Yesterday was a traditional shopping day for me, my sister, and my mom. Every year we set aside one day to shop til we drop. And boy, did we. My entire body hurt last night from the top of my aching head to the bottom of my blistered feet. It was worth it because I got most of the items on my list.

It was also a success because I kept the Christmas Spirit. Usually, I strive to display a Christ-like spirit throughout the year and especially at Christmas. However, there was one year that while shopping, my saintly halo went flying through the air when horns popped right out of my head! According to my husband, I looked and acted like a cross between the Devil and the Grinch!

My son and I had purchased the same toy for my daughter. I agreed to exchanged mine. Because of the long lines in the toy store, I waited to swap the toy when my husband and I were almost finished shopping. I think it took me about 20-25 minutes to get to the register only to discovered that I couldn't swap the item without the receipt. Didn't they know it was their toy? I had it in their shopping bag. I didn't see the problem. I was a honest person.

Arguing my case with the teenage girl got me no where. She stood firm. Then, I lost it. Leaning over the counter I shouted sentences that are but a blur in my mind now. However, I got to make my swap. Satisfied, my husband and I continued down the mall for one or two more items.

For some reason, my husband felt it was his job to play the "Holy Spirit" and convict me of my wrong-doing. While I was paying for the next purchase, he warned the clerk to be nice to me. "Don't cross her. Just give her what she wants and nobody will get hurt."

"Hey." I said innocently. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing." he responded. "I just don't want to see anyone else get attacked today by the Grinch."
"Was I that bad?" I asked.
"Let's just say that girl may have nightmares for the rest of her life at Christmas time." My husband is good at feeding me humble pie when I need it.

I pulled in my horns, tucked my tail, and returned to the scene of my crime. Again, I stood in line for another half hour or so at the toy store. When I got up to the counter, the girl looked at me with fear. "Oh, you remember me," I said sheepishly. "I just returned to apologize and ask your forgiveness. I acted rudely. You were right all along."

It was as if the activity in the whole room stopped. I hadn't considered the people around me before I made my confession, but I was noticing them now. The person to my right looked at me like I was an idiot. I could read her face. "You stood in this line for half and hour to say you were sorry?" But the lady to my left was smiling with approval. Her face said, "You did the right thing. You took a bad situation and turned it into good by acting as Christ would." The teenager accepted my apology and all was well again.

That's what's so amazing about the Christ child. Because of His birth failure is no longer the end for a Christian. When we fail, we have options. We can remain in our failure and allow it to destroy us, or we can take the high road by making the wrong right. It's through Christ, my Savior, who makes it possible for me to recover from my failures. That gives me great joy and reason to celebrate His glorious birth!

Labels: According to Micca

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1John 4:11 NKJ).

Have you ever encountered a sandpaper person? You know, someone that rubs you the wrong way. Most of us want to run and hide from sandpaper people and sometimes we escape, but not for long. Eventually, we will run head-on into another. Why? Because God is doing some of His best work in us when He places sandpaper people in our lives.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to love a sandpaper person? They’re usually arrogant, mean, rude and selfish. They like to demand their own way and boast in their accomplishments. Yet, God has called us to love all people—not just the lovable, but also the unlovable as well.

You may be thinking that’s impossible. You’re right; in our own strength we can’t love the unlovely. Yet, God’s love is different than ours. We express love according to how we feel. When a friend is caring and helpful, we feel loved and then we express love back. We call that kind of love—“friendship love.” When being close to our spouse gives us a warm fuzzy feeling, we call that—“being in love.” However, if we love only according to our feelings, then we will never learn to love the unlovable, because the one thing we don’t feel around a sandpaper person is—love.

While most love according to their feelings, God’s love is more of a response of the will. Examine 1Cor. 13:4 as it explains how Biblical love responds.

Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love doesn’t demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. Its never glad over injustice, but rejoices when truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You’ll believe in him and always expect the best of him, while defending him. (NKJ)

That is how God loves us. No matter how mean or selfish we are, or how many times we settle for our own way of doing things instead of His way—God’s response to us is love. When we truly realize how God, by His mercy, has loved us to the end of our meanness, selfishness and pride, then no matter how heartless another person may be, we can chose to respond to them with love also. We can respond to the selfish and rude person with love, because that’s how God responds to us. And we can also respond to all people with love when we chose to see them as a valuable person created in the image of God. Our heavenly Father responds to all things with love, and being His disciple, He requires us to do the same. Love is not a feeling; it’s a choice we make that leads to a lovely response toward others.

