My Heart's Desire Ministries

Heaven on Earth

2009-07-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to see God in this world sometimes. You have to really look for Him. The world’s evil is extremely prevalent and it can seem like God is far away in a place called heaven.

Somewhere in my thinking, I’ve assumed that God created the earth, hung around quite a bit in “olden times”, sent Jesus to die on the cross and rise three days later, left to go prepare a place for us and then nothing…nothing until His glorious return.

When I was young, I was always afraid that Jesus would come back before I got married and had kids. Although I would fervently pray for His return on my way to the dentist! However, the last decade or so I would be perfectly fine if Jesus came back right this second. I often long for heaven when the weight of this world lies heavily on my shoulders.

One of my present-day heroes is Rob Bell. In his book, Velvet Elvis, he talks about “heaven coming to earth.” To be honest, I really didn’t like this phrase at first. Heaven on earth? I cannot imagine this earth being heaven at all. I don’t even want to think about the two having anything in common.

Slowly over the years, this phrase stirred in my brain…

Heaven on earth…

This earth transforming to heaven one day…

A few years back, I studied heaven quite a bit and it made me yearn for it even more. But it also made me somewhat stagnant in my life because I just wanted to be in heaven. It would be the ultimate, quick-fix, extreme makeover.

So easy.

Everything.
Would.
Be.
Perfect.

In heaven-

I wouldn’t compare myself to others.
I would fully understand my self-worth in Christ Jesus.
There would be no more tears, fears or pain.
I’d be reunited with loved ones that have gone before me.
I would be close to God and Jesus would be my King.
I wouldn’t be afraid to do things (I have a list of all the things that I would like to do in heaven: sky-dive, bungee-jump, scuba dive, sing in front of large groups of people to name a few).

I picture heaven as being the biggest and greatest family reunion. We will be sitting around, chatting and getting to know people. There will be wonderful food and we won’t have to count calories. I picture an eternity of fellowship with everyone in heaven.

Doesn’t sound much like earth to me. Or does it? Or can it?

The more I started to think about heaven the more I got impatient. I wanted to be in heaven now. Why do I have to wait? Can’t you just come now Lord? What if the phrase, “heaven on earth” could have some truth to it?

I started looking for some of the things on earth that reminded me of heaven…

Spending time with my sweet family
Any family gathering that included yummy food
Dessert
Nature
The wonderful talents God has given each person
The amazing development of technology and resources that we enjoy
Children

Maybe there was more truth to “heaven on earth” then I thought. Maybe I was just missing it.

Why is it so much easier to see the bad? This world seems to be spinning in two completely different directions: good and bad. Sometimes I can hardly breathe when I think or hear about the insurmountable evil in this world: the 138 million orphans in the world, the sex-trafficking of young girls, the poverty, the amount of people that die every day of preventable diseases, the greed, the selfishness, the hate. It’s hard for me to live in my nice house, in our nice neighborhood, with our safe streets and wonderful schools when there is a world that is dying around us. But the problem seems so big, how can I even make a difference? Wouldn’t it just be easier if God came back?

On the other hand, there is resounding good in this world: people are becoming aware and adopting orphans, girls that have been sex-slaves since they were 5 are being rescued, scientists are discovering new ways to get clean water to remote villages and health care workers are educating churches in basic health care for those who live too far away from hospitals there are people who give and care and sacrifice to help others (http://www.thepeaceplan.com/). We are a long way from heaven but maybe we’re slowly inching toward it?

What if God isn’t silent and is working in our world and in our lives today? What if He never stopped? What if we just stopped seeing Him? What if earth was slowing transforming into heaven right before our eyes?

What if?

I want to live my life bringing heaven to earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21;1-3 (NIV)

The Woman at the Well

2009-07-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Galilee. He had been causing the Pharisees some headaches by gaining more disciples than John the Baptist. Jesus left Judea for Galilee by way of Samaria. Now Jews often avoided Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews did not get along. The Samaritans were a mixed-blood race from the intermarriages of the Israelites and Gentiles and therefore much hostility occurred between the two people groups in Jesus’ day (NIV Study Bible p. 1484). Jesus, however, didn’t go around Samaria to get to Galilee…He went through it! Leave it to Jesus to follow the road less traveled!

On their journey, Jesus stops to rest at a well while the disciples leave for town to get food. While He’s there, Jesus asks a Samaritan women for a drink of water and they start talking.

First of all, it amazes me that Jesus spoke to the women. He even asked her for help. How many times do we talk to people? How often do we ask complete strangers for help while doing our every day normal activities?

Secondly, I wonder if Jesus was actually thirsty? Or if He really needed to rest? Or if He even needed to go through Samaria at all? Did He go through Samaria just to talk to this woman? This average, every day woman Jesus came to see. And what was she doing? She wasn’t doing anything spectacular… she was getting water. It would be like us going to the grocery store or getting gas for our car, nothing out of the ordinary…just something that needs to be done.

Another thing that is amazing is that Jesus goes against culture by talking to a woman in public- not to mention a Samaritan woman. Rabbis were not known to talk to women at all. But Jesus goes against what society says and talks to her.

While Jesus is chatting with the woman, He tells her about the truth: from a drink of water to witnessing! Plus, she has no idea what He’s talking about! He’s talking about the living water and she thinks it’s actual water that will quench her thirst forever so she doesn’t have to come to the well everyday. Incredibly, He’s not fazed by this one bit. He doesn’t storm off and walk the other way, shaking His head, “Wow she just does not get it!” He gently continues the conversation.

Jesus has asked for a drink, talked about the living water and then He gets personal. He asks where her husband is. To her credit, she is honest and says she has no husband in which Jesus agrees. He then goes into more detail about how she’s had five husbands and now is with someone who is not her husband. Wow! Way to get to the heart of the matter!

Now wouldn’t Jesus have already known all about this woman before He went to speak to her? Did He not know every hair on her head? Did He not know of her from the beginning of time? Did He not create the universe and everything in it with her in mind? Yet He still went over to talk to her.

Do you realize that God loves you even though He knows everything about you?

Do you know that He knows all our your needs?

Now the woman is starting to clue in a bit. She tells Jesus that He is a prophet and that the Messiah is coming. Jesus once again gets to the heart of the matter and says, “I am the Messiah! You say he’s coming and here I am, standing in front of you- talking with you!” Imagine her surprise! That’s the moment that she gets it!

Then she does something I think is incredible. She goes to her town and tells the people to go check out Jesus. “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4;39 NIV) And you know what? They did! Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony.

A little side note that I think is funny. At the end of the conversation between Jesus and the woman, the disciples come back and in John it says that no one asks Jesus why He was talking to her. They would know of the cultural and social lines that Jesus was crossing and yet they didn’t say anything. They just let it go. Maybe they were used to Jesus’ strange ways? Maybe they knew that Jesus’ ways were not their ways? Maybe they were touched by the transformation of this woman?

Do I rely on my ways or God’s ways?

Do I trust He knows best?

Jesus and the disciples ended up staying a couple extra days in this town. Many were saved. It all started with a simple question, a simple conversation, a simple woman doing an every day task. I wonder if she viewed going to the well differently after that? I wonder if she was reminded of her conversation with Jesus every time she came to the well? I wonder if it gave her new meaning and purpose knowing that a simple conversation made a difference in her life as well as her whole village? I wonder if she looked at water differently knowing that Jesus was the living water and she would never thirst again? She had all of eternity to spend with Jesus. I wonder if she looked for Jesus when she came back? Hoping that He would return, but knowing that she’d be reunited with Him in heaven one day? I wonder if she knew that her story would be in the Bible? That millions of people would read her story and be touched? Did she know the impact she would make by simply going to the well one day?

www.myheartsdesireministries.com

Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 4)

2009-06-09T04:00:00.001-07:00

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts...Click here to read Part 1, 2 and 3 of this series.

