Search Results for: Everyday Jesus

10 Commandments of Parenting Toddlers #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Parenting is one crazy ride.

One minute you are laughing so hard you want to cry and the next minute you are crying because, well, parenting.

It is kind of exciting to think that I have been blogging long enough to share a few “Commandment” series blogs of parenting, like 10 commandments of Pregnancy for the Husbands, for the family/friends and strangers of pregnant gals, commandments for the preggos themselves and even 10 Commandments for New Mamas.  [Read more…]

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When God Stretches Us #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Painful confession: (Don’t worry. I won’t judge you if this makes you judge me for a split second. I still love you.)

I don’t like preschoolers. 

Do I think they are cute? Yes. And  I grateful God created them? Absolutely. Do they add joy to this world? Sure.

Are they my primary area of ministry? No. No, no, no, no, no.

This was recently reaffirmed– the hard way.

After some prayer (and admitted procrastination) I volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School. Although tiny humans are not my fave area of ministry work, I figured that I could handle a week of either doing skits or registration or even being a crew leader to some elementary kiddos.

Stretches UsI completely forgot about the preschoolers. 

So you can probably guess what happened next: I got voluntold to lead/wrangle/herd 10 preschoolers for 20 total hours during the 5-day Vacation Bible School adventure.

And friends, it stretched me more than I have been stretched in ministry in months.

I tried to remain at peace, to find the joy, but it was so much work. And chaos. I don’t do well with chaos.

And licking. So much licking.

I tried to cope by putting clever things on Facebook each day like:

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Never in my life have I been afraid to close my eyes to pray until I became a preschool crew leader at VBS.  #TinyNinjasEverywhere!

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Yea, though I walk through the valley of VBS, I shall fear no preschooler… 

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Dear VBS preschoolers: What’s with the licking!?
#KnockItOff #TimeOutsForEverybody!

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Need your help deciding on today’s most ridiculous Preschool VBS moment. (cast your vote below…) 

A) that we actually had to utter the phrase “NO! Your tongue in YOUR mouth only! 

B) During final worship, we almost had to bust the back of a pew because someone got their arm STUCK in the hymnal slot. (and screamed like a banshee in the meantime) 

Voting starts… NOW! 

(Sidenote: Yes, these two scenarios were from the same kid.)  #AlmostFriday

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Just when I hoped our preschool VBS experience would end without a sex ed discussion… 

My cohort: “Let’s not kiss our teachers, boys and girls. Save your kisses for mom and dad.” 

Preschooler: “We can’t! If mom and dad kiss, they have babies!” 

Me, whispering: “Quick, let’s change the subject! This will go south in a hurry!” 

My cohort: “So what kind of pizza do you like, boys and girls?” 

#CloseOne #AllTheMoreReasonNOTtoKissTheTeacher

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That is how I deal with stress. Humor. And it sort of worked.

But every single day, I had to pray for God to equip me for the self-control, patience and peace to execute my duties– and not get fired for yelling at someone else’s kid.

It stretched me so much. And since that time, it has made me GREATLY appreciate the fact that VBS is only one week a year. It is a perfect perspective giver in my everyday– because now, no matter what happens, at least I wasn’t chasing 10 sugar-hyped little people.

(Side note: For all of you out there who has the gift of ministering to our little youth– please know that there is a very special place in heaven for you. Jesus told me last week while I was muttering under my breath on restroom duty.)

Anywho, there is a purpose in this humorous/challenging experience. God stretches us with purpose, be it to open doors, close them or simply to bring us back to Him in our everyday. So that is today’s question: Where has God been stretching you lately? Chime in and leave a comment. 

Just remember, dear reader– that the next time God stretches you, as long as you don’t have a preschoolers tongue on your arm, you are ahead of the game. #PassTheDisinfectant

Stretched for Jesus,

Initials Signature Blog

“We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him.” ~1 John 3:22 MSG

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Lowercase Lies & Capital T Truth #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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It is very interesting to think about the etiquette that has developed around all things technology in the last decade and a half or so.

Don’t have serious conversations via text message (because the lack of tone will likely equal unintended drama.)

Use complete sentences, even if U no it is EZer 2 write sumthin 4 sum1 like this lol.

If your Mama or preacher wouldn’t approve, don’t post it.

And please, use the proper capitalization– or lack thereof.

