I picked up a runaway

~It's a Holly Day today

I picked up a young runaway the other week.

She was dirty, wore baggy sweat pants and a yellow sweatshirt, and had muddy bare feet. I was stopped at an intersection when she sauntered across the street right in front of my car.

I continued on when the light turned green.

But I could not get those bare feet out of my mind. Muddy bare feet.

Why was this young girl walking across a busy intersection with no shoes in the middle of the day? About a mile down the road I felt the Lord encouraging me to turn around and go find that girl with bare feet.

It was a gentle, but direct nudge I could not refuse.

I found her several minutes later outside a convenience store with a cup of water in her hand. I pulled up and rolled down my window, 'Hey, what's going on with you?'

With little emotion she replied, 'oh nothing.'

'Well...what are you doing? Can I take you home?' I offered.

'You can take me to my friend's house,' she answered.

'I'd rather take you home, ' I said. 'Where do you live?'

'Well, I'm running away from home, so you can't take me there,' she said.

'Oh. Well I would like to. Where do you live?' I asked again. 'Please get in my car, I really want to take you home.'

A few more hem's and haw's were volleyed back and forth but eventually she complied.

(And oh how my heart was pounding!)

My new friend Sarah was only in 8th grade, skipping school and leaving home because she got into an argument about friends with her parents. She had been gone for 2 days. The previous night she had slept outside.

I prayed for just the right words to come from my mouth on that short 18 minute ride home with my fragile but captive audience of one.

As I dropped Sarah off at her home, she mentioned that she was planning to pack up some things and leave again, while her parents were at work.

I prayed that the Lord would take over from there and keep her home. I drove off and I felt a peace in what He had led me to do that day.

It just so 'happened' that a minor traffic accident had just occurred around the corner as I was leaving. So I pulled over and told one of the officer's about Sarah, hoping they could also help her in some way.

Stop her. Detain her. Guide her. Protect her. Save her.

As I pray for my runaway friend each day, I realize that she is not much different from you and me. From a place we have journeyed or perhaps are living through right now...

Most of us have found ourselves running away at some point in our lives. Running, but desperately hoping to be found.

She is lonely. She is angry. She feels betrayed. She feels misunderstood. She feels unloved. She is searching. She is confused. She is bitter. She is so young.

Oh my friend, I pray that you will have eyes to see and ears to hear. You ARE loved.

You are loved indeed.

Seek Him right now.

'I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity...'
Jeremiah 29:14


~Holly
Assistant to Lysa

Moment by Moment

~It's a Holly Day today!

What a gorgeous flower, wouldn't you agree? When I peer into its wondrous pedals, a most humbling memory comes to mind.

Just a few weeks ago my husband and I were taking pictures of our 17 yr old daughter on prom day. We found ourselves snapping away in a friend-of-a-friend's backyard complete with a pool and the most beautiful flower garden I had ever seen.

During the ooohs and aaahs, laughter, smiles and pose changes, I looked over and found my husband kneeling over a flower, meticulously focusing the camera on a seemingly prized photo.

Frustrated with his obvious ADD moment, I scurried over and quipped, 'What are you doing Dan? Can you please come over here and take pictures of your daughter?'

'But look at this flower!' he said, 'It's amazing!'

Yes, I agree, it's lovely. Slow inhale. Slow exhale. And then I gave him that now let's get back to the task at hand please, look.

As I perused back through the dozens of photos that were taken that day, the flower proudly appears smack dab in the midst of them...dress, dress, tux, tux, flower, dress, tux....

I apologetically and humbly admitted to Dan that it's in my 'top five faves of the day'.

And always will be.

It was a great reminder that I need to see, really see, experience, taste and enjoy everything God has purposely placed around me. Everything. Because it's all so fleeting.

I must intentionally join Him where He is. Moment by moment.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
Psalm 34:8

~Holly

Assistant to Lysa

Steering my delight in the right direction

Welcome to the Encouragement for Today Devotion Readers. I'm glad you came over to my place today.

I got a call this week I've waited for over 15 years to get. And while I'm thrilled with possibility on one hand, I'm painfully aware of the great potential for disappointment on the other hand.

Why is it so stinkin' difficult when we build something up in our mind and then it all falls apart?

Because a small part of us thinks whatever we are hoping for will finally be the thing that fulfills us. And when we are denied the very thing we want so desperately, that raw place of desire aches in the most distracting way. Disappointment. Sadness. Grief.

Yes, as Christians only God is supposed to fill us. He can. He will. He does. But we often don't recognize his fulfillment as perfectly satisfying.

His fulfillment sometimes says no to our desires. And when God says no, it hurts. There's just no other way to wrap it.

But what if God's 'no,' is really a gift? His way to protect us from what we can not see, provide something better than we can imagine, or be part of the process of growing us closer to Him.

Sounds good. But I want it to feel good. So, how do we get from the raw hurt of disappointment to rejoicing in God's protection, provision and process?

We make the choice to delight ourselves in the Lord.

Delight as a verb means: to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; to please highly. To delight in the Lord means to give him our pleasure- our satisfaction- our enjoyment- and to please him highly.

We offer these to him and ask him to redirect us- redirect our feelings.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4.

This doesn't mean he'll give us whatever we desire. In a sense that would be cruel and dangerous.

This verse means the more we offer Him our pleasure, satisfaction, and delight as a surrendered gift, the more the desires we have will change to match His.

It's really a matter of trust.

And a matter of rightly placing our delight into the hands of the only One ever meant to hold the weight of something that precious.

Phone call? What phone call? I'm too busy steering my delight in the right direction. Take a message and I'll get back to them.

The scene where the DMV tries to steal my marital bliss

EXCITING UPDATE BELOW***

I'm all confused and slightly bent out of shape. I thought only my children could do this to me, but since they are all gone I have no one to blame but the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

Seeing as my 40th birthday is fast approaching next month they decided to send me a little happy birthday card. Actually a post card that was neither happy nor little.