Expect Your Heart’s Desires

It only takes one person to change the course of history. It only takes one person to say yes to God’s call in order to change eternity. Moses was one person that said yes to God. Tamar was one person that said yes to God. Rahab was one person that said yes to God. And they changed history forever. You may be thinking- who am I to change history? I am not anything special nor do I have any special talents or clout or power or money or influence. But if we look in the Bible, it is filled with ordinary people: young girls, tent makers, fisherman, shepherds - lowly common people that God, the creator of the universe, chose to put forth His will…for His glory… for His master plan… for His goal for eternity! What was the commonality between all these people? They said, “Yes!” to God. They were willing to listen to His voice, hear His calling and do His will.

Are you willing to say yes to God? To delight in Him?

When my daughter Emma was two, she would say, “Hi Mom. I love you Mom.” Of course I would say back, “I love you too baby!” Then she would respond, “You’re welcome Mom.” How did she know I needed to hear those sweet little words!

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I need to hear more than anything is that God loves me and will never leave me. When I think about His great love I wonder- why would someone want to know everything about me, know every thought, every hair on my head, and not love me? Why would someone know everything about you, know every thought, every hair on your head- and not love you? How could someone be planning your every day from the before the beginning of time and not love you? How could someone bless you so tremendously and not love you? Doesn’t it stand to reason that these are all signs of love?

Do you know this God that created the earth for you because He loves you so much? Do you know that He loves you so much that He’s waiting for you right now? Do you know that He loves you just the way you are? Do you know of God’s love for you? Do you know that He goes out of His way on purpose to find you? Will you accept His love for you?

Do you want to be a woman of purpose? A mom of purpose? Do you know the one who loves you? Do you love Him?

Practical Steps to Becoming a Mom of Purpose:

Love God

Love People

Dare to dream- what could you do to make an eternal difference?

Pray specifically about your dreams

Write down your dreams

Tell other people

Pray and think about your dreams in a positive way every day!

Surrender your dreams to God

Where are you in your journey? Think today of what your next step could be. For those of you who may be new to God or haven’t asked Christ to be in your life, I would encourage you to take that step today. In one of the books I was reading it was talking about how could God allow people to go to hell? They explained it rather as people making a choice. God gives us a choice where we want to go. The decision is in our hands. God isn’t to blame. And the thing is, it’s the easiest decision we ever have to make and it will affect not only our lives but also eternity. We don’t have to have power, money or fame. We don’t have to go to school or get a certificate. We can be 3 or 93. There’s no sexual, ageist or ethnic discrimination. Most decisions in life require far more work! All we have to do is say the words and believe them in our heart and you’ll never be the same: God, please come into my life today. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for me. Please forgive me of all my sins. I don’t understand everything yet but I want to take this small step toward you. The work was done (on the cross), the price was paid- we just reap the benefits if we accept it.

Listen to what God wants to say to you…

I love you with an everlasting love. I knew of you before the creation of the world. I made this world with you in mind. I know everything about you. I know your hurts and dreams and talents and wishes and secret desires. I come to you where you are right now. I know everything about you and it doesn’t change the way I feel about you one little bit! Not one bit. When I created this world, I knew that you would be right here at this moment. Won’t you come to me? Won’t you let me love you? Won’t you let me in to your heart? Won’t you let me change your life? I promise to never leave you nor forsake you, never to let you down. Humans will fail you but I will never fail you. I will love you forever. I will be with you forever.

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your plans.
Psalm 20;4 (NIV)

Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 3)

2009-06-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts...Click here to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

In Part 2, I wrote how loving God is the first step in finding our purpose as moms. The second step is loving people. Loving people is loving God in action.

I think most of us long to make a difference in our lifetimes but doubt that God has big plans or even significant plans for us. How could He use me? I’m not a Billy Graham or a Rick Warren. But I think one of the things that I love the most about our great God is that He has a specific plan for us. It says in the Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), that He “created us to do good things- He planned for us long ago.”

Read this quote from George Barna’s Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions: "Our children will define the future, which makes them our most significant and enduring legacy. After all, God never told his followers to take over the world through force or intelligence. He simply told us to have children and then raise them to honor God in all they do."

One day I was praying and resting. Abby (my then 2 year old) woke up early from her nap and was sleepwalking over to me. I picked her up and she immediately fell back asleep lying on my chest. I was overwhelmed with this precious child that God had placed in my life. My child was the closest tangible thing to God. This little person was made in God’s image - in the Creator of the Universe’s image! Imagine that! He knows her better than I will ever know her, He loves her more than I will ever love her, and He has a greater plan for her than I could even fathom. She is His creation. He knew her before creation. He had her in mind when He created the earth.
God is already using you! You are already making a difference for eternity. You are fulfilling your purpose as a mom by being a mom and taking care of one of God’s most prized creations!

Practical Ways to Love Your Children:

Everybody Helps: Are your kids involved with chores around the house? Our house motto is, "Everybody Helps." You will be surprised at how even the smallest amount of help from your little ones can contribute to your daily duties. My little girls started making their beds and clearing their plates at age 3. It wasn't perfect but it gave them confidence in knowing that they could do it by themselves and it was one less thing I had to do that day. Both my girls help empty the dishwasher. My 4 year old puts away the utensils and plastic ware while my 7 year old does the rest. She stacks the dishes on the counter that she can’t reach and I put them away. Make your life easier and instill responsibility in your kids- everybody benefits!

Kid’s Corner: Designate a drawer or cupboard that is for your kids. Make sure they can access it and that it’s filled with kid-friendly items (i.e. plastic cups, bowls, plates). This enables the kids to get things for themselves, help with meal preparation and clean-up!

Planning Ahead: Do your kids take their lunch to school? Make them the night before during the dinner mess. There’s a lot you can do while you’re waiting for the water to boil or for a meal to cook! I already have a mess in the kitchen so I might as well make lunches real quick. It saves your nerves in the early morning rush to just grab your lunch out of the fridge! Preparing backpacks and picking out clothes the night before helps to avoid the craziness of getting out the door in the morning as well.

Saying I Love You: How often do you tell your kids that you love them? I grew up with my mom telling me she loved me every day! She didn’t want me to ever doubt that she loved me. I do the same thing with my kids. Knowing that I was loved unconditionally by my family has allowed me to be successful in life. I have a strong foundation at the very core of my being knowing that I have the support and love of my family. You can do this for your kids too. Give them the love and support they need to grow up with a healthy knowledge of your love.

Taking a break: Sometimes this is the most loving thing you can do! As a mom you are going around the clock 24/7. Try and catch some times of rest in your day. While your child is eating, sit down beside them. Don’t try and rush it! Even five minutes can help you calm down. Bath time is a perfect place to catch a breather. Kids love to play in the tub. Let them play for an extra 5-10 minutes and you take a load off! Sit on the floor next to them and enjoy the kids: think, pray, dream, or be silent. These 5-minute breathers throughout the day can help you make it through the day!

Think back to this last week. How have you made a loving difference? How can you improve this next week? I would love to hear from you. Next time join me for my conclusion of this series. Blessings!

©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks
www.myheartsdesireministries.com

Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 2)

2009-05-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts...Click here to read Part 1 of this series.

At Bible Study one morning we were talking about the importance of serving. There was a mom there that had two young girls. She was so discouraged because she didn’t feel like she was doing her part. She said she felt like she was on the side-lines of the big game. . .watching. . .not doing her part. I could relate. How is being at home with my girls part of the game?

We are in the game! We are the forward, the quarterback, the point guard, and the coach. We don’t get rest. Our children are our service and we are specifically called to minister to them. Just because you aren’t in the jungles of Africa doesn’t mean you aren't serving.