Let’s expand on the last one just a little bit. [Read more…]

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The Last Word #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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So yeah. It’s no secret that I am stubborn.

And one area of stubbornness God has been working on me in the last few years is this area of having “The Last Word.”

Fortunately, I don’t have the last word– and neither does the enemy. Check out the following video blog for a little something something to encourage your heart today.

Reading via email? Click here to view the video.

So friends… How does this “Last Word” concept strike you? How can we make it more of a truth in our lives as we walk with Jesus? Join the conversation and leave a comment. 

Remember, no matter how hard we are fighting or how defeated we feel, the enemy doesn’t have that last word.

Jesus does.

Finalized by Christ,

Initials Signature Blog

 

” ‘The word of my master, the king, will be the last word in this, for my master is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil.’” ~1 Samuel 14:17 MSG

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The Unwanted Testimony #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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On most occasions, I like surprises. Specifically the kind that involve one or more of the following: Inky pens, chocolate, journals, books, Jesus memorabilia or free childcare.

(For those of you who love giving gifts, please take note. #KiddingNotKidding.)

However, some surprises are less than well received on my end. Those “surprises” like army schedule changes, someone jumping out from behind a corner to scare me, cars that don’t start, or checking account balances that somehow are way lower than anticipated.

Also in that category are unwanted testimonies. [Read more…]

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The Most Powerful Something #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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I have shared this with you before: I am a doer.

When things fall to pieces, blow up, or anything in between, my nature is to come barreling in, guns blazing ready to fix whatever the problem is.

Sometimes, that is a blessing. Other times, this sister has got to check myself.

Because sometimes, God wants us to just be still and let HIM do His job.

And that is hard for me.  [Read more…]

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A letter to the Broken (#EverydayJesus Link-Up)

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Faith fact: Ministry is hard. Like cry-until-your-eyes-are-puffy hard. But it is totally worth it, times ten.

I am currently experiencing the hardest season of ministry of my life. You know that part in the bible that talks about bearing one another’s burdens and mourning with those who mourn?

Yeah. Totally wish that wasn’t in there. Because I have been grieving, encouraging and praying for several close friends and I swear– it feels like my heart is in about a million pieces.

But here is the good news: even in our hurt, God is there. So this is a word He shared with me to pass along during our most grief-striken, broken moments.

I pray that this “Letter to the Broken” speaks to any hurting, cracked or shattered hearts that might read it. [Read more…]

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At Work Before We See It #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

PS: Just as a heads up, I will be on a “Blogging Vacation” for the next 10 days or so as I am co-facilitating a national conference in Kentucky, then spending some time with family in Kansas. So until then, be blessed! 

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When things fall apart, it is so, SO easy to start doubting God.

His love. His plan. His purpose.

But if I have learned one thing in my years walking (ok, sometimes barely stumbling) with Jesus, it is that He is always behind the scenes at work long before we see it.

He is like the guy who is the first one to clock in each day and the last one to leave. (Only He doesn’t take vacations or extended lunch breaks.)

I remember an experience from a few years ago where now I see that God was at work, long before we saw it. [Read more…]

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Video Blog: Joy-Full Fun #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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I am not a fun-hater. Really I am not. But sometimes, you might think that.

Not because I deliberately avoid fun, but because I am a professional excuse-maker and rarely go in search of fun.

But this year, with my OneWord REST in full force, that is all changing.

Check out today’s hilarious (and rather informal) video blog about my quest for rest– and a more joy-full, fun life.

BTW: This video blog features a special guest appearance by a very special person, who happens to have blond hair, a dirty face and loves the great outdoors. [Read more…]

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The Throne #EverydayJesus

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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In all my years of being a grown-up, I have minimal experience with buying “real” and “new” furniture.

Let me explain.

Right out of college, I bought a lot of new “furniture” but it didn’t fall into the “real” category. It was all particle board. (Think: Ramen noodle budget.) Nothing against the lower-quality furniture, but I purchased it with the intention that it would undoubtedly someday be replaced.

Which is true. Six years and three moves later, all that remain are a very wobbly bookshelf that will meet its demise on our next move and a very simple desk in the office.

All of our other furniture is purchased second-hand or given to us by very generous friends/family.

Which is why my recent purchase of a BRAND NEW HIGH-QUALITY recliner for our living room was kind of a big deal. [Read more…]

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