Being a Little Odd

I'm still thinking about my verses in Colossians.

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Here are a few of my thoughts when I read this verse:

Delivered from one place and transferred to another. From darkness to light. Total opposites. Fitting in with those around you to becoming a little "odd".


I typed in "odd" in my Bible study tools and the first verse that caught my eye was Esther 3:8 (from the Message)

Haman then spoke with King Xerxes: "There is an odd set of people scattered through the provinces of your kingdom who don't fit in. Their customs and ways are different from those of everybody else. Worse, they disregard the king's laws. They're an affront; the king shouldn't put up with them.

Their customs and ways are different. They don't fit in. I wonder how different my customs and ways are. Am I a little "odd" to my neighbors?

I tell you that convicted me big time this morning. After I had been soaking in these thoughts I went and read Travis's post. He simply had a video that REALLY made me think of my mouth and some of the things I let "slip" out. Words that are acceptable and used among my Christians friends as well as my non-Christian friends.

So I watched the video and had verses like Be holy, for I am holy Lev. 20:26 and Matt.5:14 "you are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." running through my head.

C.O.N.V.I.C.T.I.O.N.

We should be a little odd. We should stand out a little. There should be an obvious difference in our conversation, and our vocabulary. Please don't misunderstand me. I can't stand to be around people who use thee's and thou's and thou shalt not's. I'm not talking about being pious. That does not nothing but disgust and turn people off.

Christians can and should be approachable and fun and caring, but at the same time a little odd. That combination is what makes us stand out for crying out loud! We should never sacrifice personal holiness in an effort to be "relevant". I love what the pastor in this video says. So I'm just going to close my mouth and let him do the talking.

(WARNING: If are like me and get motion sick easy..then just hit play and then listen!)

Just Thinking that when God writes it on the big screen at church...He might be saying this is it.

We are trying to get a little housework and laundry done before we hit the pool today. For a family that lived in their swimsuits all weekend, we sure do have a LOT of laundry!! I can't complain, Chad started it last night and did ALL the towels and a couple of loads of clothes for me. He's a good man.

I have to tell you about the big screen or I am going to p.o.p.

For two weeks God has continued to place one passage of scripture in front of me. In the past when this sort of thing happens I know that God just might give me a song out of it, but this time I didn't think that.

I had decided that it was to be the focus passage for a luncheon I was to speak at this week. That was until about 30 minutes ago when they called to tell me the church had cancelled it for this month. So I have saved my notes and maybe God will give me an opportunity to use it later.

The point is that God has placed this passage in front of me over and over again. Obviously, there is something He is trying to teach me.

The passage is Colossians 1:11-14:

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."


Yesterday (Sunday morning) I still could not get this passage off of my heart and decided that verses 13 and 14 would be my LPM scripture memory for the first two weeks of June. Once we got to church all I could think was "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son." These words consumed my thoughts during Sunday school and choir warm-up. I can't tell you one thing our worship pastor said to us.

I walked on the platform to take my place in the worship singers and glanced up at the "Big Screen". Worship is less than a minute from starting and guess what verse is on the screens? Yep.

My verses.

I shook my head not in disbelief, but in a "Oh no He did not" way. Seriously, I wanted to get off of that stage and find a room to get flat.

I had been asking God for direction for the devotion and asking Him to show me if I was to meditate on this passage for the next two weeks. What does He do?

God writes it on the big screen 30 seconds before worship begins.

I'll take that as a yes. (Wouldn't it be nice if He did that more often!)

I'm thinking that there just may be a song out of this...too many ideas and lines running through my brain for there not to be. We'll see what He does.

Right now I'm thinking about that old hymn..."All that thrills my soul is Jesus" He really has thrilled me with all He has done for me. (Psalm 92)

This is already too long, but I need to ask you one thing.

Would you do me a favor and pray for my Freedom's Call partner Jill? She is our Bible teacher I asked you to pray for last week. Her 93 year old mother-in-law went home to Jesus Saturday evening. Jill is still recovering from Pneumonia and her husband is still recovering from his stay in the hospital as well...they could REALLY use your prayers this week. Thanks you. :)

Memorial Day /Simple Pleasure

We have had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Our grill has been used several times this weekend and I love it! After we spent sometime at the pool, (because we had about an hour of S.U.N. thank you Lord!) Chad grilled chicken and I whipped out some cornbread and green beans. We ate inside since I STILL have not found a picnic table. I really need to get myself together and do that, we've only been here three years....sigh.