Take this quote to heart…

"…the investment I made in my children’s lives did (and does) matter. Parenting isn’t just my responsibility, it is one of my God-ordained roles in life…Mothering is an anointed role. Don’t beg for distractions. Instead, immerse yourself in the experiences of today. Value them and make the most of them. At the right time, God will lead you onward, and you will be able to see the importance of today’s ordinary tasks in the total scope of God’s purposes." (Katie Brazelton, Pathway to Purpose for Women)

How do we find our purpose as a Mom? Draw Close To God

Our God who loves us wants us to draw close to Him. Another book John Ortberg has written is God is Closer Than You Think. In this book, Ortberg talks about the greatest moment in your life. It may be a variety of different things- your wedding day, birth of your children, a goal that was met, a dream vacation, a moment of revelation but he offers a different suggestion…

“I believe that the greatest moment of your life is this moment right here...

Not because it’s pleasant or happy or easy, but because this moment is the only moment you’ve got. Every past moment is irretrievably gone. It’s never coming back. If you live there, you lose your life.

And the future is always out there somewhere. You can spend an eternity waiting for tomorrow, or worrying about tomorrow. If you live there, you likewise will lose your life.

This moment is God’s irreplaceable gift to you. Most of all, this is the moment that matters because this moment is where God is. If you are going to be with God at all, you must be with him now- in this moment.”

Practical Ways to Draw Close to God:

School Day Questions- How are your kids doing in school? Each day when I pick my kids up from school, I ask them two questions: What was your favorite part? What was your least favorite part? These are great conversation starters and allow you to find out about your child's day.

Saying I’m sorry- The other morning, Emma woke up late. She was playing around in her room instead of getting ready for school. I stormed in her room and told her to get busy because we had a schedule! This nonsense was going to throw off the whole day! After I left her room, I realized that I had not even said, “Good morning” to her even though when she saw me she had a smile on her sweet little face and said, “Hi Mama". I had to stop myself and think about what was really important. Here I was irritated because I thought she was starting the day all wrong, when I was the one who started the day all wrong. I went in her room and helped her finish getting ready. That was the most important thing I did all day. That 5 minutes that I spent with her helping her get ready. Later I apologized and told her that even Mommy's have things to work on.

I’m giving you grace- God gives us grace, why don’t we give more of it? Why don’t we teach it to our kids? Instead of the deserved consequence, tell your child that you are giving them grace and explain why. It's a powerful lesson.

Involve kids in your major decisions- Let them know to start praying about family decisions: a pending move, adopting, a new job, a new school, your dreams, your job or anything that has to do with the whole family. What a wonderful lesson and it helps make your kids feel involved.

Will you draw closer to God?

Maybe you don’t love Him because you don’t know Him yet- so get to know Him by reading the Bible or going to church.

Maybe you’ve known Him for a long time but can’t seem to hear His voice very well- rest before Him, stop talking while you’re praying and just listen.

Maybe you’ve been hurt and you don’t really feel like you can come to Him- all it takes is one small step toward Him and a simple prayer of, “Help”.

Maybe there is sin in your life that keeps you from Him, you don’t feel worthy of being close to Him- call out to Him and ask for forgiveness.

Whatever it may be, or however big or small- take a step of purpose today towards your Creator.

Come near to God and He will come near to you.
(James 4:8 NIV)

In the coming articles, I'm going to discuss the next step of finding your purpose as a mom. Plus more practical ways to fulfill your purpose as a mom. Stay tuned for Part 3!

©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks
www.myheartsdesireministries.com

Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 1)

2009-05-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts.

Recently I was reading an article from Family Circle called, “The Secret Life of the American Wife”. It stated that 61 percent of American wives would change something about their life if given the chance.

Here are the five top changes they’d make:
1. Get a higher-paying job
2. Marry a different man
3. Marry later in life
4. Have more kids
5. Have kids at an earlier age

Clearly these women had not accurately calculated the timing very carefully when they answered these questions! But I have noticed that when we get antsy with life, or feel like something is wrong (especially as women), we tend to want to change something. . .I need a new haircut, a new wardrobe, a new house, a new style, a new husband, more kids...

After college, I taught elementary and junior high school for seven years. After teaching kindergarten, I “retired” and then went to work for a Christian organization. This was probably one of the most challenging positions that I had ever had. This is where I learned how to pray for wisdom because I quickly learned that I had none! After struggling with what I felt like was “quitting the ministry”, I came home to be a full-time mom.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to come home after working two and sometimes three jobs at one time. I was thrilled to be home with my two sweet girls and had visions of grandeur for our time together. I was going to be the greatest mom ever. People were going to call me “SuperMom”. My house was going to be decorated as a house you would find in any posh magazine. Our meals were going to be nutritious, gourmet and beautiful to gaze upon. I was prepared to do crafts with my children and make homemade gifts for every holiday on the calendar. And of course my children were going to be model citizens- a model that all would admire. Not only did the novelty wear off in about three weeks but my house wasn’t clean (we were remodeling a 1934 house for five years); my meals consisted of pasta, chicken and quesadillas (they weren’t that great to look at either); we may have got one craft done- the rest are still sitting in my craft closet and my children were not model citizens. . .but that is another story entirely!

After a few months of cleaning, cooking, picking up and dropping off, I hit a wall. I remember distinctly sitting on my bed one morning and realizing that I had run out of dreams. I had spent my whole life preparing for the “next” thing. . .I got good grades in elementary school so I could get into the AP classes in High School. In High School I made sure I had a good G.P.A. and a well-rounded life so I could get into college. In college I took all the necessary classes to get a good job, I traveled the world and had many wonderful experiences, I got married and had two kids and I even had a white picket fence. I had been extremely blessed! So how in the world could I at age 32 run out of dreams? I felt like I had nothing to look forward to. Was this my life now? Cleaning, cooking and driving? This was what all my hard work was for? Was this all there was?

During this time, I was reading a book by John Ortberg called, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. In the book Ortberg told a story of a gentleman who wanted to take his faith to the next level and decided to commit to a six-month prayer challenge. He was going to pray for one thing every day for sixth months. This inspired me to follow in his footsteps because I was desperate for change, a miracle. . .anything to help me in my purposelessness. I prayed everyday for six months for my calling, my purpose, so I could figure out what in the world God called me to do. It was the most amazing time and God spoke to me mightily.

In the coming articles, I'm going to discuss what God showed me. I know you will be blessed as we explore practical ways to fulfill your purpose as a mom. Stay tuned!

Delight yourself in the Lord And He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37; 4 NIV)

Everyday Miracles (Part 2)

2009-03-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on Everyday Miracles. If you would like to read Part 1, click here.)

A lot of times when we think of miracles we think of the big pie-in-the-sky miracles: parting of the Red Sea, miraculous healings or walking on water. I think it tends to make us think that miracles only happened in Biblical times or at the very least they rarely happen today. I have found however that it is the seemingly small miracles that are big.

I promised more miracles and here they are...

Miracle #4: Applesauce

I have a receipt on my fridge to remind me of God’s miracles. A couple of years ago we were going through some financial trials and we had no money in our account- I mean a big zero! I had just started leading my first book study and I was getting reimbursed for the books. One of the ladies paid me and told me to keep the change (it came out to a couple of dollars).

The next morning, my daughter who was in kindergarten at the time, was supposed to bring in several apples to her class so they could make applesauce. I had completely forgot and knew we didn’t have the money for even such a small purchase. I suddenly remembered that I had a couple extra dollars from the night before! God had remembered and knew that my little girl needed apples so she could make applesauce. This small miracle was such a big deal to me and it reminds me of how intimately God knows us- down to the smallest detail.