Apparently, I need to renew my license because I am getting old. Like the verse I found this morning while trying to find a better attitude in the 37th Psalm- verse 25, "I was young and now I am old." Don't tell me the Lord doesn't have a sense of humor.

And don't mock me for spending an unusual amount of time trying to pick out a pill organizer at the Target the other day.

Heavens to Betsy, the choices. They about wore me slap out. I didn't have my 17 juice plus, fiber, cranberry, chaste berry, Omega 3 fish something, and something else from bees that's supposedly wonderful for you- pills. So, trying to cup my hand and see if the individual slots could contain all my healthy goodness was stressful.

I wanted to throw myself across the check out counter near the pharmacist and plead, "For the love of all that's good in this world, let me rip open this here pill organizer and have 17 of one of your pills so I can see if they fit in the one day slot. And if they could be nerve pills that would be a total bonus because these pill organizers you sell are getting on the last good nerve I have."

But I'm glad I saved my one time to throw myself across some counter for this month.

Because the DMV deserves my dramatics so much more.

Here's the jest of their not so happy birthday wish for me:

- You should start the process of getting your license renewed 6 months prior to the expiration date. Seeing as I am I the woman who forgot to pick up her children at camp a few years ago, I'm guessing I'm not a plan ahead kind of gal.

- In the fine state of North Carolina they no longer give you your license the day you apply for it. To protect your identity they mail it later. Because we all know that a license floating around the postal service is so much more protected than simply handing it to me over the counter. The counter which I want to fling myself across.

-Because of the delay that said mailing takes and because it is in fact illegal to drive around with an expired license, makes it crucial to start this process months in advance.

-How special that they sent me all this info less than 30 days before my license expires.

-But it gets even better. You can not get a Driver's License unless you have a social security card with your correct name printed on it. Of course not.

And of course I have my card with my maiden name on it. I used to have a card with my married name on it but it somehow sprouted legs and walked out of my file. The one time in my life I need this little blue card, and it decides I've strung him along too long and he's just not that into me.

-So, before I can fling myself across the counter at the DMV and explain the break up I just experienced with my social security card, I have to visit another counter.

At my social security office.

Where they don't hand you a card over the counter either. Of course not. Though they tell you to protect your social security card with your very life- they happily hand it over to the postal service and let it roam free for days.

I still don't let my sons roam free in a store. And they are 20 and 21 years old. Do you know the amount of anxiety that is being caused by the roaming free of my social security card and my driver's license?

- And last but certainly not least, the not so happy birthday card from the DMV informed me that during the months of July and August their offices are to be avoided at all cost because of the unusually high demand for license renewals.

- But of course. However, I have a plan to keep my marital bliss in check whilst standing around for hours at the Social Security office and the DMV. I plan to figure out how to use one of my kid's ipods and listen to this song while singing out loud much to the delight of all the government workers I am sure.

I think I'll even smack some gum while singing.

And busy myself by filling up my new pill organizer.

UPDATE:

To my new BFF's at the DMV. Thank you from the bottom of my unnecceasrily stressed out heart. My experience with you today was wonderful. Even though I had no clue I had to take the sign test. I am obviously 'sign name' challenged but you were so patient.

And you did not judge me for looking like a complete and utter mess during my photo session with you. You see, I found my Social Security Card right before leaving to go get a replacement card. I squealed in utter delight and ran out the door to come visit with you. It never crossed my mind that this photo would be my constant identification companion for the next 8 years.

Who goes to get their license photo taken with hair that is not only greasy but lumpy to the point it is obvious to all said hair has been up in a ponytail for an unusual amount of time?

Me.

We rednecks always look past appearance indescresions like these. We just want to know if our tractors look good. And our hound dogs.

Who cares about the photo I will share with more people than I care to think about right now.

Anyhow, I am also so thankful to you, DMV, for delaying the new process of mailing people's licenses to them until next week. What timing!

So, I will be back in the year 2017. Only next time, I will wash my hair before our little reunion.

We won't talk about that

So.

I have been keeping a little secret from y'all. I know. But, I think I was living in the denial of its reality lest I talk about it and jinx myself. Not that I believe in jinxing but I'm just saying.

Anyhow.

It occurred to me a couple of months ago that three of my kids would be gone for the same two week time span- this week and next week. I assure you I love my kids from the bottom to the top of my being. Love them. Love them tons. But my love may or may not have gotten super excited about the prospect of finding something for the other two kids to do during this time thus making Art and I kid free for two weeks.

I know.

So, I got to researching and found some fantastic Christian Camps. The one that seemed perfectly suited for Brooke had an opening for this two week span. And the one that seemed perfectly suited for Ashley also had an opening for this same two weeks.

Squeal!

My excitement could hardly be contained until I had a suppressed memory come back to haunt my little plan making self.

Several years ago Hope and Ashley went to summer camp for two weeks. They were young- like 3rd and 4th grade. Anyhow.

I was very diligent about packing everything according to the camp list. I also marked each-and-every-piece-of-their-belongings-with-a-sharpie-which-took-hours-and-make-my-head-hurt-thank-you-very-much. All that to say, I did force myself to operate outside my norm and pay some attention to the details.

And I was quite proud of myself.

Until two weeks later.

The camp called to inform us that pick up day is today and hello, where were we.

Hunh?

I was certain pick up day was tomorrow and we were in New York.

And that's all I'll say about that little situation. We won't talk about that because I don't want to live in the past and have it taint my current situation of pure bliss.

So.

I will say that I know for sure when pick up day is occurring this go round. And I will say for sure that Art and I will be hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign on our front door until said date.

Just in case you were pondering stopping by.

Don't.

We'll be busy. But we won't talk about that either.

Smiles~

The shape of our lack

Today in Africa there is a beautiful young girl who feels painfully torn. Her soul is happy but her heart is homesick.

So, there's a mama who knew it was time for an e-mail with more than surface updates from home.

