing workout clothes doesn’t give the same benefit of actually doing the workout.

5.  My Facebook posts about fashion garner more comments than my posts about parenting. Not sure if that is an indictment on my parenting or my fashion.

6.  And, finally, Pinterest is more than a silly time-waster. My Creamy Italian Crock Pot Chicken actually turned out pretty good.  Thanks, Pinterest, for the kitchen help.

There you have it – the lessons I learned on Wednesday.  Hope you have a great Thursday!

Give Thanks

Each month I write an article for a local magazine, Up In Cumming, and I love to share the articles with you guys, too.  This month’s theme is Thanksgiving, of course.  Hope you like it!

October was such a fun month for my family. It was Pastor Appreciation Month, and each year the mailbox holds treats for us: encouraging cards, letters expressing how my family had helped someone, and even a few gift card surprises (my husband and I will be enjoying Starbucks on our date days). One year, a church family even hosted a luncheon for our Ministry Team at their home: duck, beef tenderloin, roasted veggies, potatoes, salad with fennel infused vinaigrette, and my favorite – blueberry, pomegranate tea. (Yes, she’s a chef.)

I’m so thankful that some considerate person created Pastor Appreciation Month. My family feels enormously loved, valued, and honored when others take time to spur us on. I’m amazed how much more I can handle or bear when I feel supported. Everyone should have a special day when they are thanked for all they do and give.

November is here, and along with it comes the kickoff of the holiday season, Thanksgiving.  It’s the time of year when we are supposed to focus on all the things we are grateful for in our lives, which is probably a good thing since next month we’ll most likely allow gratitude to give way to greediness.  Honestly, however, the focus of Thanksgiving is much more about Turkey, dressing, and autumn displays by our front doors, and less about gratitude.  I’ll admit I’m guilty of it.  I’ve certainly gotten lost in the prep work and decorating.  Yet, this year I want to be more than privately grateful.  I want to take a cue from all the friends who took time to appreciate my family last month and actually turn my gratitude into verbal thanks.  While I’ll still adorn my front porch with Fall Mums, pumpkins, and gourds, I’ll adorn my friends and family with encouragement, appreciation, and admiration.  I wonder how my words might spur them on.  Could I really make a difference in someone’s day with a few mere words of kindness….of recognition….of thanks?

God sure thinks so, and He’s pretty much the Author on the subject.

“Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

God says our words hold great power – to sooth, satisfy, and heal.  Withholding our words has an equally powerful effect – to leave people feeling ignored, unnoticed, unappreciated, and unvalued.

So, who could you thank today? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Thank your co-worker for help on a project, the receptionist for her warm countenance, or an intern for their (unpaid, by the way) service.

Thank school teachers and coaches for the extra work they do for your kids.

Thank your spouse for planning a fun date or for being your friend.

Thank the store cashier for a speedy checkout or for helping you find just the right item.

Thank a mentor for the gift of their time and wisdom.

Thank the auto mechanic for their expertise when they work on your car.

Or, thank your kids for a good attitude (hey, positive reinforcement works!)

You’ll be amazed at the responses you’ll get!

This Thanksgiving, join me in not only being grateful for blessings, but in spurring people on with kind words that sooth and heal. Come on, Forsyth!  Give thanks!

 

Road Trip Retreat

Today, I’m leaving on a road trip. The hubby and kids are staying at home, and I’m hopping on a plane (or two) bound for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  I’ve saved some extra money, packed my bags, arranged for extra help with the kids while I’m away, and rearranged my schedule.

Why, you ask? To join all the other fabulous Pastors’ wives and women in ministry who will attend the Leading And Loving It Retreat! Getting out of my regular routine long enough to connect with some like-minded friends is refreshing, energizing, and just plain fun.  We’ll stay up way too late, swap ideas, learn from each other, but most importantly, deepen our friendships.