So how is God teaching us to respond with His kind of love? You guessed it—with sandpaper people. When we can respond to the meanest person we know with the love of God, as He has loved us, then God has done one of His best works in you and me. He’s taught us how to love as He loves.

Labels: Wednesday in the Word

It's the time of the year where joy seems to fill the air. Most, including myself, would like to bottle this joy and keep it all year long. In fact, the joy of Christmas is meant to be kept, experienced, and given throughout the year. However, I'm better at letting my joy slip away than I am at keeping it. I want to keep it, but there are certain things that rob my joy and yours, too.

For example, when the unexpected happens and I can't see a way out, my joy vanishes into the air like a puff of smoke. I've also found that when I begin living for myself, I tend to do selfish things and this robs my joy, too. Then, there's that ugly "s" word--sin. It's one of the biggest robbers of joy there is. That's the bad news. The good news is my joy, and your joy, can be retrieved from these robbers!

How? I'm so glad you asked. I was reviewing my notes in preparation to give a Christmas talk and was reminded how David lost his joy and cried out to God for restoration. Within his story, we find steps to restoring our joy as well.

First, in Psalm 51, we see that David confessed his sin to God. David didn't blame anyone else for his wrong-doings, he freely admitted he was the one at fault. David had began living selfishly which resulted in selfish acts that lead to his sin. When you and I sit on the throne of our lives instead of Christ, we are going to fall into the same trap. Perhaps sin in your life could be robbing you of your joy. Like David, will you confess it to God and ask Him to "restore the joy of your salvation?"

I like that David calls it the "joy of his salvation." It doesn't mean David lost his salvation. It means that he wants to experience the joy of forgiveness. There isn't a more joyful Christian than one who has freshly been forgiven. There is nothing like having a clean slate between us and God...all accomplished by His amazing grace.

Secondly, David knows that his flesh is weak and he could find himself in the clutches of sin again. So, he asks God to sustain him. I love that! I usually miss this step. After I've sought God's forgiveness, I forget to ask for His protection and strength to keep me from falling again. Not David. He asks God, "uphold me by your generous Spirit." David knows that his only hope, his only way to joy filled victory is if God upholds him.

That thought creates a picture in my mind of a father holding up his son by the arm when he tumbles and falls. The father knows that if he simply lets the child hold his hand, he'll tumble and fall for sure. However, a wise and caring father holds the arm of the child so that when he falls, the father can hold him up.

Joy can be ours throughout the holiday season and beyond if we continue to give of ourselves, find contentment in our circumstances, confess our sins, and look to God to uphold us in all things.

Wishing you a Joyful Day today and always...

Labels: According to Micca

I hope your Thanksgiving Day celebration left you feeling satisfied both in your tummy and in your heart.

On Thanksgiving Day morning, I cook breakfast for the our family since we don't do turkey dinner until latter that afternoon with the extended family. My feast included ham and eggs, turkey bacon, homemade biscuits, and Cinnamon rolls...can't forget the desert!

Between the "pass me the jelly and who at the last piece of bacon" conversations,we also shared with one another the things we are most thankful for. This time of reflection has always been important to me. The Bible teaches us to be thankful and to give thanks in all things. I have to admit, I don't always give thanks everyday, but my family and I never miss expressing our thankfulness on Thanksgiving. It warms my heart to hear my children share the many things they are thankful for...especially each other. (smiles)

Later that afternoon, we celebrated and filled our tummies again with Me-Maw's turkey dinner. As the adults reclined around the table with our plates pushed forwarded, we were suddenly bombarded with kids. They were all talking over one another with excitement. What was all the excitement about? Christmas list's.

Somewhere between morning and afternoon, my children went from thankfulness to a "I want and must have" mentality. What was once a peaceful atmosphere, suddenly turned into chaos. It became clear to me that our "want" meter is what causes us to get off balance quickly.

I understand where the kids were coming from. I want more too. I want more both spiritually and materially. But today is the day we are to be thankful and satisfied with the good things God has given us--not what He has not.

I put my hand up and announced, "we are not going to talk about Christmas list's today." And that was the end of that.

I hope to keep thankfulness at the forefront of my children's minds this holiday season. Then, we we get off balanced desiring "things" we don't have, we can stop and express thankfulness for what we do have. Maybe instead of making list of what we don't have, we can makes lists of the blessings we do have. Being thankful brings sweet satisfaction and peace like no object, gift, or toy can. That's the kind of full feeling I like to have during the holidays.

God bless....