It was time for one of "those" talks. And while there may be some eye rolling happening right now in Africa, there is a mama who just realized living almost 40 years has it's advantages. So we trade our youth for perspectives that can only be bought with time...

...Sweetheart, I know it is hard to be away from your family, home and comfort zone. So, each time you get that feeling, specifically ask God to help you- comfort you- and fill in those painful gaps in your heart.

I see this as one of the most crucial spiritual lessons you can learn while in Africa.

There will be many times in life when you feel the pains of lack. These can be a gift if only you look at that feeling of lack in the right way. I bet you've been tempted today to think, "If only I was home right now, my life would be wonderful." But that's not true.

If you are sad in Africa, you would be sad here too.

External comforts won't ever produce lasting internal joy.

When you feel that tug between what you want and what you have, use it as a sacrifice of praise to God. Pray...

"God, I lift up my sadness, I lift up my homesickness, I lift up what I lack right now and I give it to you. I praise you that you can turn my sadness into joy, my homesickness into security, and my lack into fullness right now. I ask that you, God, fill that space between what I feel and what I know you can provide. The pain my lack causes me will be a personal sacrifice I can give you. A gift from my heart to yours. A gift that says, I need you God and that is a great place to be."

Trust me Hope, you will probably be praying this same prayer the rest of your life. And to be honest, I hope you do.

Not that I want lack in your life but I do pray that God be your constant companion, your sure foundation and the greatest desire of your heart. You can't gain this without experiencing times where life is lacking.

In your teen years you may feel the lack of love and companionship. You may think, "If only I had a boyfriend, my life would be wonderful." But that's not true.

In your early twenties you may think, "If only I had more material possessions like a better car and a bigger house, my life would be wonderful." But that's not true.

Later in your life you may think, "If only I had a more fulfilling job, a more fulfilling marriage, a more fulfilling purpose, my life would be wonderful." But that's not true.

Having a boyfriend, material possessions, a great job, a loving husband, and knowing your purpose are all wonderful things. But none of these things can be perfectly constant. And none of these can be a sure foundation. Therefore, none of these should be our greatest desire.

Only God can and should hold that place in our heart. God is the only perfect fit for the shape of our lack.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name," Hebrews 13:15.

Why we named her Hope

If you are here from the Proverbs 31 devotion, please click here for more on my thoughts on gossip.


Many of you know my story.

In my childhood I suffered horrific abuse at the hands of a close friend of our family. Then in my late teens, my youngest sister passed away and my world fell apart. I felt abandoned by God. I was so angry I told him I would never love Him or believe in Him again.

And with those words still fresh on my lips, I headed straight into the arms of the world and all it's flashy promises.

Just a few years later, I found myself sitting in an abortion clinic realizing I'd just bought the greatest lie being sold to women today. With tears streaming down my face, I walked out of that place realizing it wasn't just cells dividing that I allowed them to take. It was a child. And when they took that child, they took part of my heart as well.

I went home after that and wished I could close my eyes to never wake up again.

Eventually, I slowly returned to life. But not as the same vivacious person I'd always been. I was haunted and tormented by my decision.

Even on my wedding day. I remember walking down the aisle on what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life- fighting with all my might not to cry when everyone stood up in honor of me. All I kept thinking with each step down that aisle was, "If only they knew- they'd never stand."

The early days in my marriage were hard. Really hard.

It's impossible to love another person when you desperately hate yourself. I went through the motions of smiling, trying to be happy, and trying to play the part of a young in love bride but the broken pieces of my heart kept bumping into my best efforts.

Then, 4 months into this rough start of a marriage, we found out we were pregnant.

The day Hope was born I saw God like never before. His tender grace was handed to me wrapped in a pink blanket with eyes so wide- so blue- they were a sea of forgiveness forever staring back at me.

I'd never physically touched God, but that day I did. And maybe for the first time in my entire life, His hope rushed inside of me and started rearranging and redeeming my brokenness.

Hope.

We named her Hope.

Now, we won't talk about the conversations I had with God when his Hope kept me up in the middle of the night for months after that. And we will save the story of how His Hope has always felt it was beneath her to be child and would put her hands on her toddler hips and tell me not to boss her.

We'll save those stories for another day.

For today, I got an e-mail from His Hope. At this very minute, His Hope is walking the broken roads of Ethiopia navigating poverty her mind can't quite process. She's bumping into sheep and a woman walking toward her home made of cardboard and ripped bed sheets.

Her steps are steady though her heart feels shaky. For once again she will spend today loving on 30 kids dying of AIDS in a forgotten orphanage on the forgotten outskirts of town.

She wrote to say, "Mom, I've fallen in love. The kids rushed at me when I walked in and I tried to hold all 30 of them at one time."

His Hope.

From a broken mama. Into a broken world. His Hope is going forth like only His Hope can.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth," 3 John1:4.

Thank you for praying, loving and supporting this free-spirited young woman who was made by God to do ministry. And who despite my constant bossing and frail parenting efforts, is walking in the truth and becoming one of my greatest inspirations.

Winners from last week!
The Day Spring winner is: Susan - Not Really a Blog
The sneak preview winners of my 'When a Cheez-its and Chocolate Girl Gets Healthy' project are: Autumnseer, Anonymous, and Leann

Congrats gals! (Holly will be in touch with you!)

Dime Store Words of Gossip

Welcome to those of you visiting from the Proverbs 31 Devotion today.

I remember being a young middle school girl and feeling the sting of someone's stabbing words about me. This girl was vicious. Without any care for my feelings at all, she tossed her words out to anyone who would listen.

Thankful they weren't the target of this girl, others joined in her cruel game of taunting and tearing me apart.

I went home and buried my face into my bubble gum pink pillow sham.

Some of my friends felt I'd brought this ridicule upon myself. After all, I'd decided to run for class treasurer and plastered my little bucked-toothed face all over posters hanging throughout school. They reasoned, "If she's going to put herself out there, she better have skin thick enough to withstand people's criticisms."

This just doubled my hurt.

How could these girls be so cruel?