Chad took the girls to work a booth in our local Memorial Day parade this morning so I had about 5 hours of extreme quiet. It was heavenly. I fixed myself some Pecan Torte coffee, took an extra long shower and then settled in with my Bible and journal. I guess you could say I had a mini-retreat. It was my Simple Pleasure of the week.

Yesterday our pastor brought a powerful,bold word based on John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (ESV)

He reminded us of the sacrifice Jesus made for each and every one of us and the freedom we have in Him. He beautifully and boldly reminded our church how blessed we are to live in this country where so many men and women have died so that we can simply start our car and drive to our church.

This morning I started thinking about my story, my spiritual freedom and the path that I've taken up to this point in my life. Just spent time thanking God for godly parents, Sunday school teachers and teachers in elementary, middle and high school that made a spiritual impact on my life.

As I got to my twenties I started thinking about the Bible teachers that have greatly impacted me. Some well known, others were women in my local church. Women who pushed me, challenged me and got all up in my business until I got into small group Bible study. I am so thankful for them. They are part of my story.

One teacher/author that I had the privilege to sit under for a weekend at our church in Tennessee, was Dee Brestin. (Falling in Love with Jesus; Friendships of Women...)

I treasure the book she signed for me not because she signed her name, but because she penned a personal message to me. She challenged me to keep asking God to give me song lyrics. She had spent no time with me one on one to know that was heavy on my heart. The only reason she knew I had written anything was because a friend of mine sang one of my songs, "Whole Again" during the conference. (The timing of that song in the conference is a story in and of itself!) I will never forget walking away and looking down and seeing her words to me. She had spoken them TO me, but to see them written in the front of that book...it was just a powerful moment in my life.

Dee has started blogging! I would love for you to go here and check it out! I know you will be blessed.

I hope one day to be able to look her in the eye and tell her just how much she has influenced my life.

So how about you? Do you have anyone who has guided you in your spiritual journey to freedom?


One more thing. We had family pictures done last week and I want to share two of my favorites!

Saturday Morning Ramblings

It is a morning to remember. Each person in my family slept LATE. Both girls slept past 7:30!! That is huge around here. Everyone has had breakfast and we are all just sort of lounging around for a little while. I love it.

Last night on Twitter, LifeWay shared that the focus passage at the Living Proof event in Wyoming this weekend, was Psalm 66. Since I (and probably you too) have friends at that conference, I wanted to read the passage and pray for my friends. After we tucked everyone in, I crawled into bed and read Psalm 66.

I found myself grinning at God. I started the passage and got down to verses 5-7:

"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot, come let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations, let not the rebellious rise up against him."

I am re-reading a little book called "The Red Sea Rules". I told you about it here. Of course the verses in Psalm lined right up with what I am studying right now. Love it when God does that! So cool.

As I read on to verses 10-12 "for you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through the fire and water but you brought us to a place of abundance." I could not help but think of this quote from the very first "rule". (You can find it on page 6)

"The Lord occasionally does the same thing with us, testing our faith, leading us into hardship, teaching us wisdom, showing us His ways. Our first reaction may be a surge of panic and a sense of alarm, but we must learn to consult the Scriptures for guidance.

So take a deep breath and recall this deeper secret of the Christian life: when you are in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reason perhaps known for now only to Himself.

The same God who led you in, will lead you out."

For some reason, the Casting Crowns song "Praise you in the Storm" keeps running through my head. Sometimes it's in those really difficult seasons that we have the opportunity to bring our God a sacrifice of praise.

It's hard isn't it? But how pleased He must be when we make the choice to praise Him regardless of the circumstances. Even when you feel like you have an impossible river in front of you and the enemy behind you, go on and praise Him and watch what He does. What would happen if we took our selfish eyes of off ourselves and became completely enthralled with Him?

His majesty and glory are far greater than the circumstance in front of me today. So far the Lord has been my helper, my guide and my constant source of LIFE! He never changes so I can rest knowing that the same God who led me here, will lead me out and on!