Labels: According to Micca

Have you ever been down in the dumps and felt all alone? I have. I've been down lately with just the stress and pressures of life. Sometimes I feel like a whiny little child when I'm in the dumps. I find myself complaining and sniffling about everything. Then, while reading my bible, God reminded me AGAIN that no matter what circumstance I'm in, He's there and He's enough. God is not only there, but He's growing me up in the midst of it all.

As I was thinking on this truth, I remembered a poem I had tucked away. I'd like to share it with you. If you're down in the dumps today, let this truth speak to your heart and know that you are standing on Holy ground as the Holy One draws near to your side.

It’s In the Valleys I Grow
By Jane Eggleston

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It’s then I have to remember
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I Picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I’m feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That’s it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share you r love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

Labels: According to Micca

A friend emailed me the chart below. I found it to be very encouraging. I hope you do, too.

God has a positive answer for you today:

You say: "It's impossible"

God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"

God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"

God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"

God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"

God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: "I can't do it"

God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"

God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"

God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"

God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"

God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"

God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

May you find comfort in God's Word today.

Until Next Time...God bless

Labels: According to Micca

The winner is....

Well, before I announce the winner of my CD, "The Power of One," I have to tell you that when I drew from the hat, two strips of paper were stuck together. I could have held one piece tightly between my finger and thumb while shaking off the other but I didn't. I thought maybe it's God's purpose for me to give away two CD's.

That's an interesting thought. Why would it be God's purpose for me to give away two CD's? Isn't fulfilling the purpose of God in our lives much bigger than that? Does God really care about the small details of our lives? You betcha He does!! God may be big and almighty, but He is not so big that He doesn't care about, what we call, the small things in life. I believe that God wants me to live generously, and I believe that He has called me to be an encourager. So then, if giving away two CD's is staying true to God's character for me to encourage others and to live generously, then I'd say it is God's will.

Discovering our purposes in life is that simple. If it fits the character of God, and if we can stamp the Name of Jesus all over it without apology or embarrassment, then go for it.

On the other hand, I don't won't us to miss this truth. Sometimes God calls us to do the unpleasant thing...loving the unlovely; sacrificing, go through a sickness, or doing the thing no one else will do. We tend to think about the grand purposes of God when it's in the everyday living that we glorify His Name most.

When we can say like Job in the midst of hard times, "Though He slay me, I will trust Him," then we will be a mighty witness for Christ.

Often times people ask why God allows the faithful to get sick or endure adversity. I think it's because He can trust them with that type of calling. God knows that even in the midst of their pain, their testimony will be, "I"m still for God and He's still for me." What an awesome thing! Have you ever thought that God might be trusting a situation to you simply because in it you will say to the world, "I still believe!" Oh, what an awesome opportunity to say to God, "No matter what, I"m for you." Can He trust you with that kind of calling...can He trust me???

We must remember, that whatever our call is...parenthood, mission field, speaking or writing, loving the unlovely or facing difficulties, if God has called us it to, He'll see us through it. Where we are weak...He is strong. That's a promise. Why? His name is at stake.

Now, the moment you've been waiting for....The two strips of paper stuck together were....
Sharon, A moment in Time, and Ellie. Congrats, girls!! If you will both email me at miccacampbell@comcast.net with your address, I'll get your CD in the mail right away.

May God bless each of you as you daily live for Him!

Labels: According to Micca

I'm writing a book on fear vs faith and I have to be honest...I've never been more afraid or felt so inadequate in my life. I lay in bed at night and wonder "Why, God? Why, would you choose me to write a book?" I overwhelm myself when I consider the responsibility that's been given me. "What if I get it wrong?"

I've asked God that question throughout my ministry when feelings of inadequacies wash over me and His answer is always the same. "Micca, in your humanness, you do get it wrong every time. But I get it right every time."

What God means is as pure as my heart my be, I'm going to mess things up from time to time. Still, I'm not to worry or fret. God didn't call me to be perfect or to be all knowing. That's His job. He simply asked me to be His vessel in which He can pour Himself through. You see, God loves His people so much that He's not going to let my flaws keep Him from working in their life. In fact, it's through my flaws that others see God most clearly. So I'll just keep offering my small cup of water knowing that God will take it, bless it, and turn it into wine.

Isn't that the way it's suppose to be. Me leaning on God so that His power can manifest itself in and through me? That's how He gets the glory.

Paul said, "in my weakness I am made strong." My friend, Holly, reminded me that feeling inadequate is right where I need to be. Then, I can encounter God's supernatural power at work in me and boast about His provision when the book is finished.

Funny, I have a message called "The Power of One." In this talk I describe how one person can make a lasting difference in the lives of others if they will just allow God to use them. I also talk about overcoming feelings of fear and inadequacies by sharing examples of ordinary people God used to do extraordinary things. I think I'll pull that C.D out and listen to it. (Most of my messages come from my own struggles or triumphs.)