Well, it's been a long time since I've walked the halls of those middle school days. And I would think that we've all long since outgrown a world of harsh judgements and cruel words. But sadly, this is still something too many of us experience and are tempted to participate in even as grown women.

James 1: 26 says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

This verse rattles me in the best kind of way.

Now I’m not a big fan of thinking of my relationship with the Lord as “religious,” but this verse powerfully warns us against uncontrolled, thoughtless conversation. It breaks my heart to think my careless words might give others the impression that my relationship with Jesus is worthless.

So the bottom line I've decided to preach to myself is, don’t do it.

Plain and simple.

It’s not who I am.

Not only should I choose not to gossip, I need to choose to believe that in Christ I am not a gossiper.

Imagine the number of issues and the amount of hurt that would simply vanish if we were all more committed to loving words.

Whether it's about the people appearing on the front of tabloids or someone who annoyed us at work yesterday or a friend who did something you don't agree with... no matter what, we were made for more than dime store words of gossip.

The Weekly Weigh In

So yesterday I went for my weekly weigh in with my nutritionist. I approach this time with her each week with mixed feelings.

If her scale is kind it makes me want to throw my arms around her and call her my BFF.

If her scale is cranky it makes me want to throw my hands on my hips in protest and tell her how unfair it is that I have to stand on that scale fully clothed. Not that the alternative is really an option, I'm just saying. Those clothes weigh something. And I don't want that something making my numbers go up.

When I weigh at home I don't even wear a ponytail holder. Not kidding.

So.

Her scale was cranky this week. And I didn't even have one lick of the redneck surprise. (If this statement confuses you- see yesterday's post.) Not one lick.

How fair is that?

I was lamenting with the ever wise Holly through text messages and this is what was said after I whined and complained to her:

Holly: What matters most is that you are being obedient and using discipline as a means of worship to Him... the numbers will fall as they may.

Lysa: Yes but I like it much better when the numbers fall on the downward side.

Holly: They will fall trust me.

Lysa: I know but it sure does make my worship more joyful when I know I am doing the diet correctly and I'm actually losing weight. It's a bummer to be stuck for 2 weeks. (and I didn't even eat any of that stinking redneck surprise--- I didn't type that but I sure was thinking it.)

Holly: You ARE doing it correctly... you know that. It takes perseverance. We wouldn't want it to be easy would we? Be rare.

Lysa: (no comment... I couldn't rub my toes that just got stepped on in a good way and type at the same time.)

Holly: and remember the worship is about HIM, not you. THAT will make you joyful.

Lysa: You are so right- thanks for the reminder. I'm still happy when I see the numbers go down though. That's rare too!

And so goes another day in the life of this healthy eating pursuit. I guess my next spiritual challenge is to be more motivated by the reality I'm doing the right thing rather than seeing the right thing on the scale.

What a great spiritual lesson for more than just healthy eating.

It's easy to do the right things when we see immediate results. But sometimes I think it pleases God more for his girls to do the right thing even when the results are not so immediate.

Holly is right. My focus has got to be on eating healthy as an act of worship to God not the numbers on the scale.

"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their new grain and new wine and redneck surprise abound." Psalm 4:7

I got special permission to add that last part in.

How we rednecks celebrate and a prize too!

We treat our guests with the utmost of class. See? A king bed on one side, a queen bed on the other side and seating in the middle that reminds me of all the fineness of a waffle house booth. Hook this bad boy up to a series of extension cords plugged into the house and you have air conditioning.

Seriously, the Motel 6 ain't got nothing on us. Except free soaps. I don't give away my soaps.

Here is the star of the hour... Jackson, our son, our graduate. The principal clearly instructed all family members to be respectful of the dignity of the day's ceremony when our graduate's name was called.

In other words, we were supposed to use our inside voice.

That is very hard to do when all manner of hoopin' and hollerin' just come out when we rednecks get excited. You know it's bad when the people sitting in front of you cover their ears and give you the sideways look.

Nothing speaks of disapproval more than the sideways look.

With all due respect, we couldn't help ourselves.

If the size of this banner meant for the side of a stadium doesn't get you, the duct tape used to hang this bad boy should.

There's no better place to connect with your cousins than the back of a pick up truck. In ten years they will loathe this picture. I love it and always will.

Nonnie won this game of "horse." Come on guys... Nonnie beat you?

We rednecks like to eat. But y'all will be so proud, I didn't stray from my healthy eating plan. I got all distracted using some stuff DaySpring sent me to try and dress up my little party.

You know it's bad when the Internet world sees a need to help a girl out.

But this new line they have is seriously some of the cutest stuff you ever did see. And I have some to give away!

All you have to do is click here to go look at DaySpring's new "Life to the Full" line of cute kitchen stuff and come back here and tell me in the comments below of all the great stuff in this line, what are your favorite items?

I'll pick from the comments and announce the winner this Friday. I'll also be announcing the winner of last week's contest this Friday as well.

Now, one last detail...

The Redneck Surprise Dessert-

I know you aren't going to believe me, but try it and see. You will be the talk of the next party you attend if you bring this! And the great thing is you don't have to cook a thing to make it. Those of you joining me on the healthy eating adventure- this is key. Smells can get a girl into trouble you know.

So.

Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 dish with regular ice cream sandwiches. Cover them with a generous layer of Cool Whip. Crush up Heath Bars and sprinkle over the top. Listen to people oooh and awwww over this most impressive dish.

And remember to put it back in the freezer when you're done serving it. Trust me on this.

Otherwise you will totally gag when you realize you have to touch a dish someone else has attempted to lick clean.

That's low even for a redneck y'all. That's just plain tacky.

When a mama cries

It was a full weekend.

Full in the truest sense.

I can't wait to tell you more about Jackson's graduation and all the redneck ways we celebrated. I'll even show you some pictures tomorrow.

Seriously, y'all will not believe it. For now I'll just say it included plenty of knee slapping, hoopin' and hollerin', fishing, hanging congrats signs up with duct tape, shootin' skeet, making a dessert called 'redneck surprise,' and 3 extension cords that ran from the field to the house so we could plug up the pop up camper.

