Within each of us is a God-given dream. My daughter is no different. From the time she was four years old, Peyton fell in love with the Asian culture. She loves the people, the clothing, the food, and on and on.

Peyton became aware of her beloved country when they studied it--along with other cultures- at Church. I thought it was a passing phase. As Peyton grew, so did her love.

For her sixteenth birthday, Peyton asked to redecorate her room--Asian style! It was a blast!

Our inspiration came from this fan hanging above her bed. We painted the room a grayish-blue color.
















I tried to give you an up close view of the fan...but...I couldn't figure out how to turn the picture around! I think you get it anyway.

















This is a photo of a few items that sit atop her bed side table.
















Here's a wide view including her bamboo window shade, lantern's, and screen.















Her grandparents purchased her new Asian style dresser and bed. It was perfect!















Peyton's teaching herself to speak the Japanese language. After she master's that language, she plans to learn Chinese, too! Why?

Peyton's been asking herself that question for a long, long time. Why would God put such a passion in her heart?

Peyton's still not sure. But she's preparing herself so that she'll be ready when God calls. In the meantime, Peyton continues to dream... often she shares her dreams with me.

"Perhaps I'll live in China and teach English to the students." Then, she always adds, "or, maybe I'll be a missionary!"

I've finally come to terms that my daughter's dream isn't just a passing phase. It's God-given. What I love about Peyton is she's not sitting by waiting on God's completed vision to become a reality. No. She's living the dream NOW--by filling her room with the things she loves, by studying the language and learning the about the culture. As she seeks God's director for her life, she's learning about Him, too.

My kid’s were looking forward to church camp this year. At our church, they take the Jr. High kids first, and then, the high schools kids attend the following week. Yesterday, my son came home and my daughter left for camp.
As a mother, there’s nothing I want more than to see my children devoted to and living for Christ! The teen years can be difficult on so many levels. One thing I’ve noticed about teenagers is under the pressure it’s hard to maintain a great relationship with God. My kid’s are no different. So, camp is a great time to pray for their spiritual renewal. Each year, God is faithful. This year something extra took place.

I’ve asked my son, Parker, to share his story with you.

“Well, I grew up in church. When I was in 1st grade, I invited Jesus into my heart during Vacation Bible School. Looking back, I didn’t really understand what I was doing. I was more or less doing what I thought I was supposed to do. While I love God and understand that I’m supposed to obey him, I always felt like something was missing. My relationship was more about me doing what I was supposed to do.

Then at camp, I began to relate to what pastor Brian was sharing on the third night of worship. The pastor talked about being a lukewarm Christian and how God hates lukewarm Christians so much so that he spits them out of his mouth. Pastor Brian told us that we are lukewarm when we put other things before God. I knew he was talking about me. My first love is sports, but not anymore.

As I sat there, I began to doubt my salvation. Questions ran through my mind like, “Did I really give my heart to Christ at 6 years old? Or, is it because I’ve not been living for God that I doubt my salvation?”

It was like pastor Brian was in my head. Next, he said that we could know for sure that we’ve been saved. Anyone who wanted to give their hearts and lives to God could do so right then. I did. Now I know I’ve been saved.
Oh, that thing that was missing was passion to live for God. Now, I want to put God first in everything. I don’t want to be spit out of his mouth. I want to be red hot for Christ.
They asked up to write down 5 names of friends we knew didn’t know Christ and commit to witnessing to them. I wrote down 20!”

All I can add to that is, PRAISE GOD!!! More than 150 kids committed their lives to Christ at camp. I’d say it was a glorious day in heaven and on earth!

Here are some fun photo’s of Parker at camp:









Worship










Parker's group. They survived the mud-pit!
Parker is 2nd from the right--standing










Boat races. Parker is on the left

I’m in the wait. The doctors still aren’t certain what’s wrong with me. As they take more blood from my veins to run more test, I’m tempted to worry. At times, I even grow anxious and frustrated about my future. Not knowing what illness I have, how to treat it, or how long it will last has me in constraints. I can’t plan for our family vacation. I’m not sure if I can travel with my son’s baseball team, and more. And yet, even though God isn’t saying what I have right now I trust He knows. The Lord also knows my future plans—plans to bring me good not evil. So, I rest in Him. I stand on that promise and I trust His Presence is with me as I wait in the unknown. In doing so, I have peace.

Living free from fear doesn’t mean you and I will not be tempted to worry. We will. But we don’t have to allow troubled times to rob us of our peace and joy. We fight the temptation to worry by trusting in God.

It seems I’m being asked to live out what I’ve written in my book, An Untroubled Heart.

"The fear of the unknown is not only nerve-racking, it can cause us to live on pins and needles as we spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. According to pastor and Bible teacher, David Jeremiah, a person who worries is living in the future. His mind is torn between reality and the possible. However, the future is unknown. We can’t control it. That’s why Jesus says three times in Mathew 5:7 “Do not worry.” When you and I are tempted to worry, we should heed Christ’s advice and not do it. Worrying won’t change the outcome. It only steals our peace. On the contrary, a lack of worry about the unknown future doesn’t mean that we are not concerned or that we don’t plan ahead. Carefree living is not the same as careless living. Still, while the future may be out of our hands, it’s not out of the hands of an adequate and trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example.