I need those ladies.  Really.  I need some women in my life who can sharpen me, challenge me, laugh with me, and love me. Just as importantly, they need me.  God has given all of us gifts, personalities, and strengths that can benefit each other.  We NEED each other!

But, this road trip isn’t the only time I pull away to invest into friends….and be invested into.  Nope.  I’m pretty strategic about spending time with a few key people in my life.  I plan time each month for coffee with 5-6 close friends, I schedule a monthly mentoring relationship for 9 months out of the year, and I am committed to my weekly Life Group friends.  I’m committed to knowing and loving these people.  No matter how busy my life gets, I make time to spend with them.

I can remember a time in my life when I craved just one close friendship.  As a stay at home mom, my time was dominated by kids, and I desperately needed adult time, but I felt isolated in many ways.  Maybe my position lended to the notion of feeling isolated.  As a pastor’s wife, many people knew who I was but very few were intimately involved in my life.  At that point, I made a decision to be proactive in building friendships.

The old adage is true: to have a friend, you must be a friend. At Mountain Lake, we just started a teaching series called Entourage, and it’s all about the importance of and our need for friendships. Check it out.

So, who are you being a friend to? How are you investing into someone else’s life? Who are you inviting into your private life? You don’t have to take a road trip to find a friend.  Pick up the phone and plan a coffee date with someone. With time and consistency, you just might discover the friendship you’ve always wanted.

What’s Next on SharpenHer?

Ok, SharpenHer is back in full force! I missed connecting with all of you over the summer break, and I’m so ready to hear from you!

So, I’m busy writing posts and planning future ones.  That’s where YOU come in!

What topics would you like to read about here at SharpenHer?  Do you have questions for me?  Is there a subject you secretly wish someone would talk about? The sky is the limit! Ministry, marriage, parenting, friendships, faith,…..what is on your mind?

Lend me a helping hand and give me some topics that you want to read about.  Not what you think everyone else needs to hear, mind you.  I want to know what YOU want to read about…..and talk about!

Do you have an idea for SharpenHer? Leave a comment below, on my FB page, at Twitter, or shoot me a private email.

Then, be on the lookout for a post just for you!  Talk soon, friends!

Father Knows Best

Each month I write an article for a local magazine, Up In Cumming, and I always like to share them with my SharpenHer friends, too.  This month, the magazine theme was “Make Life Count.”  Hope you enjoy it!

Father Knows Best

I’ll never forget a weekend trip I took while in college.  My sorority sister and I went to Florida to visit her family.  Ok, we really went to soak up some sun at the beach, but we certainly spent time with her parents….at night….when they took us to dinner.  (We were college students, and we knew where our bread was buttered, so to speak.)

At breakfast one morning, my friend’s father shared a bit of his wisdom with us.  My friend rolled her eyes, somewhat embarrassed that he was about to lecture us on the pitfalls of poor decisions or the importance of integrity.  He didn’t seem to notice.  Instead, he drank his coffee and did what he apparently did every morning with his family – he mentored them.

This particular morning he talked to us about marriage. It was a little odd since neither of us had major plans for white dresses and flower girls, but what he said stuck with me.

“When you get married, be a partner to your husband.  Work hard to be involved in his life; to like the things he likes; to support and encourage him.  Don’t settle for a man who won’t do the same for you.”

I’ll be honest.  I listened to him, but I was ready to get back to the beach. Yet, now, years later, I hear his words with a profound understanding.  My husband and I have been married for almost 19 years, and I get it.  A marriage….a family….that is a true partnership is strong.  Let me give you some examples.

When family members support each other with words and emotions, we’re more closely connected.

When we take an interest in one another’s activities, we feel valued.

When we work together to accomplish common goals – or even not-so-common ones – we feel loved.

