Guess What???

LISH!

Lish. Derived from Sophie-licious. She is two. TWO. My "baby" is a toddler. A little girl. She turned two last week, and this week has already gone potty and poopy in the toilet!! Seriously?! What is happening?? Well, I had to look back and see how she came to be the precious 2 year old that she is....

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It's so bittersweet. Watching your child grow and learn is one of the greatest blessings of parenthood, yet also one of the most painful. I can't tell you how many times I have thought back to Sophie's first year... and, as demanding as breast-feeding was, and as much as I didn't sleep, I so miss that time with her. I miss the quiet middle-of-the-night feedings. The rocking her to sleep in the dark, hearing her breathe, her warm cheek mushed against my chest. I miss watching her little diaper booty scoot across the family room floor. As I'm typing this, she is in her sissy's room with her, the door shut, as they play dress up together. They are such good friends, which makes me thankful for Sophie reaching this age. V is having more and more fun with her little sis all the time. Father, bless these girls, draw them close to you as they grow. Please place people in their lives that will encourage them in You. Please raise up strong godly men for their future husbands. Thank you Lord for the blessing of these two incredible, beautiful, healthy babies you have so graciously placed in our care.

Happy Birthday Sophie-lish. "Lah-Lu."

Prayer Request

If you pray, I ask this of you: to pray for a small group of Christian women in Fresno, California. Firefighters Wives For Christ is something that began last October. God stirred something in me... a heart for fire wives. It took a few weeks for me to give in and follow His lead on something that is completely out of my comfort zone, yet we are here now, three months into it. And I'm asking for your prayer whenever it comes to mind.

Please pray:

for the growth of this group

for encouragement and God's magnificent wisdom in leading it

that fire wives would have the ability and the will to attend regularly

that it would influence more than just the women directly involved

that it would bless fire families in many ways

and that it would ultimately point to Christ, glorifying Him.

A Devotional

In leading the Firefighters Wives For Christ, I do a devotional at our monthly meetings. And since this has been on my mind the last several days, I figured it might as well be on my blog.....

We read an entry from Sarah Young's Jesus Calling...

"Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely; My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence."

As I read the first sentence, I couldn't help but think - how eager are we to be changed? Since when do we gladly and thankfully drink from that cup?? It's not easy. That's why we have to ask for that teachable spirit. For the desire to change. What old ways are you clinging to in this new year? What things are you still holding onto... not quite ready to let go of. Not ready to allow God to change and do with it what He will. According to Romans 12:2, we are not to "conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." How do we do that- renew our minds? By fixing our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2-3 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Fixing our eyes on Jesus. I looked up several definitions of "fixing." To place securely. To correct, or set right. To make stable or firm. To direct one's efforts or attention; to concentrate. Hmm. So that is what we are to do. To securely place our attention, our efforts, our time on Him. Reading His Word daily (His love letter to us). Praying daily (constant communication). Worshipping daily. (And this doesn't have to be in church with hundreds of other people. We can worship the Lord in how we treat others, how we talk, our work ethic, how we sacrifice our time and money.) Our relationship with Christ is really not much different than others. It takes quality time, effort, sacrifice and communication to grow and strengthen a relationship. Why would it be any different with Jesus? HE KNOWS the plans He has for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Can you rest in that promise from Jeremiah 29:11? It gets even better in verses 12-13: "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." Do you take these words to heart? I hope so.

I am now learning how to fix my eyes on Jesus. Although I have a feeling it will be a life-long learning experience, it most certainly is worth it.

The Leading Man

This song is simply... beautiful. So well written. Our society and our world so desperately need men to stand up and BE men. The leading man. The man God calls them to be. The man whose faith in our God and Savior is the driving force in his life. Instead of self-righteousness, greed, envy, or lust. The man who loves his wife as Christ loves the church, who gives himself up for her to make her holy.... leading her. The man who boasts of nothing but the cross. Who brings up his children in the instruction of the Lord. Who is strong. Consistent. Patient. Compassionate. Honest. Hard-working. THIS is what families need. THIS is what fuels the desire for a wife to respect, honor, and submit to her husband. And this... is what I'm eternally grateful for in my husband.

(you will need to pause the current song. scroll down and to the right in the black box you can click pause on the playlist)

(and you may have to double click on this video to view the full screen on youtube)

I'm Out Of The Zone

The average woman uses 7,000 words per day. That's a lot of talking. And generally speaking, I talk a lot. It may not always be with an adult, but regardless, I'm sure I fill that daily quota. In doing my lesson last week, I'm learning that my responsibility to tell others of the gospel and encouraging others in the Lord carry a lot more weight than I give attention to. I tend to remain more on the surface. And not because I necessarily want to, but simply because that's all that is in my comfort zone. You know what else is in my comfort zone? This blog. Writing all by myself from behind my computer screen. Where I can think about things before typing and clicking on "publish post." Where I don't have to deal with any awkward silence, mushy emotions, difficult questions, and/ or confrontation. Why is that?? Why can't I simply talk to people? Why can't I be more verbal? I'm a total Peter (pre-crucifixion that is). I lack boldness. I care so much but lack the boldness to speak for it.

I have reason to rejoice. Isaiah 12:4 says "Give praise to the LORD, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted."

What good is my growth, my joy and my desire to be used if I don't step out of that comfort zone and get my feet wet?

Sooo, here's to deeper conversation... to boasting of the Lord, and not keeping all to myself the work He's done, doing, and will do.

I LOVE . . .

.... watching my oldest daughter turn into a beautiful young girl.





... seeing her smile at me.





... catching these quiet moments in our busy lives.





... and then these moments that warm my heart.






... and this man.