It’s recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land—the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.

Joshua had some big sandals to fill, but God encouraged him by saying, “Be strong and courageous. Just as I was with Moses, I’ll be with you.”

Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God’s direction. Much like their meeting of the Red Sea, God was going to have to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the ark of the covenant, to follow it because they had “never passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4).

You see, friend, God understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you’ve never passed through before and you’re afraid. It may be the first time you’ve been without employment. Maybe you’ve just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You’ve never been down this road before and you don’t know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way."

No matter what lies ahead, we are not going it alone. You and I have God's promised Presence to see us through.

If this has been true in your life, I'd love to hear your story!

Do you struggled to look like Jesus? Eph 2:10 says that we are God's workmanship. That means once we give ourselves to God, He begins a good work in us. While this is our desire, conforming to Christ-likeness doesn't always come easy or feel good. I've found when it hurts the most is when God is actually doing some of His best work in me.

I know. It's hard to understand the ways of God.

Then...

My fun girlfriend, Carol, whom you may know from radio, sent me this wonderful video and I'd like to share it with you. Trust me on this one. You won't regret it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXut0HxncvY

After you view the video, answer this question...

When you look in the mirror, who do you see...yourself or Jesus?

Whomever you see today, remember, you're a work in progress!

Welcome to my blog. Keeping with the theme of today’s devotional, I’ve posted an excerpt from my book about God’s love. I hope it speaks to your heart…

"God’s love is true and reliable, but sometimes we don’t feel worthy to be loved by God. Sometimes because of things that happened in our past we think the Lord could never love us. At other times we let our affection for God grow dim when we experience unexpected troubles or sorrows. These types of experiences can also make us feel as if God has turned His back on us and withheld His love. This is the way I felt after Porter’s death. I was trapped in Satan’s lie that God didn’t care. It wasn’t long before my feelings toward God gave way to pure anger. With fear and trembling, I nervously wondered, “Has God taken His hands off the wheel of my life? Has He left me to spin helplessly out of control?”

Most days were a blur after I returned home from Porter’s funeral. I couldn’t focus on cleaning. I couldn’t even concentrate on my son. Sadness was my only garment. All I thought was, “God, where are you? Don’t you care?” Perhaps, you’ve felt the same way. We tend to think that once we belong to God we are placed inside a spiritual bubble that protects us from all adversity, worry, and fear. We assume that experiencing peace and happiness show we have a caring Father, but when we experience trials we question his love. Yet, the bible tells us that even as children of God, we are not free from troubles. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:32).

No, God hasn't taken His hands off of the wheel of my life or yours. He is aware of our circumstances and is in complete control. Still, when life suddenly turns stormy and unexpected events occur, we doubt God’s love. Trials and troubles in our lives don’t mean that God doesn’t care. During these times when we feel alone and betrayed, we must not give an ear to Satan’s lies. Instead, we must trust that God is acting in love on our behalf even in dire circumstances. Even though our fears and emotions my lead us to believe otherwise, God, and what He allows into our lives, is always motivated by one thing---love.

Have you ever wondered what’s on the heart of God? Is it world hunger, war, UFO’s, or simply the mind-draining task of running the universe? While these things may be on the mind of God, you and I are the precious treasures that are on His heart.

Before we were born, God knew all about us. He knew what we would fear, the troubles we would face, and the mistakes we would make. Yet, He chose to love us anyway. “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16a). Therefore, we can experience His love without shame or fear, knowing that troubles do not mean God doesn’t care. It means He does care. Every move God makes on our behalf is based on love. God allows the hard things in life to develop genuine faith in us so that we are able to stand when the next storm comes our way.

Understanding this truth about God helped me to see that God is not against me. He is for me. When anxious times enter my life, I strengthen my faith by reciting what I know to be true.

“Lord, I trust that you are with me. I know that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I am not alone. You care for me. You are my provider and you have a special, perfect plan for me. It’s a plan to bring me good not bad. I do not have to be afraid for you are faithful. What I’m experiencing now may not be what I want or what I had planned for my life, but I trust you, Lord.” When we can say these things, we know that our faith is becoming stronger than our fears."

I pray you experience God's love today, friend.

I received my test results and I'm still a Medical Mystery. Basically, they don’t know what’s going on. There were mono antibodies present but they were not new ones. So, they think it’s two possibilities. One, my mono antibodies raised their ugly head from my precious upper respiratory infection, or two, I caught a virus from my travels they can’t identify.If I'm not better within two weeks, they will do further testing. In the meantime, I'm to get plenty of rest.

I appreciate your prayers and ask the you continue to pray for healing and a clear diagnosis. Thanks all!

I do have some good news to share. My son's 11/12 year old baseball team are the Season Champs! It was a good year. Parker's batting average was 635 with 7 home-runs--the last one was hit during the championship game! WHOO HOO! Go Parker!! His batting average ranked in second in the league!












Champions--The Red Sox!