Yes, it was full. Full of laughter. Full of family. Full of the sense of belonging I've always prayed my adopted sons could have. Jackson is a part of us in the deepest sense and it is a beautiful thing. We celebrated his graduation like nobody's business. And then it was over.

The fishing poles went back to the garage.

The family packed up and went home.

The pop up camper was popped down and back in.

The redneck surprise was licked clean. (Not by me of course- I had watermelon and was actually happy about it- miraculous.)

But the duct taped signs remain because that's how we rednecks roll. No sense in wasting the durability of good duct tape. Who knows how long those tacky signs will stay up. My guess is quite a while.

My heart wasn't in place to take one more thing down yesterday.

For it wasn't just the end of a grand celebration for Jackson, it was also the beginning of Hope's journey to Africa. Yes, yesterday marked the day on the calendar when I sent my baby to Africa.

Life is funny that way. On the same weekend I held my son from Africa so close, I had to let my daughter go to Africa so far away.

And it was hard. Much harder than I'd anticipated.

I had not expected to see her to cry at the airport. I had not expected to see her wrap her arms around her Daddy and bury her head into his chest. I had not expected to feel a tightness in my chest that squeezed my heart so tightly, it made my breath catch.

A conversation I just had with Hope a couple of weeks ago flooded my mind. I didn't want to recall this conversation. I didn't want to say goodbye with her words bumping around in the depths of my heart. A heart in this moment that was too raw to process her complete assurance of heaven and the easy way she said she'd be just fine if something happened to her in Africa.

I feel certain she'll be fine. But a couple weeks ago she wanted me to know that even if something did happen to her over in Africa, she'd be completely overjoyed to trade the dusty roads of earth for the glorious arms of Jesus that await her in eternity.

Hello. Not a conversation a mom expects to have with her 15 year old daughter. But then again, what conversation could be more important? And more telling of where her heart is. A place I've prayed for her heart to be since she was conceived.

With one last kiss on the top of that head I have stroked countless times, I left my back-pack toting baby walking toward a mission she's been called to fulfill.

Somewhere in Ethiopia right now, there is an orphan crying.

Somewhere over the skies of Germany there is a girl flying.

Somewhere in America, there is a mom praying.

And the God of the universe is knitting all their hearts together as one.

Good thing that redneck surprise dessert was licked clean by someone else y'all. It's a good thing indeed.

Satan's Plan

I can't even express how encouraged I was by reading yesterday's comments. The amazing revelations you all shared and the vulnerability you let peek through, touched me in a deep way.

Girls, you have no idea how much your comments blessed me. I read through them, prayed through them and plan to save them for those times I get weary while writing this next book.

Thank you.

So, what did I get from comparing Gen. 3:6 with 1John 2:16? I had a serious epiphany about how Satan goes after us. These verses outline Satan's 3 prong plan of attack on our hearts.

Interestingly, if you read how Jesus was tempted in the desert in Matthew 4: 1-11, you'll see Satan using this same 3 prong plan against Jesus!

It's in the beginning of the Bible, in the gospels, and repeated again in 1 John at the end of the Bible. This makes me think, it's definitely something worth pondering and discussing.

Satan wants to draw our hearts into a place of worldliness. I've always thought of worldliness as sort-of an external thing--- doing wild things, hanging out with wild people, going to wild places.

Been there, done that, and don't care to go back or wear the t-shirts. So, I'm good right?

Not so fast.

There's an internal worldliness that can creep into our hearts and become just as destructive as external worldliness. While we look good on the outside- doing good things, hanging out with good people, going to good places- internal worldliness can creep in and deceptively lead us away from God.

Then we wake up one day scratching our head, wondering how we've been so good and strayed so far from God all at the same time.

Here's Satan's plan so clearly revealed in the mentioned passages-

1. Make them crave some sort of physical gratification to the point they become preoccupied with it. Be it sex, drugs, alcohol, or food- keep them distracted with their justifications and cycles of guilt.

Satan tempted Eve with fruit, "which was good for food."

Satan tempted Jesus while on a fast with bread.

Satan tempts us with whatever physical stimulation we are too preoccupied by- be it taste, smell, sound, touch, or sight. These things are good within the boundaries God meant for them to be enjoyed. But venturing outside God's intention for them and they become an attempt to try and get our needs met outside the will of God.

Worst of all it leaves us with an insatiable need for more.

2. Make them want to acquire things to the point they bow down to the god of materialism. Keep them distracted by making their eyes lust after the shiny things of the world.

Satan tempted Eve by drawing her attention to what was, "pleasing to the eye."

Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world and told him he could have it all.

Satan flashes in front of us the newer, bigger, and seemingly better things of this world trying to lure us into thinking we must have it. This will make me fulfilled. This will make me happy. And then it wears out, breaks down, gets old and reveals just how temporary every material thing is.

Worst of all it leaves us with an insatiable need for more.

3. Make them boastful about what they have or do. Keep them distracted and obsessed with their status and significance. Choke the life out of them using the tentacles of their own pride.

Satan tempted Eve by promising an increased awareness which would make her like God.

Satan tempted Jesus by telling him to throw himself off the highest point of the temple and then command the angels to save him. This would impress everyone watching and certainly raise Jesus' status and significance.

Satan tempts us to try and elevate ourselves over others. We wrongly think we have to become something the world calls worthy. This creates a need within to have people notice us, commend us, revere us, and stroke our pride. We then dare to boast about all we are.

Worst of all it leaves us with an insatiable need for more.

Oh sweet sisters, just knowing these three points won't make a difference in our lives. We must let the awareness shake loose our complacent attitude and compromised resolve in whatever area we struggle and park our desires within the will of God. Then undoubtedly Satan will flee.

We don't have to held hostage by Satan. His power over us is nothing compared to the freeing promises of God.