Feeling loved and valued isn’t something the world offers.  As a matter of fact, the world does a pretty good job of beating us down from time to time, doesn’t it?  Turns out my friend’s father knew what he was talking about.  Family life works best when it’s a partnership. When we take our eyes off of ourselves and seek to link arms with our spouse and children to become a team we create bonds that aren’t easily broken.  Feeling loved and valued and admired glues the members of a family together like nothing else.

God has something to say about how we should treat our families.  Check it out:

“Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Why not give it a try? Find some ways to honor your husband or wife by getting involved in the things they like.  Or, change your schedule so you can play catch with your kids.

Does your spouse like to go for walks? Slip your hand in theirs and join them.

Have your kids worked hard at something?  Take them out for ice cream to celebrate.

Does someone in your family have a deadline to meet? Pitch in and help out.

Does your spouse have a hobby?  Get involved!

Our homes should be a place of refuge and friendship – and partnership. Take some time this month to strengthen your family by partnering in the things they do.  I guarantee your efforts will be worth it.

Sunday Summaries: Scared

I hate scary movies.  Suspense, yes.  Thriller, yes.  Horror? No way.  There’s nothing about being frightened for 2 hours that is even remotely appealing to me.  Not my cup of tea.  (I don’t like cups of tea, either.)

If only movies were the only scary thing in life, we’d have it pretty good, wouldn’t we?    But, in fact, we have tons of fears.  We’re afraid of lab results.  We’re afraid of losing our jobs or losing our retirement.  We’re afraid of terrorists.  We’re afraid of trying something new.  We’re afraid we’ll never get married.  We’re afraid of getting married.  We’re afraid of conflict.  We’re afraid of making the wrong decision.  We all have fears.

In our latest message series at Mountain Lake, my husband is tackling the raw emotion all of us experience – fear.  This weekend, Shawn gave us some insight into why fear should never cripple us….or even hinder us.

What are you afraid of?  What fear has gripped your heart?  Watch this week’s message and take heart!  God can help you overcome!

 

Time To Huddle

Each Summer, the Life_Groups (LG) of Mountain Lake take a breather.  For a few weeks, we break the routine of meeting together since so many of us travel during the Summer months.  But, that’s not the only reason.  Our LG Leaders need a time to reenergize and refocus.  They invest much time and energy into their group members, and a few weeks off helps them recharge.  As a Leader, I certainly need time to refresh….they do, too.

Just before LG kicks off each Fall, our Leaders and our Pastors huddle together for a delicious meal, a locker room pep talk, and prayer.  Tonight, the first of three LG Leader Kick Off Events is taking place, and I cannot wait to spend some time with these friends who love Jesus, love MLC, and love the people God has brought to us.  We’ll laugh, share vacation stories, and reconnect.  Then, my husband and a few other Pastors will help us all understand our goals for this year.  And, we’ll pray – for our Leaders, for our members, for discipleship, for wisdom, and for unity.  Life_Groups without the power of the Holy Spirit are simply social gatherings…..and we can get that someplace else.  We need God, Himself, to pour Himself out on us, change hearts, and redeem lives.

The MLC Life_Group Leaders are getting ready for YOU!

Are you ready for Life_Group?

Don’t miss what God could do in your life as you connect with a group of friends and learn a little more about Him.  I am counting down the days to reconnect with mine!  Sign up on a communication card at church or contact our staff here.  It’s going to be a great Fall!

My Big Debut

A few months ago, I received a surprising phone call.  The editor of Up In Cumming, a local magazine, was interested in contracting me for a few articles.  I read UIC each month, so I was completely honored.  More than that, as I listened to Stephanie explain her vision for the magazine, I was eager to partner with her.  She wanted someone to write articles from a Christian perspective without being too preachy, and since that’s basically what my family does for a living, it sounded like something right up this church planter’s alley.  I hope you’ll check out this month’s issue.  And, if you’re a local friend, one should be in your mailbox. 

By the way, if you are a Mountain Lake lady, we’ll be talking in depth about the same subject as my article this Thursday at Girlfriends.  Register here!