For His Service

 http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/two-big-reasons-evangelism-isn-t-working John Piper recently posted why evangelism isn't working: “ Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” ( 2 Timothy 4:2 ). “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,  so that you may know how you ought to answer each person ” ( Colossians 4:5–6 ). “So faith comes from  hearing , and hearing through the word of Christ ” ( Romans 10:17 ). He goes on to say:  Paul says “know how you ought to answer each person.” This means that most of your gospel explanations will be different, not canned. It also implies a listening evangelism. How can we know how to respond to each person, if we don’t know each person? He drives his point home by saying: Love is inefficient. It slows down long enough to understand people and their objections to the gospel. Love recognizes people are complex, and meets them ...

Will people talk about you behind your back no matter what you say or what you do? Will they judge how you raise your kids?   Will they judge how you spend your days? Weeks?  Years? Will they judge you if you homeschool your kids (You don't trust God to take care of your kids/ you aren't salt to the world)  or if you send your kids to public school (you have given up your kids to the world/ you have taken the easy way)?  Will they judge you by the recreational activities you do and do not let your kids participate in (you are going to let your kids do that/  You are NOT going to let your kids do that?  Will they judge you if you have an occasional glass of wine (you are being immoral)  or if you never touch wine at all (You live under the law) ? Thankfully, God has a different calling for each person. He directs our path.  If we aren't listening to the lies of our own hearts, but listening to His word and His Holy Spirit, then, let them talk....

The older I get ... the more my gratitude grows for those older than me who keep young by living out a purpose.  Think about it!  A thousand years ago, the typical lifespan was 24 years of age.  A child that was born 100 years ago lived to be 50.   A child born today can expect to live to 80.   Why?  Why is this generation living longer than any other generation?  Is it to just fish through retirement?  To walk the beaches in Florida?  Is it to check out on others before you "check out"?   Of course NOT!    Psalm 92: 14 tells us that we shall "still bear fruit in old age".    Fruit... that's our purpose.  Purpose keeps you young.   I am thankful for the older people in my life who look for ways to bear fruits of   love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, self-control.    I am thankful for my dad who doesn't let  the chronic  pain ...

(A letter written from parents of traumatized children). This is the written version of the above video:    I’m writing this letter because you have expressed an interest in my experience as a parent of a traumatized, attachment-disordered child. It is not a story I relate to you lightly. My child has some very special needs and because of this, so do I. I need people to understand what our family faces, not just judge us as incompetent. It isn’t fair what happened to my child. But it is what we are all facing together as a family,and we face it together everyday. First, I’d like you to know that this letter was not written just by me. Parents from all over the country are using it to tell a uniquely tragic story. This letter isn’t the ranting of one isolated, overwhelmed, and oversensitive adult. I did not "do" this to my child. My child came to me this way. Chances are she would be struggling with these same behaviors and emotions in any family. My child's pr...

Being a mom is so fun... but being a mom is so hard.   Grab the laughs where you can.  Focus on "this too shall pass. "   Enjoy the day.   

Turning 40 was hard for me.  Not because I think 40 is "Old"... but it was a transition.  I had the sneaking feeling that I had to be error free, as errors were for those under 40. LOL...       Now, another transition.   I have been a teacher off and on  (public school and private school) for the last 23 years.    Two days ago was my last day as a paid teacher.   My youngest child has dyslexia and dysgraphia ...and needs me to be his full time teacher, which means I can't leave to teach other children.  A transition.  A new calling. My 2nd class  as a public school teacher..  my first class was 1991- 1992 at Tinsley Elementary, Bibb. co., GA My last class as a teacher   (2013-2014   1st and 2nd grade combo)  I hope there will be more time for painting.   I have been a paid artist for 15 years and the more I have time to paint...the easier it is for me.  Here are a couple I finis...

Yep... March Madness and I don't mean basketball...  Here are the highlights...   I gave my testimony at The Vine while teaching a group of women to paint....  Super fun night. I finished several paintings for clients... Here are a few. Noah and John Michael both got their braces off. :) Beautiful smiles! Noah had knee surgery to put a new ligament  into his knee and to shave the rough cartilage.   Now... he has lots of physical therapy. Just because Life wasn't CRAZY enough... I rescued a chihuahua from going to animal control and tried to foster him while he received his vet care (neutering/ shots).   He is 1 -2 years old... and in true Chihuahua manner...has a sassy little attitude.   My dogs want to eat him... but he loves dogs.    We are looking for a foster/adoptive mom.     We are reading through the Bible... on Nehemiah and Exodus right now.   There is so much to process. ... we are learn...