Miracle #5: Five Little Words

I had my annual doctor's appointment recently and oh the terror of five little words, "Please step on the scale." These words strike fear in every woman's heart. We have a love/hate relationship with the scale (mine is mostly hate) and it's usually a very private affair when one is stepping on it. But to have to do it in public! I know it's a doctor's office but is it really necessary to know my weight for my check-up? Is it really necessary to make me get weighed with my clothes and shoes on? (Which I'm sure add 10 extra pounds!) Is it really necessary to announce it over the intercom? (At least that is what it feels like while they are writing it on their clipboard). Anyway, I politely asked the nurse if I could not be weighed and he said, "Sure, not a problem!"

Sure, not a problem!

Attention women everywhere who are afraid to go the doctor because of those five little words- ask and a miracle could happen!

Miracle #6 and 7: Taxes

I finished our taxes. When I say that I mean that I finished my part of the deal. (Our tax lady still needs to figure out the rest of it. I have no idea how to do it!) My husband and I are both self-employed so it can get a little complicated with our many W-2 and 1099 forms, our in-home office and all the deductions. We are not an EZ-form household! Of course this is usually a time of the year where I stress out because I have to do them. Granted, once I get started they are nott near as bad as I thought but sometimes just the thought of doing the taxes is so horrible that I’d rather go to the dentist. And if you know anything about me- you know that I hate the dentist! Not him personally but just the thought of going to the dentist…So over a couple of days I finished them- Miracle #6. Then I figured out a way (this idea is only from the Lord) that will make them easier for next year- Miracle #7. I was almost excited to do next year’s taxes! (That wouldn’t be a miracle, that would just be crazy!)

Miracle #8: Bank Charges

God can even take care of Bank Charges when you accidentally have a negative balance. You may think it is silly, but I can lay awake at night or wake up suddenly in a panic over potential bank charges. God is very patient and has lovingly shown me over the years, that He can handle those too.

God is just good. That's all there is to it. With all the concern over the economy right now, I'm very grateful to the Lord that He gives us wisdom, especially when we have no idea what in the world we are doing! Even more, I'm grateful that we can put our trust in the Lord, so even if we did lose every material item on this earth: our salvation would not be in jeopardy, our family would be with us and we have the promise that God will provide for our needs.

Miracles happen every day. Sometimes they are too “small” to see. What everyday miracles is God doing in your life?

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:34 NIV)

(For more Everyday Miracles, check out my Miracle Blog here)

Permission

2009-02-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

As moms we give our children permission to do certain things. I believe this concept transfers over to ourselves. Where do we get permission? I give you permission for the following things (some of these things you wouldn't dream of doing them- but now you can!):

*To be a mom. I didn't say "supermom"- a mom- nothing else, nothing more.

*To take a nap.

*To leave the dishes in the sink.

*To not make your bed.

*To give your kids a break from making their bed.

*To have a pajama day.

*To go the library and look for books that you want to read.

*To have coffee with a friend.

*To have breakfast for dinner.

*To have dessert first.

*To not finish all the homework.

*To do your devotions in the car.

*To let your kids fix dinner and make a mess!

*To hug and kiss your kids.

*To sleep in.

*To take a long bath.

*To break your self-inflicted rules.

You may be saying to yourself- this will create chaos in my life! That's ok every once in awhile! I find that I've placed these unrealistic expectations on myself to do A,B,and C in a given week. Then sometimes I find that I'm so worried about A,B, and C that I forget how to give love and attention to my family and I come down really hard on myself. Actually when you don't have such unrealistic, unmovable, unloving expectations on yourself- you get more done - because the pressure is off.

Now go- take a nap!!

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12;1-3 (The Message)

www.myheartsdesireministries.com

Get Rid of the Old, to Make Room For the New

2009-01-13T16:39:00.000-08:00

Twice a year I go through my entire house to reorganize and get rid of things we don’t use. I’m definitely a “chucker.” If I haven’t used it recently it gets sent to Goodwill. I try and accomplish this task after Christmas and during the summer. It’s usually quite a process and it takes me awhile to get motivated but once I do, it’s a wonderful feeling. There is just something that feels so good about a clean, organized house. (My husband thinks this is a sickness!)

One of the more challenging tasks of this endeavor is sorting through the kids’ rooms. We find toys that they haven’t played with in months but as soon as they see it, they don’t want to part with it. All of a sudden, it’s the most desirable toy in the world, something they couldn’t possibly live without. I gently try to explain that we have too many things and if we don’t get rid of some things, we won’t have room for the new toys. I also want to teach them about sharing our things with other people who are less fortunate.

It’s difficult for me to understand why it is so hard to get rid of these toys that they don’t even play with! Why would you want so much clutter in your room? If you aren’t using it, why not give it to someone who could!

Once again, I have stop myself and realize that I do the same thing. Why do I hold on to past hurts, experiences and regrets? Why don’t I remember God’s love and forgiveness more often? Why do I fill my life with clutter – worrying what others think, doubting my purpose, fearing the future, and stressing over minor situations?

I decided for 2009 that I would get rid of the old to make room for the new. I didn’t write any New Year’s Resolutions. Our pastor encouraged us to write out a sin list and a prayer list and I would encourage you to do the same. On the sin list, write out all of your sins, ask for forgiveness and then burn the paper. Share your sins with your accountability partner so you are supported in prayer.

For your prayer list, make four columns: Date, Prayer Request, Where it was Answered and When it was Answered. Be very specific about your requests so you will see specific answers. Share your list with a trusted friend. You’ll be amazed at how God answers prayers – a lot of times we don’t even realize it. I started my list yesterday and already 2 of my prayer requests have been answer! This will be an incredible reminder to you and others what God has done in your life.

Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for all you need.
To do this you must always be ready and never give up!
Always pray for all God’s people.
Eph. 6:18 (NCV)

www.myheartsdesireministries.com
©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks

Don't Give Up

2008-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been helping our daughters with their piano lessons. Music has been a huge part of our lives and we would love to impress this upon our children. It’s pretty evident that they have some basic talent and a growing love for music. It’s often a musical at my house as the girls are singing their conversations and dancing about the house.

A challenge for us is when we introduce a new piece of music. The excitement and novelty wear off REALLY quickly when it’s challenging and they can’t play it perfectly the first time. There have been tears, frustration, threats of wanting to quit and yet we don’t let them.

I start shaking my head, wondering why don’t they get it?

“It’s just practice! It will take some time! I know you can do it! I know you have it in you! Don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s not worth getting so upset! I love you. I believe in you. With me you can do anything. Trust me.”

Then I stop.

And think.

How often do I want to quit when it gets hard…
…or I think it’s taking too long…
…or I want to just take the easy road and give up?

How often do I forget that God believes in me and has called me to His purpose? I forget that He will give me the strength to carry on - to complete the task. How often do I not see the big picture but get stuck with this difficult moment and lose all hope?

I do all of these things way too often.

And yet God doesn’t shake His head, He tells me, “It’s just practice! It will take some time! I know you can do it! I know you have it in you! Don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s not worth getting so upset! I love you. I believe in you. With me you can do anything. Trust me.”

And then with God’s help, I do it.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,
that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
1 Timothy 1;12

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4;13

www.myheartsdesireministries.com
©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks

It's Not So Bad

2008-12-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

Maybe the recession isn't so bad.

The ebb and flow of our economy has got me thinking (it probably has gotten a lot of people thinking!) The media insists we are in a recession and I just heard a report saying that we've actually been in a recession since last Christmas - we just didn't know it!

I'm wondering if the recession is a good thing. If you look at any financial institution (i.e. business, non-profit or personal) there are cycles: expansion and growth, excess, scale back, expansion and growth...and it continues. It looks similar in my own finances!

Would it really be so bad if we had to cut back?

It concerned me at first that the most common piece of advice has been to "watch your spending" or "don't buy unnecessary items." This can be good advice but it won't necessarily help the economy. But then I started thinking...

