Archives for 2010

A Walk with God – In Hardback

March 15, 2010 by Amy 2 Comments

I wasn’t going to share this but it’s come up a few times so I thought I’d go ahead. I put the “A Walk with God” post into a hardback format for myself this weekend. I have read it so many times myself to remember what He showed me. I’m in awe of Him every single time.

I ordered a copy for myself and my mom got a copy. Then someone else wanted one to give away. I’m not making any money off of this whatsoever but if you are interested in having a copy, it’s available on lulu.com. I tried to make smaller formats but it just didn’t work out right with the pics and the verse so it’s $28.45 for a 9×7 27 page book. A preview is below:

Regular Monday Morning Convo

March 15, 2010 by Amy 5 Comments

On the way to take Lexi to school this morning, this is what Lexi pipes up with.

Lexi: I think when I get to heaven I’ll be happy to see Trooper [Dad’s dog]
Emma: and Misty and Tisha [parents’ cats]
Me: and Sheba [sister’s dog]
Lexi: and Mr Fred [neighbor]
Me: You miss them?
Lexi shakes her head yes.
Emma: And yourself
Lexi: How can you miss yourself?

*pause*

Lexi: I think DisneyWorld misses me.

Random! Happy Monday, ya’ll!

Sunday Highlights: Love, Sex, God: Purity Goes Public

March 14, 2010 by Amy 1 Comment

Some things should remain private but some things that should seem private should be public.

Purity is a public matter. Our sex lives have an impact on the community around us

SoS 8:4-8:12

She’s saying again not to stir it up until the appropriate time. She’s concerned for her sister who is not yet mature. If she’s pure, they will come alongside her and help fortify her. If she’s “open”, they will put boards up. It’s a family ordeal. Siblings can and should step in.

Your goal is to help your kids love Jesus. Find opportunities to teach Godly principles. Don’t let the world dictate your morals. You are your children’s pastor.

Fathers, date your daughters. Go on regular dates. Once a year, have a very fancy date. Show her what a gentleman does…open doors, pushes in chair. Be physical appropriately.

Youth, treat a woman like you want someone to treat your sister.

Good guys don’t mind community. They don’t mind meeting parents, hanging out with friends, going to church because they have nothing to hide. If a guy isolates you from that, get rid of him.

For those that have a past, repent, take responsibility.

Parents, know your children. Spend time with them. Know what they know. Control behaviors. They are in your home, act like it.

Purity will lead to peace in the home. You can control yourself.

A Walk with God

March 13, 2010 by Amy 14 Comments

I started this yesterday and finally finished it today.

Today as I drove to the Y to get a fast walk in at lunch, I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to walk outside. It was fairly nice but I still debated in my head. I’d picture myself on the treadmill and I’d have no peace about it. I’d picture myself walking outside and I could hear Yes! Yes, a simple walk was a debate.

So I parked at the Y and started out on the sidewalk leading out to the adjoining neighborhood. For local folks, this will look familiar. As I walked I really felt that God has something to show me. I prayed that He’d give me His eyes as I walked. As I walked past this field of sorts, I could hear the birds chirping. The pieces of a few verses came to my mind

“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…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Mattthew 6:26, 34

As I walked, over and over again a word or object would bring forth a verse to my mind. Sometimes all I could recall were a few words. But it was clear specific verses were coming to mind from the most mundane things.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 6:18

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 2:8

He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Luke 20:25

Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the eastand have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

(reflection)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you Jeremiah 1:15

As I drove away, I was overcome with emotion. God is real. We can meet with Him in the smallest things around us. He loved us. He died for us. He’s inviting us. Just as we are.

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl Review

March 12, 2010 by Amy Leave a Comment

I mentioned Lysa TerKeurst’s new book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl in passing back in December when I read it but when Lysa offered for folks to share their posts on it, I realized I never did a detailed review.

As I said in my initial reaction, some things didn’t blow me away. I’ll clarify that a bit and say it’s not that she wasn’t dead-on. Some things I profusely shook my head in agreement but wasn’t necessarily challenged by. However, that doesn’t discount the many things that did prick and challenge me. I earmarked a few pages while reading and thought I’d share a few of them:

The first comes from the In My Walk with God –Beyond Sunday Morning chapter. Here is the quote. “Instead of looking at the ministry options our church offers and asking, “Which one will meet my needs and feed me the way I need to be fed?” we must look at our church and ask, “Where can I make a difference in the body of Christ?” Ouch, ouch, ouch! Get OFF my toes! After spending part of last year looking for a new church I have to say I am guilty of this one. If everyone would look for ways to serve instead of looking for all the ministries the church doesn’t have, we’d all be happy.

