LOVE LIKE IT'S ALL THAT WE KNOW!

While Madde was cleaning her room today, she was listening to music and this song from Selena Gomez came on. I stopped what I was doing and listened. I love the lines "Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's all that we know." You see I have been reading for two months now the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I normally do not take 2 months to read a book, but I have had to keep going back and reread the chapters over. There is so much to take in, that I have to pause in between chapters to let it soak in.

Here is what has left me thinking all weekend while reading this book. Francis writes.....
"But Paul writes that even if "I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2-3) Wow. Those are strong and unmistakable words. According to God, we are here to love. Not much else really matters. So God assesses our lives based on how we love."

I can easily love my family and friends, but it is so hard to love strangers or people that are against me. I can walk by someone in a store and feel sorry for them and that is as far as it goes. I pray for those people that do not like me but I can't say I show them "love" that is a hard one. Or my heart might be in the right place, but my fear won't allow me to approach them to talk to them or help them.

Here is what God says love is...

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends....faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

Well, after reading those verses, I can't even say I love my family and friends like I really should. I keep reminding myself each day that tomorrow is never promised and I must do my very best today, but life gets in the way and things get hard and some days get out of control. But I love that HIS MERCIES ARE NEW EACH MORNING and when I wake up I get to start over.

So now I look at LOVE a little different these days! But what if we truly loved each other the way God intended us to? This world would be a much nicer place to dewell. In realizing that I don't get a "do over" of the previous day, I do get another day to "do better" and love others the way I really should.

So, if you haven't read Crazy Love by Francis Chan, I highly recommend it!

FABULOUS FRIDAYS!

Here are my blessings for this week!
- Going into the gym on Monday morning was hard, knowing that at the same time Rebecca was pulling out of town with her big moving truck and family. When I got there I went to my friend Shelle's cycle class and as I stood outside waiting for it to start, my sweet and encouraging friend Sally walks up! God knew I needed her that morning to just be there! I bike 19 miles and did not pass out!

My sweet Father-in-Law! He was working in Northern Virginia at a job and Todd has been struggling to figure out our sink problem for 3 days and my Father-in-Law, just said I'll be there in a couple of hours. He came and fixed it and had dinner with us, it is always nice having time with him.

This week has felt like I have been struggling to get my business up and running and then I had sweet family and friends that are willing to help me no matter what. I booked more shows and friends from out of town wanting to help with catalog shows! I had one friend send an email to all of her friends telling about my business. Wow! I am blessed and I know God will continue to bless!
And last but certainly not least.....

My sweet man! He continues to bless me! Since I have been having some off days, he has helped more around the house with the kids and just taking care of me! Todd is so nurturing to me and helping me get out of this rut, without rushing me, just waiting patiently! I even get a FREE date night with him tonight! Madde has youth group and Harrison is going to a sleepover, so a client of Todd's gave him $150 to Ruth Chris (which I have never been), so we are off! I'm so excited!
I love to focus more on my blessings than what is lost, I feel it helps me appreciate what I do have and live a little differently.

Never Let Go, David Crowder Band

These past weeks have been somewhat difficult for me. You know when you find strength to share your heart with others and became raw so that God can use you, that is sometimes when you get attacked the most with life's difficulties. I keep hearing this song on the radio and after hearing it for fourth time this week, I figured it out. (it takes me awhile!). I know God is constantly reminding me that He is there to help me through this, just keep trusting in Him. Sometimes, I feel I am drowning in my own problems and then I hear of other people's problems or situations and I am grateful that "this" is all I am dealing with. Life is not always easy, but I am however, grateful that I have reminders like this song to let me know that I don't have to do this alone!

When I Look At You, Miley Cyrus Music Video - THE LAST SONG - Available ...

So, Madde wanted me to see this movie The Last Song tonight. I think I am the last person to see this movie. Little did I know that I probably should not have watched it, this soon after my dad has passed. The ugly cry came out tonight! At the end of the movie this song played and I loved it and wanted to share it! It makes me think of God and keeping my eyes focused on Him and what lies ahead not in my past. So enjoy it.....

FABULOUS FRIDAYS!

Since Friday is my FAVORITE day of the week, I decided to look back on the week and find little blessings that God presented during the week! So here are this week's blessings:

-My Mother-in-law gave me a rug that she was not using anymore and it fits perfect in my kitchen!
-I got to catch up with a group of Ladies on Tuesday night for dinner and met a new friend.
- I signed on with THIRTY-ONE and I am so excited about the new Spring/Summer line and all the products!
- My neighbors who continue to bless our lives! I LOVE LINSEY LAKES SOCIAL CLUB!
- My ladies at my THRIVE table bless me each week, with their encouragement and prayer.
-This morning I had a great breakfast with my Springfield Park PTA ladies (that also go to HOPE) and got to know someone else who I have been wanting to get to know better!