Would it be so bad if we didn't spend so much?

...if we didn't spend so much, people wouldn't have to work as much...

...if we didn't work so much, maybe life would have more joy and we'd have more time to do things we couldn't do before...

What if we depended more on our family, friends and neighbors instead of buying everything or paying someone to do it?

What if we could wait to purchase items and not run up our credit?

Would it really be so bad?

As a family, we've definitely been affected by the recession and are trying to figure out ways to cut back. At first it was really stressful but it's actually been helpful. Here are some of the things we did:

We changed to basic cable. It saves us $50 a month. We were paying for channels that we hardly ever watched! We only have cable on one TV. Our other TV is used for movies and video games.

We talked to our auto insurance company and were able to get a different policy that will save us a couple hundred dollars a year.

We cut back our cell phone plan - we were able to save $100 a month using text messages instead of minutes and by removing the web browser that we rarely used.

We've been depending more on friends and family. I'm going to get a relative to trim my girls' hair to save a trip to kids' salon. We've also been swapping movies with friends and family so we don't have to go and rent them. They have a ton of movies that we haven't seen!

We're trying to conserve water by not letting it run while doing the dishes and brushing our teeth. We're scaling way back on outside water usage during the winter months.

We're making a conscience effort to turn off lights when they are not in use to save on our electric bill.

For our weekly "Family Fun Night," we are doing things at home. We each take a turn picking what we'll do that night and we've become pretty creative with activities that cost little or no money. We love to watch movies or play games and the kids love it!

Since Christmas is quickly approaching, we've also taken some additional steps to save:

We're not giving presents to everybody. My brother and I decided that we didn't need to exchange gifts with our families this year. Instead, we are going to have a game night!

We are buying our girls only a couple of presents because they get plenty from grandparents and extended family! This not only saves money but saves on the stress of trying to figure out where to put it all after Christmas!

We're sending e-Christmas Cards this year!

We're giving homemade gifts. Our pumpkin bread is pretty popular!

Maybe we'll learn...

...how to live with less...

...how to depend on each other...

...how to work less and play more...

...how to live simpler lives...

...how to rely on God, not ourselves for every need...

...that we don't need half of things that we thought we needed...

...that it's not so bad.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6;25-26

God's Timing

2008-12-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

God’s timing is an amazing thing. It often seems like it’s not my timing but always ends up being the best possible timing. Why do I still doubt God’s timing? Is it because I’m a control freak or is it a natural tendency of a chick? We’re in the business of timing. We have to schedule not only our schedules but also the schedules of our whole household. We have to figure out the timing of when to start dinner, when to start homework, when to start getting the kids into bed, or when to go to bed so we can get up in the morning (to name just a few!)

As Christmas quickly approaches (I do not have all of my decorations out or presents wrapped like some of my friends- I haven’t even started!), I’m reminded of the timing of Jesus’ arrival. Did it seem like great timing…

• for Mary to get pregnant before she was married?
• for Joseph to be publicly humiliated because of his pregnant fiancé?
• that there was a census that required Mary and Joseph to travel right at Mary’s due date?
• for Jesus to be born under the rule of Caesar Augustus?
• for there to be no room at any inn?
• that Jesus was born in a stable surrounded by animals?

It doesn’t seem like God picked the greatest timing for the greatest thing to happen on earth or did He? It definitely doesn’t look like it from our earthly standards but as I often remind myself, “God’s ways are not my ways.” (Isaiah 55;8)

Being Thankful

2008-11-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving only days away, we tend to gear up for the holiday season (actually it seems as if it is starting at Halloween now!) We are busy preparing and organizing and we know in the back of our minds that this is the season to be thankful - maybe we can be thankful after the meal is cooked, cleaned and put away!

I love the idea of a holiday dedicated to giving thanks to our Lord for His countless blessings, but I want to offer another suggestion. John Ortberg (one of my favorite authors and speakers) suggests that we "review the dailies." At the end of each day he reviews the day of it's blessings. We can get so focused on what went wrong in a day, that by the end of it we just want to go to bed! If we review our blessings each and every day, our perspective on life quickly changes and in turn we are more aware and grateful for all the Lord has done for us!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (even BEFORE Thanksgiving), here are a few of the blessing the Lord has given me:

My kids make me laugh every day
My daughter can read and write
Our family is healthy
We have enough food
God gives me new and creative ideas
He uses our Pastor and church to change lives
God answers prayer- even prayers that were prayed years ago
God loves me no matter what
My kids call me Mommy
I have a supportive husband and he’s a good dad to our kids
I can pray to God any second of any day
I can teach my kids about God and His love
My kids want my attention
I can play games with my kids
God teaches me through my kids

May this encourage you to review your blessings each and every day!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.

Colossians 3;15

Romance

2008-10-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, I would daydream about the day that I would one day meet the man of my dreams, fall madly in love, get married and live happily ever after. I will have to say that the Lord answered my prayers in giving me a wonderful husband however it wasn’t exactly like I pictured it as I was romanticizing it in my head. There wasn’t the constant romantic gestures. We weren’t constantly gazing into each other’s eyes professing our undying love, (we were more shocked and amazed that we were actually married!) And even though I was tremendously blessed with a Godly and kind husband, it seemed to be lacking something. I searched and searched. What was I missing? Did I really love this person? Did he really love me? Did we need to plan more romantic dates? Did we need to show more affection? Where were all the fuzzy feelings like when we were first dating? What was I missing? First I just came up with a solution that there wasn’t such a thing as “true love,” the “perfect mate” or a “romance that lasted a lifetime” in which I was partly correct…I was just looking in the wrong places.

Did you know that there is a guy waiting outside your door right now? He has a big bouquet of flowers, he’s dressed to the nines, has a limo idling in the driveway, waiting to take you on the date of your dreams? This isn’t just a one-time event like on your anniversary or birthday or “I’m-sorry-I’ve-been-such–a-jerk- date.” It’s every day! Every single day this guy is waiting to take you out! Also, get this…he knows everything about you. He can read your mind, know what you are feeling, and know what you need - without you even having to say it! AND- he loves you with the best kind of love- unconditional- in fact if you don’t have the energy to get dressed and put on that fancy dress- that’s ok- he’ll take you out anyway- even in your jammies! He’s standing at the door, knocking…waiting.

So often, we women, look to the men in our life to fill that empty space. And you know what? With that kind of expectation - both parties are doomed. Because there is no human on this earth that can fulfill all of our desires. We are setting ourselves up for disappointment. Plus, the man in our life, knowing that we are disappointed gets discouraged because he’s not fulfilling your expectations and feels like he can’t do anything right! This is a lose-lose situation.

The gentleman (as Anne Graham Lotz explains him) outside your door is God. Did you know that the creator of the universe, the heavens and earth, is patiently knocking? He’s waiting for you to answer, waiting to talk with you, waiting to hear your concerns and worries and dreams and desires, waiting to help you, waiting to tell you how much He loves you, how much He cares, how much He has in store for you, how much He has planned- this great plan for your future… a hope that your life makes sense and you are here for a reason (Jeremiah 29:11). Isn’t that what you are looking for? Honestly? Someone who already knows every fiber of your being - every thought and desire? He’s there waiting for you to answer.

Here’s the trick though, each and every day, He comes back - waiting for you to open the door to Him. It’s a daily thing. He knows how fragile we can become or how the busyness of the day distracts us from His knock. He knows that we need a daily dose of His goodness to help us make it through. If only we would open the door to His knocking. Do you hear it?

Kitchen tip of the Day: Kid’s Corner

Designate a drawer or cupboard that is for your kids. Make sure they can access it and that it’s filled with kid-friendly items (i.e. plastic cups, bowls, plates). This enables the kids to get things for themselves, help with meal preparation and clean-up!