The next three are from In My Thoughts section. I think it’s curious now that I look back. I’m not surprised that’s the case though. I’ve been told a time or two I think too much.

From the “What Do I Do When I Don’t Feel God?” section. I loved the closing comments. “Becoming more than a good Bible study girl means…being able to sit in the noise of the arena of life with every worldly distractions imaginable bombarding you and suddenly thinking of Him – talking with Him, smiling with Him, and realizing that every longing you’ve ever had in life to be more than just the girl in row 116, section R, seat 24 is already filled. By Him. The One who chooses you.” He chooses me. He chooses me. He chooses me. I’m not sure if I could hear that enough. So many women need to know they are chosen.

From the “Learning to Simply Like Me”, Lysa encourages us all to share our worst mistakes. Some of us have been through pits and made it back out with God’s help. So many others are in the same pit but don’t know how to get out. If we just share our story, the help we are able to offer will far outweigh the shame we may feel from judgment of others. “There are women in your sphere of influence who need to hear your story.”

In “A Glorious Sense of Possibility”, Lysa invites “each of us into the possibility of seeing God. Not his actual physical form, but rather evidence of His activity.” So many times we see credit God’s movement to luck or coincidences. Not so. God is moving and reveals Himself sometimes in the smallest, very physical ways. Look for Him. And credit Him. A verse that she doesn’t mention but has helped me in this is James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

I think this book is one we could read once a year and depending on where we are in our journey, take something completely different away from it. It’s definitely staying in my bookcase and I’m happy to give it my full recommendation.

American Idol Top 16 – Boys

March 10, 2010 by Amy Leave a Comment

Lee – I enjoyed his changes at parts, especially at the end, but there were a lot of rough notes in there. Kara is crazy…that was not a better version. Overall a thumbs up but Simon is right, he is better than that.
Alex – Absolutely loved that. This is the first week I was in love with a performance of his. Bravo.
Tim – Probably the best we’ve seen Tim but I’m not sure that’s enough. Jason Castro still has this song for me.
Andrew – Pretty genius if you ask me. Not perfect vocally, but loved the idea.
Casey – I felt like he was holding back a bit and sounded almost nervous. Not my favorite performance but I still love him.
Aaron – Not a fan of that at all. Very weak lower register. Don’t think he connected with the lyrics. Better towards the end but I don’t think it saved it.
Todrick – While his performances was very…performance-y, his vocals were outstanding.
Mike – His falsetto was awkward to me in the beginning but he can sang.

Favorites: Alex, Mike

May not make it to Top 12: Aaron. I hope Tim but I think…I just hope it’s Tim

Check out more reviews on http://boomama.net/

Meet Basil

March 10, 2010 by Amy 1 Comment

Basil. Yes, I think I’ve named my plant. I guess you can figure out what it’s named after. Basil. Sounds like it could be a real name, no? It’s nickname should be Baze, like the funny guy Baze on Life Unexpected. My dream is to not kill Basil. Nay, my ultimate goal is to eat Basil. More specifically, my goal is to not kill Basil SO I can eat Basil. Ironic, no? Basically I’m trying not to kill it so I can kill it in a round about sort of way.

I don’t make friends well with such as Basil. My track record for not killing plants is pretty much 0 to so-many-I-can’t-even-count.

Wish me luck.

Lexi-ism: A #1 Please

March 9, 2010 by Amy 4 Comments

Wow, another Lexi-ism so soon! I’m going to share some info and not because I’m trying to brag but so you can get the gist of this. Through Compassion., we sponsor a boy in Hondorus, a girl in India and just yesterday the girls and I “picked out” a boy in Kenya thanks to the recent blogger trip there.

So I’m watching American Idol and Lexi comes out from her bedroom bumping her thumbs together, looking perplexed.

Lexi: Mommy, did we order a boy yesterday or did we adopt him?

Me (trying not to break down): We didn’t adopt. That’s when someone comes to live with you. We agreed to give this boy money so he can go to school and have food to eat.

Lexi: Well, can we order another girl so we have 2 boys and 2 girls?

First off, of course, the order bit was hilarious. Secondly, she’s SO Scott’s child wanting things to be even. She cracks me up!