Can I just say God is so good me! He keeps placing the right people in my life when He feels I am ready for it, not when I feel I am ready for it!


From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16 (NIV)

SAYING GOODBYE IS NEVER EASY

I present you to you my Richmond "Security Blanket" Friend, Rebecca! When I first moved here, I moved from Roanoke, and all we heard leaving Roanoke, was that we were going to "murder capital". So I was petrified! Rebecca and her family moved here shortly after we did, and we met on their first Sunday as our children's pastor. We invited them over for dinner and then she kept calling me every day wanting to do something, like go out in the murder capital and explore. Little did I know that I would have so much fun with this girl! She is quick wit but gives such sound advice, with no overreaction!

Our friendship has grown over the past 6 years, with all that we have been through with each other. From raising our children, to working in women's ministry together, to cleaning apartments, to working out at the gym and Rebecca losing over 60 pounds, to middle school, jobs successes and losses, to deaths. Being there for each other!

Well, to top off my 2010 year, Rebecca and her husband Alan accepted a job in Frisco, TX as the children's pastor at Hope. You see, I had been praying that God would allow her husband to become a pastor at my church also called Hope. Apparently, I was not specific enough with God!

She has been my "security blanket" who I have held on so tight to. I have been so upset about her moving, yet I get what God is saying to me, "Let me be your security blanket". Saying goodbye is so hard, but I know that this is God's plan for their lives and mine too.

I believe God gives you friends or people in your lives for a season, and I have had to say goodbye to many friends in my past that were just there for a season. But I believe we are to glean from each other, strengths and weaknesses. I can say Rebecca has made me a stronger person, a little more thick skinned. She is one of those friends that stick with you for a lifetime!

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to be called her friend!

WHAT WOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?

One of the ways I am facing my fears is going into direct selling! I do not like to pressure anyone to buy anything, but when I believe in a product and love it, I want to share it with everyone! I have been purchasing Thirty-one products for over a year now and each time I was approached to sell I would turn that person down or make a joke. You see I did not have the confidence in myself to do this. Why is that we think so little of ourselves, but build up others around us?
With my new outlook on 2011, I figured there were no more excuses or reasons, I needed to just do it. So here, I am placing myself out there but determined more than ever to not fail at this or let people or opinions get me down. I have huge goals and lots of will power so look out!
The thing I am most excited about Thirty-one is that this is all my own. I can determine how much, or how hard I am going to work. Sure, I will hate when people tell me "no", but that just means, I need to continue to look for a "YES"!
So....if you would love to learn more about Thirty-one, or would like to host a show, or catalog show, please let me know!

II Timothy 1:7 "For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control."

A New Season In My Life

So here I go again into the blogging world, only this time it will be a lot different! You see what a year 2010 was for me personally and I feel I have to accept my new "normal" in my life. My new "normal" consists of having to accept that my dad and brother are no longer apart of this world but with their heavenly father. Oh, I am happy for them but very sad for myself that they are not around to talk to or laugh with or share ideas and dreams and everyday occurrences with. I feel I have taken people for granted in the past, and now know to cherish the moments that I am given and tell people what they mean to me when I am thinking about it instead of waiting until the next time. I feel lately there has been so much piling up on plate that it is sometimes so hard to see past the mess to what God is weaving into my life, by allowing Him to have full control.
The title of my blog is what I want this year to look like for me! I believe God has been telling me this for years, yet I refuse to listen. Let me just put it to you this way..... I AM SCARED OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING! Here are some of the things that terrify me. Planes, I HATE to fly and feel so envious of my friends that can just get on a plane and go anywhere. Elevators, I can't stand elevators because I am so scared of getting stuck and not being able to get out. The list goes on and on, but those have to be at the top. Those fears may not be great to you, but I think about doing something or going somewhere if I have to use either one of those things. So this year I have decided that I am going to face my fears head on and have God take the reins, not me!
I feel if I blog about not living in fear, I can look back and see how far I will hopefully have come. So if you want you can come along for the ride and pray for me as I conquer these strongholds in my life.

In Isaiah 43:1-4 (MSG) it says "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end - Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you...! THAT's how much you mean to me! THAT's how much I love you!

You know I have two sets of eyes on me at all times, and my children need to see that their mom can do anything because I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and will not leave me, even when I am scared.
The one thing I can say I have learned from my dad and brother's death is that I am NO LONGER scared of death! I have had to face it and although it is hard and will continue to be hard to accept, I know it's not the end, it is only a new beginning!