Note the difference between Eve's response to Satan and Jesus' response to Satan. Eve dialoged with Satan and allowed him to weave his tangled web of justifications. Jesus on the other hand, immediately quoted truth. With every temptation, Jesus answered, "It is written..." and he shut Satan down with the truth of God.

What will our response be?

It's our choice.

Satan has no power over us except what we allow. Moment by moment, decision by decision, step by step- will we operate in God's all powerful truth or allow Satan to entangle us in his lies?

Whatever choice we make will determine so much about our future. Eve, using her own skewed views, allowed one piece of fruit to cost her everything. Jesus resisted Satan's temptations using the truth of God, and he became the only thing to cover our sin's cost.

Eve brought down the world.

Jesus saved the world.

Might we be the ones to make a difference in this world?

It all starts with the very next choice we make.

I love you sweet sisters.

And God loves you- no matter what your struggle. But He loves us too much to leave us wallowing in our struggle. We were made for victory. Sweet, sweet victory.

I want to hear your perspective

Welcome P31 Encouragement for Today Devotion Readers. Thank you for taking time to visit. I've left this post up from yesterday so I can get your perspectives on this whole issue with food. So many of us struggle with it. I'm also offering a contest for those of you who leave a comment today.

I'll pick three commenters to win a sneak preview of the first five chapters of a book I'm writing called "When a Cheez-its and Chocolate Girl Gets Healthy."

So, leave a comment below by clicking on the word 'comments' and weigh in on how today's devo touched your heart, challenged you or made you think. Make sure to leave your e-mail address if you post as anonymous so I can contact you if you win.

Thanks!

I wrote a little tongue and cheek letter to Eve yesterday which got me thinking quite a bit about her. Since I have been living in a place of utter dependence on God to resist the many temptations that assault my taste buds, I am learning so much. And I'll be honest, the whole Eve situation fascinates me.

It lets me peek inside the inner workings of someone else's struggle to resist Satan and the tragic consequences when we don't. And mercy is her story ever perfect for me to study since her struggle was with --- hello--- food.

Eve had so many options in her lush garden of provision. But she became fascinated with the one food God told her not to eat.

Though my healthy eating plan is restrictive, I too have so many options. I can eat a wild variety of lean meats and veggies and a limited number of fruits. These options have always been available to me but over the years, I became more fascinated than I should with processed foods high in sugar. So, eventually, I felt challenged that I should give these up. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they became the food I should not eat.

I won't lie. It has at times been hard. But it has also been one of the best spiritual journeys I have ever been on with God. Something inside me has unlocked as I experience the super natural power of God to resist temptations, moment by moment- day by day.

This whole thing has become so much more a spiritual battle than a physical one. Now, don't get me wrong I am rejoicing with the physical results I can measure. I've lost a total of 19 inches and almost 20 pounds. And I feel great.

But the spiritual results are what are really immeasurably thrilling. I don't feel held hostage by food any longer. I've side stepped that vicious cycle of guilt and found that the Lord's provision to truly satisfy is so much better than the world's provision.

Which brings me back to Eve...

If you have a moment read Genesis 3: 1-7. Then read 1John 2:15-17.

I'd love for us to ponder and discuss these verses in the comments today. I am fascinated by the rich, rich truths entangled within just crying out to be unearthed. So, let's do some digging and discussing. Oh I can't wait to see what you come up with.

I'm not looking for perfect answers--- I'm looking for some girlfriend to girlfriend perspectives. Come on- weigh in- and this type of weighing in doesn't require a scale. Glory.

Hormones

Dear Eve,

Might I have a minute of your time? You see, I've been doing this healthy eating thing so I totally understand being tempted by food. Boy, do I ever totally get how we want the one thing we are told we can't have.

And I get that your "thing" must have been fruit. Mine would have been a brownie bush with luscious from a box brownies dangling from the ends of the limbs.

Or a Cheez-its shrub- with its delightful processed, fake cheese goodness flecked with salt, bet you can't eat just one- calling my name.

And I even totally get how Satan knows our weak spots and specifically crafts temptations in the most manipulative kind of ways.

I'll give you the perfect example. I happen to love the game of Scrabble. Ever heard of it? It's a wonderful game. We should totally play when I get to heaven. Anyhow, do you know what has just hit the market? CHEEZ-ITs with Scrabble letters on them!!!

And do you know when they hit said market?

The week that my hormones have been totally giving me a hissy fit of epic proportions.

Thus, the reason for my little note here. Please tell me that one bite of fruit was worth it. I'm having such a hard time understanding that it was. Not that I am one ounce of bitter. But sweet honey child, did you know what that bite would cost us women?

I suspect you do.

Because I think the minute you took that bite, your hormones went from being like a trickling steam of all things rosy and feminine, to raging rivers of rock-dashing currents.

...And suddenly you wanted to hurt somebody for leaving the left overs out overnight which meant you had to THROW AWAY tomorrow night's dinner.

...And cellulite gripped your thighs holding them hostage the rest of your life.

...And then you were sure Adam totally thought your backside looked big in your fig leaf dress.

...And you cried big tears unable to explain the insanity that took over your otherwise stable mind. Not to mention the realization of causing the very downfall of all mankind.

Anyhow. I'm totally not bitter.

Just curious. When all that hit you, was there some kind of natural, homeopathic remedy you grabbed on the way out of the perfect garden that helped you deal with those hormonal attacks? If so, help a sister out and do share.

Or, at least get one of my bloggy sisters to share.

That's all. Have a great day. Looking forward to our Cheez-it's Scrabble game in heaven one day. The calories don't count there, right?

Taking the blah out of the blog

Mercy lou.

You know what happens when summer hits and you have less and less need to check your schedule? Well, you check your schedule less and less. Until you are caught off guard by places you are supposed to be and things you need to do.

And things that you thought you had 3 forevers to plan for are suddenly upon you.

Like me teaching a brand new session at She Speaks called "Taking the Blah out of your Blog."

Boo Mama is teaching this with me and I feel quite certain she knows her part and will dazzle and amaze all in attendance with her stellar blog knowledge.