Battling the Worry-Monster

2008-10-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

I think it's safe to say that most moms (if not all) battle feelings of worry. It's something we genetically inherited as women! The "what ifs" tend to plague our mind with doubt, fear and anxiety. It can make us second guess our every decision, cause great stress and negatively effect everything we do.

Have you ever worried about...

what school your child should attend?
feeding your family healthy food?
getting enough exercise?
deciding the activities for your family?
words you've said to your kids?
your child's safety?
your child's future?
paying the bills?
being a good enough mom?

As a fellow worrier, I could tell you why you shouldn't worry about such things and even if my suggestions were valid and made total sense - it would still be hard NOT to worry! I remember when we brought our infant daughter home from the hospital, I was extremely tired. It was more than the usual sleep-deprivation after birthing a child - I had not slept for days. Why? I was worried! I was so afraid to fall asleep because I was afraid she was going to die. Now I know this is a real possibility and I mourn for those of you who have lost babies, but I had no reason to be worried about her health - and more than that, it was something that was totally out of my control. I finally remember crying and praying to the Lord, "Please Lord, I have to sleep. I give my baby up to you. If it be your will that we only have her for a few days, than thank you for the wonderful days we've already experienced." It wasn't until I prayed that prayer was I able to sleep.

How do we battle the worry-monster? What's the secret? Recognizing that worry and all the accompanying feelings (doubt, fear, anxiety) are not from the Lord. Those feelings are from the enemy and he will use them to destroy our confidence in God. It says in the Bible that God has given us a spirit of power and love and a calm and well-balanced mind (2 Timothy 1;7). I love the idea of God giving me a calm mind that battles the negative thoughts. We may not be able to battle the worry on our own, but with God all things are possible!

I will tell you it's a work in progress - it won't come automatically. You have to train your mind to focus on God's promises rather than the worry. Anytime that I feel worry creeping into my mind, I battle it with scripture. I handle the finances in our house (my husband can always tell when I've done the bills - I may not be in one of my best moods!) and they are at the top of my worry list. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my worries. I have to pray while I'm doing the finances and continually remind myself of God's promises (i.e. He will provide for us, He loves us, He tells us NOT to worry!) It's been a long process and I'm not certainly not perfect but I've gotten much better over the years. I've found that regular time spent with God, resting, and sharing my worries with trusted friends help me fight my feelings of anxiety as well. The important thing is that with God's help we CAN battle worry and win.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
2 Timothy 1;7 (AMP)

Mommy Tip of the Day: Making Lunches

Bring your lunch to work? Do your kids take their lunch to school? Make them the night before. I try to make them during the dinner mess. There’s a lot you can do while you’re waiting for the water to boil or for a meal to cook! I already have a mess in the kitchen so I might as well make lunches real quick. It saves your nerves in the early morning rush to just grab your lunch out of the fridge!

Fast Food Family

2008-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the hardest thing I do all day is get out of bed. The alarm clock goes off or I wake to the rumblings of my two little ones and the first thoughts in my head are those of panic: "I have so much to get done today! How will I ever get it done? Did I remember to... What about the bills? How are we ever going to pay them? I can't forget to..." I'm already stressed out and I haven't even gotten out of bed.! We live in a fast food world. Our minds have been conditioned to order, pay and receive our food in 5 minutes flat. If it takes longer (or there's a long wait) we get stressed out. We only allowed 5 minutes to grab dinner and now we are off schedule! It's going to mess everything up!

We then translate this fast food mentality to other aspects of our lives: we get an email and have to respond, we get a phone call or message and feel like we need to immediately call back, the garage is a mess so we need to clean it NOW! We have this sense of urgency in our lives and if we don't react quickly, we feel guilty that it's not done yet. Then we get overwhelmed because we have so much on our plates. We wonder if we'll ever get caught up. When we feel like we get ahead a little bit, something else comes up and the vicious cycle continues!

Here are some tips to combat our fast food mentality:

Start with the essentials: As you're laying in bed trying to sort out your day, remind yourself to breathe. It may sound like a no-brainer but we often need this essential reminder!

Pray for guidance: Too much to do? Don't know where to begin? Are you discouraged before your day has even started? Pray that the Lord will be with you in every aspect of your day. Pray for wisdom as you pick and chose the important things that need to be done THAT day. Don't worry about what needs to be done tomorrow or next week but what needs to be done today- it will help you not get so overwhelmed.

Plan accordingly: After you've prayed, pick the 2 or 3 things that are the most important to get done that day amongst the rest of your schedule (i.e. return a phone call, do laundry, or run an errand). If you don't accomplish them that day, don't stress out! (sometimes our expectations are unrealistic... sure I can run to the grocery store, pick up the kids from the school, fix a fabulous meal, clean the whole house and finish the science experiment all in one afternoon...) In fact, it's important to realize that you will NEVER get caught up. At first that might seem really depressing but once you accept this fact, it’s actually quite freeing.

REST: When your 2 or 3 things are done, don't start adding more things into your day. Feel good that you accomplished your goals for that day and rest, take a nap, play with your kids, enjoy a book, watch a movie- do something that will help refresh you because it all starts back up tomorrow! There will always be things to do (if we didn't have anything to do we'd die of boredom!)

Allow for interruptions: In a mom's life, there are ALWAYS interruptions. If we expect them, we won't get so derailed! Thank God for these minor setbacks. Often these are unexpected blessings that we tend to ignore or allow them to become irritants. It's a time when your child might need that extra hug or loving word, a friend might need a hand or it might even be the Lord giving you a chance to slow down and breathe! (you have to wait in line- take a deep breath, remind yourself of the blessings God has given you, or start a friendly conversation with a fellow shopper.)

Following these tips will help you lose your fast food mentality. It might not resemble a slow, romantic candlelit dinner at a fancy restaurant but it will at least give you a chance to slow down and enjoy your life, even if you're standing in line at McDonalds.

Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
Matthew 6;33 NLT

Mommy Tip of the Day: Taking a break.
As a mom you are going around the clock 24/7. Try and catch some times of rest in your day. While your child is eating- sit down beside them. Don’t try and rush it! Even 5 minutes can help you calm down. Bath time is a perfect place to catch a breather. Kids love to play in the tub. Let them play for an extra 5-10 minutes and you take a load off! Sit on the floor next to them and enjoy the kids: think, pray for the things you are thankful for, dream, or be silent. These 5-minute breathers throughout the day can help you make it through the day!

To Be Or Not To Be...Perfect

2008-09-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

In this day and age when all things must appear "perfect," it can be rough being a woman, especially a mom. Not only do we have to be perfect but our kids have to be perfect! That's a lot of pressure! Too much pressure! Unrealistic pressure!

I'm here to tell you - it's OK to NOT be perfect! In fact, it's impossible to be perfect so take a load off and realize this true fact - we are not perfect (you might want to say it out loud for effect!) Now some of you might be mildly freaking out at this point! That is ok. Acceptance is the first step! So you can take a big sigh of relief when...

your child acts out in public
you and your child are wearing more of your food than you actually ate
your child got a "B" (or lower) or a "S" instead of a "S+"
your child is not the star athlete or dance star but maybe the star in the "drama" department
sometimes you're not all that thrilled with your chosen profession (i.e. mommyhood)
you take a nap!

Now that you are thoroughly depressed - what is the good news? The good news is that even though we're not perfect, God is. If we love and put our trust in Him, we have access to a perfect God and all of His resources. It says in Psalm 37;23-24, "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." God never promises that we won't mess up, BUT He does promise that if we stumble, we won't fall! I picture God holding our hand as we journey through this life and like a little child, when we stumble, He has our hand and prevents us from falling. Now that is some good news.

Mommy Tip of the Day: School is back in session! How are your kids doing in school? Each day when I pick my kids up from school, I ask them two questions: What was your favorite part? What was your least favorite part? These are great conversation starters and allow you to find out how your child's day was at school. Try it out! I'd love to hear what you find out!