What about you? What is God calling you to do that you're afraid of?
If this blog has encouraged you today, respond and share with me how you're going to step out in your weakness and trust God to be your all and all. How about this... those who respond, I'll put your names in a hat, draw one, and give away my C.D. "The Power of One" so that you can be encouraged and inspired whenever you need.

Labels: According to Micca

My Sunday school class burst into laughter when I shared that God speaks to me in the shower! You may find that funny, too, but God has always spoken to His people in strange forms and places. For example, He spoke to Moses from a burning bush didn't He? And lets not forget the time he spoke through a donkey either. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that God spoke to me through the shower, but rather He speaks to my heart in the shower.

God's Word tells us to "Be still and know that I am God." It's in those quiet still moments that we can hear God's voice. But let's face it. As a mother of three, when is there a quiet moment in my life? Hardly ever!

Are you like me? We are faced with a situation so we take it God in prayer. We trust that He cares for us, that God hears our prayers and will answer. The truth is He does care, hear, and answer our prayers. Life is sometimes just too loud to hear Him.

I must confess. With my busy life, it's hard to sit quietly long enough to hear God speak. I pray, read my bible, and write down anything that speaks to my heart right away. Rarely do I have the time to sit and simply know He is God. Oh, but when I do...I find myself heart broken that I've allowed myself to miss out on such a holy moment with God. "How can I forget how precious it is just to sit in His presence?" I often ask myself. The truth is I do forget. Mainly it's because I have to move on to the next thing on my to do list for the day. I feel too rushed to sit still. Wasn't there was a song a while back that called those kind of prayers Token Prayers? Whatever it's called, I'm only cheating myslef.

I like what Henry Blackby says, "When you read your bible and pray, that is the encounter with God you're looking for. The thing that happens next, is His answer."

Are we so busy that we miss God desperately trying to communicate with us? All the time He's trying to speak, we're waiting and wondering why He hasn't as we drive through MacDonald's on the way to baseball practice. We can even get discouraged and begin believing our feelings over truth...God must not care or He would have answered me by now. May I remind us both today that our feelings are not always reliable, but God's Word is.

So, in the quiet of the shower is the only place where I'm still enough and the noise is blocked long enough to hear God speak to me. While that's a funny place to have a conversation with Almighty God, I'm so thankful that His desire to speak to me is so high on His list that He'll even meet me there.

I've learned to keep paper and a pen in my bathroom. Dripping wet, I often spring from the shower to capture on paper His wise counsel for my life. In those moments, that He draws me into His sweet presence, causes me to stop and be still for a few moments and soak it in. That is until I hear, "Mom! The green beans are spilling over the top of the pan!" I rush out of His presence into the hustle and bustle of life once more. But in my heart, I know God is there, too.

What are some strange places that God speaks to you?

Labels: According to Micca

As my daughter was preparing to get ready for the Harvest Party at church, she struggled with whether to dress up or not. "I am in high school, you know," was her argument. I could tell that she really wanted to dress up.

Peyton, like any other girl, has loved to dress up since she was little. She even had a game called, Pretty, Pretty Princess, where with each turn you put on an earring, neckless, or bracelet. If you won the game, you got to wear the Princess crown! I can still recall how cute it was watching her play with her daddy, and how fun it was to see him wearing the jewelry. One time, he actually answered the door wearing his Pretty, Pretty Princess jewels.

No matter how old we get, we still long to be a Princess or should I say to be beautiful. That desire is a God-given desire. However, since we live in a fallen world, we often use the good things of God in unhealthy ways.

For example, the world tells us to be beautiful we must be a perfect size, have no defects, and a cover-girl face. Anybody measure up? I know I don't. Most of us probably don't but secretly we wished we did. How do I know? Just look at the millions of dollars spent every year on cosmetics, lotions, surgery's, and beauty aids. I can't say that I wouldn't like a lift and a tuck myself!

Nevertheless, God says that true beauty comes from the inside out. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hop in God used to make themselves beautiful."

Simply turning on the T.V. or looking at what women are wearing today is evidence that we've allowed the world to shape our views according to beauty instead of our Creator.

The world encourages us to seek a beauty that only last for a brief amount of time. God encourages us to cultivate a beauty that will never fade but only grow more beautiful with time.

God's Word always has a way of bringing me back to truth. It removes the pressures of what the world says, and allows me to be nothing more than who God created me to be...beautiful in His sight.

Until next time...God bless you beautiful people!

Labels: According to Micca