I have some deeply insightful stuff to share as well like, "I use blogger. Um, no I don't know anything about the technical side of blogging even though blogging is a technical activity. But I do know when you should use "may" instead of "can" when asking a question. May is the word to use when asking permission. Can is the word to use when asking about ability. The end."

But I'm thinking all that will not delight and amuse those eager to learn how to take the blah out of the blog.

So.

I've been really giving this session some thought. And I do have some thoughts. But then I was worried those thoughts might be a little blah. Wouldn't that be awful? A session on taking the blah out that is itself full of blah?

See? That's why I started this post with the only two words appropriate for this situation: Mercy lou.

It's a family tradition.

Anyhow, back to the calendar that is skipping ever closer and closer and closer to this session. A session in which I'd like to share some helpful stuff about taking the blah out of the blog.

So, may I please ask you something? If you were attending this session, what info would you find helpful? Like I said, I have some thoughts... but I'd much rather hear yours.

Thank you with all the mercy lou my little heart can muster... may muster... no, can muster up.

Persevere

We have a generational thread that at first glance may not seem so great. It's the "D" factor. But let me back up a little.

When I was in college I took an economics class that rocked my straight 'A' world. For the life of me, I couldn't process the micro or macro economic principles. Nothing connected and I was failing.

So, I did what any good college girl would do in this situation. I called my step Dad and pleaded my case for dropping this nightmare class. To which he replied, "No."

"Dad, it will ruin my average. It will ruin my life!"

"No, Lysa. If I let you drop this class, I would be doing you a terrible disservice. There are lessons that can only be learned when you're placed in the crucible of perseverance."

I may or may not have rolled my eyes, stomped my foot and growled out loud. "Dad! Why are you doing this to me?"

Dad went on to share about a class he took in Law School. He hated real estate law, begged his Dad to let him drop the class, was turned down by his Dad, and probably did a little foot stomping as well. He wound up barely making a "D" in the class.

And he became a real estate attorney who gets invited back to his law school to teach this very class.

"Dad, I'll never, ever teach economics, I can assure you."

But the decision had been made. I would have to stick out the class. I would have to work harder than I'd ever worked. And I would be grafted into the generational thread. The "D" factor.

This week I sat in the high school academic awards ceremony of my daughter's school. I knew the subjects for which she might have a shot at getting an award. One by one those awards were given out and Hope wasn't called. Towards the end of the ceremony, the math teacher stood up and walked on stage.

I knew Hope wasn't getting the Algebra award. She'd made good grades in this class during the first and last trimester, but the second trimester saw all things algebra fall apart. The generational thread wove it's way into my daughter's life. The "D" factor.

When the teacher got up to give the Academic Excellence Award for Algebra, he smiled and said with special permission from the school principal this year's award would be given to the student with perseverance over academic excellence.

Hope TerKeurst.

I seriously doubt Hope will ever develop a passion for or desire to teach algebra. But more than numbers and equations and functions too complicated for her mama's economics challenged brain, she learned how to persevere. And what a rare and beautiful quality that is in our give-up world today.

Sometimes we avoid challenge for fear of failure. If I'm honest, I think this is why I avoided trying to eat healthy for so long. I'd heard of people giving up sugar, breads, and starches and my first reaction was always, "I could never do that."

That wasn't a true statement. It wasn't any more true than me saying, "I can't do economics. " Or my Dad saying, "I can't do real estate law." Or my daughter saying, "I can't do algebra."

Those things may not come to us with ease and we may never do them perfectly, but we can persevere. We can do that.

And on the other side of perseverance is a victory sweeter than perfection. Perfection comes from strengths we knew we had. Perseverance comes from tapping into something inside us we're altogether surprised we had.

So, come on. Aren't you ready to be 'D'elightfully surprised? Persevere sweet sister. Be rare. Persevere.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Still You Choose to Think of Me

Magnificent, Holy Father

I stand in awe of all I see

Of all the things You have created

And still You choose to think of me
(lyrics by Third Day)

(This is one of my favorite roads in our town!)

It's a Holly-day today ~

I shared in today's Proverbs 31 devotion, 'Beauty After the Storm', that after I experienced the horrific death of my friend at the vulnerable age of 14, I struggled with the fear of being home alone for many years.

That night will forever be stamped into the permanent parts of my memory. As my mom opened our door, a new world of terror entered my life. The news was delivered that my friend and neighbor Evie was gone. Missing.

And as time wore on, we came to the sickening reality that she would never come home again.

Six long months of searching. Praying. Constant local and national media attention. More searching. Questioning. Mystery. And then the fatal conclusion.

For years after this ordeal, I was terrified to be home alone. And I did everything possible to avoid that trigger to my fear. It gripped and paralyzed every bit of my rational thinking.

When I found myself alone at home, I would curl up, underneath my bed, shaking and fearing the worst. Even into the early years of my marriage when my husband would travel, I could not sleep all night. I would lay awake, stiff as a board, heart pounding up into my ears until morning.

How was I able to move past this fear? To recover from the difficult details of her death?

I wish I had a tidy 1-2-3 step recovery plan to offer on a shiny platter complete with a bow for all who have inquired over the years. Do this, then this, then this. Great for you, now no more fear.

But actually, I'm glad that wasn't the case. Because it 's been a beautiful journey for me. A journey laced with questions, doubt, sadness, anxiety, growth, beckoning and healing.

As I look back, I am in awe. He has always had His hand on my life, even when I wasn't walking closely with Him. He was always beckoning.

I'll share with you a few of these most significant and rather personal times --

Follow Me. Choose these friends. Marry Dan. Keep your baby - I will equip you. Quit your job of 16 yrs. Relocate from PA to NC. I am here. Seek Me every day - for hours. Hear and know that I love you. Abide. Get baptized. Go on a mission's trip. Now go on another one. Serve. Serve. Don't stop serving.

So how did I overcome my fear that stemmed from this arduous storm in my life?