Miracles

2008-08-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

God has impressed upon me that this next year is going to be a year of miracles. Sounds pretty presumptuous doesn’t it? That’s ok. July marked the year of our move to Orange County. Moving down here was a miracle in itself. We sold our house right before the market went to a screeching halt and He led us exactly where we are supposed to be. Now a year later, we are settled and getting used to our new life. Both my husband and I recently started new careers and strongly believe that God has called us to them. Even though it’s a miracle that we are here, how do we forget the miracles so easily?

We aren’t the first ones…

The Israelites had been crying out to God for hundreds of years as they were enslaved to the Egyptians. Back breaking labor and unjust treatment were handed down from generation to generation. Then God brought Moses onto the scene and implemented His plan. Miracle after miracle was done to free the Israelites. When it looked like they were finally freed from their captives and they began their journey to the Promised Land. As the Israelites were coming up to the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army started to close in on them. Apparently Pharaoh decided to change his mind about letting the Israelites go. God did the impossible and parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could safely cross! When the Pharaoh's army tried to cross, they were washed away. Pretty incredible right? You would think that this memory would be imprinted on the Israelites minds forever - for generations to come. But if you look at their story, it wasn’t too long after this mighty miracle that the Israelites forgot what God had done and even started complaining! How could this be? They even wanted to go back to Egypt! And be slaves again! After all that He had done!

Before we get too hard on the Israelites, I really have to check myself. I have to often ask myself if I am a “complaining Israelite?“ Am I forgetting all that God has done for me? Am I forgetting all the miracles that He has done in my life because things aren’t going my way? Does that mean God is absent? Because of the Israelites disobedience and forgetfulness, they wandered in the dessert for 40 years. This was a trip that would have only taken weeks! Do you remember all that God has done for you or are you a complaining Israelite?

Mommy Tip of the Day: Dishes

Do dishes one time a day! Rinse them off and put them in one side of the sink. Wash them or put them in the dishwasher after dinner. Then it won’t feel like you are doing dishes all day long! (These are one of those things that are never ending!)

Remember your little ones can help! My kids started clearing their own plate at 3! Both my girls help empty the dishwasher. My 4 year old puts away the utensils and plastic ware and my 7 year old does the rest. She stacks on the counter the things that she can’t reach and I put them away. It’s a huge help and teaches them responsibility! After dinner clean up is also a great time to make those lunches for the next day while you’ve got the mess! Kids can help with this too! Make your life easier and instill responsibility in your kids- everybody benefits!

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101

2008-07-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

My great-grandma died this week. She was 101 years old. Amazing! Even though it is an incredible blessing that she is in heaven where she wants to be, it still hit me kind of hard: a life gone from this earth. In some ways I’m even a little jealous. I could handle being in heaven.

As I look back on her life, her biggest joy was her family. She would brag on us anytime she could. Counting up the grandkids, great grandkids and even great-great grandkids! One person in particular that she would brag about was my grandfather - her eldest son. She would say that he was perfect (and actually it’s pretty much true!) My grandfather is true entrepreneur (he started several successful businesses), a self-learned man (never went to college but reads encyclopedias for fun; the wisest person I know), loves people (he knows and genuinely cares about everybody in town) and a man after God’s own heart. She raised a fine young man!

This year my grandfather is turning 80 (yes all of my family married REALLY young!) and we’re celebrating his birthday along with my grandmother next week at a mini-family reunion. We “stole” all of their old 8mm and Super 8 home movies and got them transferred to DVD as their surprise birthday present from the family. We have tape from 1948! On the invitation to the party, my cousin wrote:

We're celebrating Papa and Mom!
80 Priceless years and still going
strong...their unconditional
love, wisdom and guidance has
been the foundation of our
family legacy.

That legacy started with my grandmother raising a Godly son and it has filtered down to the great-great grandkids. How you live your life matters - not only for you but for generations that follow. Great Grandma Turner lived a simple yet meaningful life and we all have reaped the benefits.

If you are a mom and discouraged by your simple life – know that the work you are doing matters not only for today but for generations to come. What do you want it to look like? Whether you are already part of a legacy or you are choosing to start a legacy of your own – your Godly legacy can effect eternity.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Mommy Tip of the Day: Saying I Love You

How often do you tell your kids that you love them? I grew up with my mom telling me she loved me EVERY DAY! She didn’t want me to EVER doubt that she loved me. I do the same thing with my kids. I make sure they know ALL the time. In fact, we have a habit of signing off our phone calls with loved ones by saying, “I love you! Goodbye!” One time I was talking to a handy man that was coming to our house and Emma said, “Did you hang up on him? You didn’t say, ‘I love you! Goodbye!’”

Knowing that I was loved unconditionally by my family has allowed me to be successful in my life. I have this strong foundation at the very core of my being: the support and love of my family. You can do this for your kids too. Give them the love and support they need to grow up with a healthy knowledge of your love.

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Born

2008-07-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

…Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless He is born again.” John 3;3

As a Christ follower this is a phrase that I have heard all of my life. But I would imagine the first time Jesus said it, He probably got some strange looks. In fact when Jesus tells Nichodemus that he must be born again, he asks, “How can this be?” (John 3;9)

Here are some definitions of “born:”

Brought into life

Begun

Naturally predisposed

By birth

My favorite one was:

coming from a particular place or background and usually having the qualities or character regarded as representative of it

When we are physically born we usually have characteristics of our family. This is true when we are spiritually reborn as well. We become “naturally predisposed” of our Father in heaven. We inherit His qualities – love, peace, grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness – they are all available to us because we are born again! And the best news is because we are spiritually born again we can one day see Jesus face to face: in the kingdom of heaven! We become His child and therefore are heirs to His throne. (“…so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7) That is good news!

How might it change your perspective knowing that you can inherit not only the qualities of God but also the kingdom of God?

Mommy Tip of the Day: House Work
Yuck! Just the thought of it can make you cringe! What you have to accept are these two truths: You will NEVER get caught up and it will ALWAYS get dirty again. At first that seems really depressing but once you accept the terms - it’s actually freeing! It makes it ok if you don’t get it done one week because it will be there next week!

Here are some suggestions that have worked for me:

Clean half the house one week and the other half the next. Don’t feel like you have to clean the ENTIRE house each week. Who made up that rule?

Clean a little each day. Here’s the trick though- if you miss a day- don’t come back to it! Save it for the next week! It will still be there!

On big projects set aside a certain amount of time each week. Don’t try and get it all done at once. Set your timer and STOP when it’s time!

Happy Cleaning!

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Eternity

2008-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

“In all of our hearts lies a longing for a Sacred Romance…this heart yearning set within us, the longing for transcendence; the desire to be part of something larger than ourselves…The deepest part of our heart longs to be bound together in some heroic purpose with others of like mind and spirit.“
Brent Curtis and John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 19.

I love this quote. It resonates with my soul. These past few years as I was searching for purpose and significance, I so longed to be apart of something. I wanted to be apart of God’s bigger picture. I wanted to make a difference that would last - eternally. As I was on this journey, I would ask my friends:

• Do you think you can make a difference for eternity?

• What do you think God has planned for you so you will make a difference for eternity?

• What do you think your role is in ushering in the Kingdom of God?

I got some pretty weird looks! But I can tell you it got them thinking. I think most of us long to make a difference in our lifetime but doubt that God has big or significant plans for us. How could God use me? I’m not a Billy Graham or a Rick Warren.

It says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I love that this verse brings to light the fact that God has a specific, plan for us. He's already got it planned! I don’t know about you but I want to make a difference for eternity.