He makes me want to sing...

Psalm 66:1-2
"Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!"

Waiting on the Bread to Rise

Just a few minutes ago I was getting all my ingredients together to bake some bread. As I started measuring these ingredients I began to think about how good this bread will be dipped in the soup I have in the crock pot. Dinner time can not come fast enough!

I like to bake bread but I hate the wait. Like right now, I've done all I can do and have to wait one hour while it rises. The yeast I put in needs to do it's job. As much as I want to get it in the loaf pan and bake it...it wouldn't be very good if I did that. This part of the process is important!

Sounds a little like life doesn't it? Sometimes you reach a point where you have done all you can humanly do. It is the place where you sit down, pray and wait.

I'm in that place in one area right now. I know that I have been faithful to do what God has asked, but my hands are off so to say. I have to trust that God is very much alive, working and moving in this situation, even though I don't physically see the end product - yet.

However, I feel differently. I have a confidence that He is active in this. I feel completely at peace in this wait. And boy oh boy, I can't wait to see the end product.

Okay...my hour wait is up and I need to go press down the dough and divide it into halves and wait a little longer. All this talk about God being alive and active and pressing down and dividing makes me think of Hebrews 4:12

"For the Word of the God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

First Day of Summer Vacation

What a week! Today is the first day of summer vacation and my precious Emma was wide awake at 5:15. I am not kidding. Chad was getting ready to go run and told her to get herself in bed with me. After a few minutes she went back to sleep and is STILL asleep.

I have to admit I'm struggling a little with this particular summer. Chloe will start middle school in the fall and I am just not ready for that! I think I am living my LPM scripture for this two weeks..

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

While I'm excited for her and know that she will have an incredible experience, I'm just not ready to admit she's old enough for MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! (Big Sigh and change of subject.)

Go check out my friend Heather's answer to prayer. :) Avery Kate is a living breathing answer to prayer!! (If you go visit her blog, you have to scroll down and check out her brown and pink nursery...LOVE IT!)

I do want to thank you for praying for my Freedom's Call buddies. Our Bible Teacher Jill has been in the hospital with Pneumonia. She was released Monday about the time her husband was being admitted for blood clots in his lungs. Yes, she walked out of one room as he was being rolled into the room two doors down. This is just one of many things hitting our ministry right now. We are very aware of where this is coming from and covet your prayers. We are preparing for a weekend conference the end of June and it feels like we are being pressed on all sides. BUT...

We are thanking God for what He is going to do in the hearts of these ladies June 19 and 20. I can't wait to see what He does.

I'm off to Shred and finish up some housework my girls have plans the rest of the week. Our pool opens Thursday and they want to be IN IT RIGHT AT 9:00 WHEN IT OPENS FOR THE FIRST TIME. We'll see how long it lasts, its like 55 degrees here right now!!! That water is going to be too cold for me.

It's Monday and I have no title

How was your weekend? Ours was so uneventful and believe me, we loved every last second of it.

Saturday we really did nothing. Just played around the house, watched the girls ride their bikes (when it wasn't raining) made spaghetti for an early dinner and went to bed EARLY. Heaven.

Sunday Chad beat me home from church and he and the girls started lunch. He made a fabulous marinade and grilled chicken. He even cleaned up the kitchen! About the time he brought the food in off the grill, the rain started.

He and the girls napped while I enjoyed spending time with some ladies as we celebrated a new baby in our Sunday School family. Before we ate, our hostess had personalized and printed scripture for us to read and pray over baby Cameron. It was beautiful. We gave the cards to his mommy to take home and use. Such a precious time. Then we ate... :) Can I just tell you my friend Amanda can just plain cook. (And she grows her own lettuce too!)

I came home to find Chad fixing the girls a snack dinner. He seems to have become the Sunday Chef. I told him he needs his own Food Network show called "The Sunday Chef".

Our pastor taught on contentment yesterday I think I may share some of my notes later tonight or tomorrow. There were a couple of points that just really hit me between the eyes and I don't want to forget them.

It's time to start drying hair and getting little toe nails painted. We have family pictures tonight. We haven't had a "real" photo done in 4 years! Needless to say, my girls have changed a little!!

Oh, guess what....2 more days of school!!!!!!!