I listened to that still, small, all-knowing voice...

...and kept listening...and kept listening.

And I found beauty after that storm.

And still you choose to think of me Lord. Even me. Thank You.

What is your beauty after the storm?

Holly

When a blessing stings

This week marks a long season of "I don't know why" in my life.

Yesterday, I told you about Ashley's struggle and then total redemption with school. I like to write stories that have inspirationally tidy endings. I like to live stories that have inspirationally tidy endings.

But not all of life unfolds in neatly categorized and labeled ways.

Some things in life unfold in messy heaps leaving us broken and frustrated and waiting for answers that never seem to come. I'll be honest, I sometimes struggle with the "I don't know why's" of life.

It's not that I want to live a completely peachy life without struggles. It's just that I want to be able to walk through a struggle, understand the good from it, label my lesson, and pack it away.

But what do we do with those lingering struggles that leave gaping holes in our understanding of God's mercy, love, and strength beyond measure.

It's a blessing to know our God is able to do all things. But when he chooses not to do something we desperately want him to do, this same blessing stings. It rubs the very fibers of my sold out heart raw. It makes me cry.

This is where I am with Ashley's struggle to return to the sport she loves.

Ashley has been doing gymnastics for over 11 years. It's not only a sport my 14 year old loves but it seemed to be a sport tailor made for her 4'7', 70 pound frame. While it may be challenging in many ways to be this small, when this power packed girl walked onto the gym floor, her size was a strength. And a whole world of possibility stretched before her.

To Ashley it was more than just flips and stunts and winning trophies. Gymnastics was her thing. In a home of 5 children, she loved having something to call her very own.

And she was good. Really good. Like the famous line from Chariot's of fire, "She felt God's pleasure when she did gymnastics."

Then she injured her shoulder in an accident none of us can really understand or explain. All the rehab efforts over the past year have been geared toward getting her back into the gym.

Nothing seems to be working and the window of time where a gymnast can rehab and return is closing. We're now having conversations about her moving on. And in my flesh, these conversations make me want to cry late at night when no one else is looking. It hurts to see my girl hurting and questioning.


When we have "I don't know why" situations in life, we have to make the hard choice to settle our mind with what we do know. Otherwise, the I don't know why's will sweep us away into treacherous currents of doubt and disillusionment.

Spinning. Slipping. Sinking.

So, I grab hold of what I do know.

I do know God is a God of protection. God's love for my daughter is so consuming, He can only have her best interest in mind. It must be in her best interest to walk away from gymnastics.

I do know God is a God of provision. God's plans for my daughter are good even if they don't include this sport she loves. He will provide but probably not in the way we expect.

I do know God is a God of process. God's process to develop Ashley's character to match her calling must include her having to learn to let go of something she treasures.

So that's where I park my mind, my emotions, and my trust.

It's not the tidiest parking spot on the lot. It doesn't make the loss sting less.

But it's a place I can wad up my run away emotions and hand them over to my perfectly capable and all wise God.

Priceless

Right now a pony tailed girl is cutting, taping, painting and turning a couple of 2 liter soda bottles into the shell of a rocket. A white rocket with hot pink and neon green markings. Of course.

She has pages of instructions she's following all on her own. She has a smile on her face. Her hands have a steady confidence. Her heart is full of hope-filled wonder.

This is the same girl who pulled the covers over her head and told me she was done with school just 7 months ago.

That was before Mrs. L's class.

I posted about Mrs. L. before but I can't let this school year come to a close without paying tribute to this woman I will remember for a very long time. The influence and impact she's had on my daughter's life is nothing short of beautiful.

When Ashley felt she couldn't, Mrs. L. assured her she could.

When Ashley's efforts fell short, Mrs. L. taught her gaps can be filled.

When Ashley's heart started tilling seeds of failure, Mrs. L. pulled them up by the roots.

When Ashley had but a spark of success, Mrs. L. fanned it into a burning passion for learning.

Thank you Mrs. L. You did more than a good job. You helped shape a life.

Two plastic soda bottles... $3

A Can of White Spray Paint... $5.50

Pink and green neon duct tape... $8

A girl transformed into a rocket scientist... priceless.

I wonder how God might use each of us today to be His voice of truth, compassion, encouragement, assurance, grace, and a love quite priceless.

I am a technical genius

The following is an actual interaction between me and blogger this weekend. It was delightful.

Red: Lysa
Brown: Blogger

Dear Blogger,

I can't sign in. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is go to blogger.com/forgot.

(Ummm... but I didn't forget. I know my password and all that jazz. I think somehow you've forgotten me?)

If you're still unable to sign in after this process, please see the alternate solutions below.

Clear your cache. (My what?)

Delete your Blogger cookie. (Oh good grief, why does it seem like cookies are chasing me everywhere I go? Really, blogger, you have cookies too?!)

Check your Blogger cookie settings. (See, see- do you see the relentless pursuit?)

Check your JavaScript settings. (Um, I've given up coffee too. Therefore, I don't have a java script any longer.)

Quit your browser and restart it. (Rude. I don't want to break my browser's heart and then string it along.)

Browse Happy- all the cool kids are doing it. (Did my computer just try to instruct me on cool?)

Last resorts:

Try a different Internet connection. (Well, that's just super convenient. Where might I find another connection? That would require me to leave my house and my three day old hair is making that possibility very slight right now.)

Take a deep breath -- the world isn't ending -- write us for help. Be sure to give us as much information as you can about your account and the problems you're experiencing.

(You see- that's just the thing, I obviously don't know much about my account or why I'm experiencing these issues. But I do know what will happen when the world ends. And that makes me smile. Even if at this moment, blogger isn't.)

>>>>Okay bloggers who are much smarter than me... pick a term from above and educate me please.

And if you haven't a clue about this, skip leaving me a comment and head on over to Renee's survey she's doing. Click here to complete Renee Swope's mini-survey about a woman's doubts. It's only 6 questions and you could help her reach 1000 this week!