Mommy Tip of the Day:

Rewards: Do you have rewards in your household? I’ve come to realize that not only do kids like and need rewards for celebrating good behavior or accomplishing a goal but so do we! At the end of the school year, we all had a celebration! We ALL made it through the school year. I was just as much apart of it as they were! We went out for a yummy breakfast and headed over to the pool to celebrate our accomplishment. It was such a great feeling for all of us. Make a point to celebrate your kids AND you! Other activities to reward yourself: finishing a big school project, good behavior, surviving a sports season, completing chores for a week, or accomplishing a goal (for us it was completing swim lessons!)

Confession

2008-07-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Lord I confess my fears...

...of succeeding
...of being overwhelmed
...of losing all of our money
...of being unwise
....of not making a difference
...of making a wrong decision
...of your will
...of moving forward
...of death
...of being alone
...of failing
...of hurting
...of losing...

I give them all to you.

Your promises to me...

...You will never leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6)
...You will be with me to the end of the age (Matthew 28;20)
...You will give me wisdom (Proverbs 2;6)
...I can come to you (Matthew 11:28)
...You will give me rest (Matthew 11:28)
...You are my Hero (John 3:16)
...You love me (Ephesians 3:17-19)
...You are preparing a place for me (John 14:2-3)

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28

Mommy Tip of the Day: Do you ever go to the grocery store and forget something? I have made a word document that lists the basic food items that we need by category (i.e. produce, grains, drinks, meat, etc.). I print this out and hang it on my fridge. This way when I know that I am low on something I can mark it right away. It also helps me remember the basic food items we need while I'm at the store. Since it's on my computer I can edit it as needed. I love it! It's helpful and keeps me organized! I also have a similar list for toiletries! If you would like me to send you my personal grocery list, email me at info@myheartdesireministries.com, with "Grocery List" in the subject.

Dream

2008-07-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

If I could tell people one thing about Life Purpose I would say, dare to DREAM!

I have this in-progress theory that we live in such a unique time in history that allows us to do more readily the things that God has created us to do. It seems as if the history of man’s life has been mostly about survival – food, shelter and protection. For most of us (especially in the U.S.) basic survival is the least of our worries. We busy ourselves with school, activities, social gatherings or achieving the “American dream.” What we often forget is that we have this incredible privilege to be a part of an age that allows us to do the specific things that God has created us to do.

The older we get the harder it is to dream. We get bogged down with our to-do list and even forget how to dream. When I was 32, I had just transitioned from working outside of the home to being a full-time mom. Even though I knew that this was God’s will for my life, I was struggling. I remember lying in my bed and realizing that I had run out of dreams. I had accomplished all the dreams that I had from when I was younger: I went to college, I traveled, I got married, I had kids, and I even had a house with a white picket fence! Not having any more dreams diminished my hope. I couldn’t imagine that God didn’t have any more dreams for my life since I was still here on earth! This is what started me on my quest for figuring out what God’s dreams were for my life.

So how do you figure out your dreams? Ask God to partner with you and to specifically reveal His dreams for your life. Here are some questions to help you get started:

What are my talents and gifts?

What are my passions?

What do I want my house to look like?

What do I want to be doing with my time?

What activities do I want to be involved in?

What does my family look like?

As God starts to reveal things to you, write them down. Chances are your dreams are already in your head, you just haven’t thought about them in a while. God promises that when we ask, we will receive. Have you ever thought of asking Him about the dreams for your life?

As you draw close to God you will hear His dreams for your life.

As your hear His dreams for your life, you will know your purpose.

As you know your purpose, you will make a difference with your life for the glory of God and His eternal purposes.

Kitchen tip of the day: Bought any strawberries this summer? If you are not using all the strawberries in the basket, use the ones at the bottom first. They are usually a bit more squished and tend to ripen quicker. This will help keep your unused strawberries from getting too ripe!

Here

2008-06-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I pray as if God is not here. I guess I visualize Him in heaven which seems so far away. It's almost like I need to cup my hands and shout my prayers so He can hear them. But if I've asked Christ into my life - He's here. Living inside of me. It's kind of an odd thought to think of Christ inside of me but isn't that where the Holy Spirit is? So there is no need to "shout" my prayers anymore. I could whisper or think a prayer. Sometimes He answers my prayers without me even praying them. Those aren't characteristics of a faraway God. How would your life change knowing that God is right there with you and not far away?

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
Psalm 139:7-14

Mommy Tip of the Day: Do you ever rest? Do you ever (dare I say it?) take a NAP? (Gasp!)
I officially give you permission to take a nap! It will feel strange at first. You might even feel guilty. But where did we get this idea that we need to be "productive" 24 hours a day? Actually getting some time of rest during the day is what helps me be productive. Each day after lunch we have rest time. This is a time where we read, do our devotions, do a quiet activity or even sleep. This act has saved many stressed-filled days. You may think, "I don't have time to take rest." But you will actually get more done the remainder of the day if you take the time. Are you ready to be more productive? Rest!

Ask

2008-06-17T16:04:00.001-07:00

Today while I was doing my devotions and resting, my youngest daughter was supposed to be sleeping. She came in and asked if she could get a toy to sleep with and I told her yes. As she walked back to her bed, she had something "hidden" behind her back. A couple minutes later she came back and said she wanted me to shut the door so I couldn't see her walk by again. I asked her why and she "didn't know. " I asked her if she wanted to sneak something. To her credit she was honest and said, " Yes." I asked her what she wanted. She wanted a Barbie to sleep with as well. I told her all she had to do was ask instead of trying to sneak around and do it on her own. As the words were coming out of my mouth I was struck with the thought of how I try to hide things from God (kind of like my daughter "hiding" her toy behind her back that I could plainly see). For some reason I don't think to ask God about certain things in my life. I'll pray for the obvious things like safety, wisdom, and guidance. But other things I'll leave out of my prayer life. It could be something big like "how to handle my finances" to something small like "what should I wear to an event." I believe that God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, from how to raise our kids to what I should cook for dinner. Maybe the reason why we don't know the answer sometimes is because we don't ask.

"Ask and it will be given to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Purpose Tip of the Day: Do you have dreams? What are they? Are they lost in the hustle and bustle of every day life? Take some time and plan out your 10 year goals. What do you want your life to look like in 10 years? Be very specific in your description and cover every aspect of your life. Some questions to ask yourself: What do I want my house to look like? What are the characteristics of my kids? What are the activities in my life? What do we do for fun? How am I serving the community? You'll be amazed at the results of simply taking the time to write down some goals. Before you know it, your goals and dreams will become a reality!

Adoption

2008-06-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Adoption was God's plan from the beginning.

It says in John 1:12-13:
"He came to that which was his own...to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

As children of God we are born of God. We are born again. We have a new life (John 3:3). We have a new relationship with God that wasn't a result of our birth.* We are adopted into God's family. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3;5).

So I ask myself: Do I live as one of "His own?" Do I live knowing and believing that I am a child of God? How does this change my perspective and life knowing these truths?

Are you a child of God?

*taken from NIV Study Bible Notes

Mommy Tip of the Day: Are your kids involved with chores around the house? Our house motto is, "Everybody Helps." You will be surprised at how even the smallest amount of help from your little ones can contribute to your daily duties. My little girls started making their bed at age 3! It wasn't perfect but it gave them confidence in knowing that they could do it by themselves AND it was one less thing I had to do that day.

Strength

2008-05-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Don't have much strength today? Good news- we don't need to rely on our strength. It says in Psalm 29:10-11, "The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses his people with peace." What kind of strength is it? Earlier in the Psalm it describes the Lord's strength with words like powerful and majestic. Bottom Line: God's strength + our weakness (our reliance on Him) = peace. Good news right?

Kitchen Tip of the Day: Looking for an easy way to chop and cut? Invest in a pair of meat scissors. I use them on everything! It's especially great for mommy's who are always cutting up food for her little ones.