Parker hitting in the Home-Run Derby

Thank you for the well wishes and prayers sent my way over the past few days. They have been a source of encouragement to me. I hope to hear from the doctor today or Monday at the latest with my test results. Keep your fingers crossed! Your comments have also kept me company as I’ve grown bored from lying around.

Rest. It’s what the doctor ordered. Actually, God ordered rest first. The problem is most of us—including myself—neglect rest. We keep going and giving until we are completely spent rarely taking the time to replenish. Why do we do that?

The average person only gets 5-6 hours of sleep a night and brags about it when the body needs on average 7-8 hours a night. But we keep pushing and pushing until finally, we’re forced to rest due to sickness. Just look at me—exhibit A.

Jesus knew to rest while we make excuses. I don’t have time to rest! I have to blah, blah, blah. If you think about it, Jesus’ day was not much different than our day. Just read the first chapter of Mark. It’s all about a day in the life of Jesus. He got up and went to work teaching at the Baptist church there in Jerusalem. Often, during His work day, he was distracted by demons. Now I realize that you and I don’t face many demons during our day, however, we do face distractions that try and keep us from accomplishing what we need to achieve. Like Jesus, we need to identify the distractions in our lives that waste our time and spend our energy and get rid of them quickly.

On the other hand, not all interruptions in Christ day, or ours, are bad—just tiresome. As Jesus went about teaching, He was also interrupted by the sick, the blind and those bound in sin. What was His reaction? Christ stopped teaching to heal, give sight, and set the sinner free.

Just when he thought his day was over, it wasn’t. He went home to have dinner with a friend, when all of the sudden, his friend’s mother becomes ill. Can you identify? Just when you tuck your last child into bed and slip into a hot tub with a good book, you hear; “Mom, I don’t feel so good.”

Like Christ, our job is NEVER done!

Let’s face it. Even though Christ was God; He was man. Jesus felt the pressure of the crowds. He knew what it was like to have people depending on Him just like those who are counting on us. So, what did Jesus do in response to it all? How did he manage without clasping from exhaustion? How did he juggle life, work, and ministry? …He got away and rested.

Hummm…

Simple solution.

Perhaps I should learn to do the same. What about you?

Over the past three and half weeks, I’ve felt like a patient on the t.v series, Medical Mystery. My illness started with a sore throat, a runny nose, and a lack of energy. So I did what everybody does. I put on my nurse’s hat and diagnosed myself with strep throat. To confirm my diagnoses, I went to see the doctor.

To my surprise, I had an upper respiratory infection instead. The doctor gave me two shots and sent my home with an additional prescription of antibiotics.

After a week or so, I should have been getting better. Instead, I grew worse. My body longed for sleep day and night. Normal everyday tasks such as running errands or doing the laundry exhausted me. Plus, the glands in my throat and under my arms became swollen and tender. I returned to the doctor.

This time I was diagnosed with Mono and put on six weeks of bed rest. What? As a mom with two teenagers, a husband, a dog and a ministry, I’m not sure I knew what “bed-rest” looked like. Not to mention that Mono is usually a childhood disease--isn't it?? At least I was a child the last time I had Mono. Which raised another question in my mind, “Can you get Mono more than once?”

My childhood doctor told me that Mono’s stays in the system. While it can reoccur, the symptoms would be mild. Well, my symptoms were not mild. In fact, new symptoms developed over the weekend. My muscles began to ache. Yesterday, I went to see an Internist.

I learned that a person can get Mono more than once in a life time. That’s not all. There are other viruses and diseases that mimic Mono as well. While this doctor agreed that my symptoms pointed to Mono, she decided to test me for other possibilities as well. It will take a week before the results are in.

As I wait and rest, I can’t help but wonder… is it Mono or a Medical Mystery???

Welcome to my blog! I'm so happy you stopped by today. If you've ever wondered what's the worst that could happen, then I hope you'll find this excerpt from my book enlightening.

My youngest son is a “Curious George.” He loves to ask, “Why?” As bothersome as that can be at times, I’m thankful that he has an inquisitive mind. You can almost see the wheels of knowledge turning in his head as he hangs on every word that gives light to his questions. One day while driving in the car, Parker asked, “Mom, what’s the worst thing that can happen?” I knew exactly where this question originated. The night before our family had cuddled together in the hallway of our home with flashlights, blankets, and the cell phone, waiting for a furious storm to pass. Parker had many questions that night . “What if the tornado hits our house? What if the roof falls in and chops off my leg? What if we’re all killed by the tornado, even the dog?” he cried. I thought we had been successful in calming his fears. Evidently, I was wrong. Parker still needed to know the worst possible case scenario.

You may have a similar question—and with good reason. Disaster is all around us. It appears we are living in a new era, a time filled with darkness, mystery, and fear. Terrorists seeking nuclear bombs, global warming, widespread epidemics, rising crime rates, social instability, the list is long. It seems we really do have cause to fear. Or do we? Jesus told us that we can wars, famine, and uncertain times—and then the end will come. If that’s the case, then what is the worst thing that could happen to us? Is it a failing economy? Is it global warming? Or is it the end of time?

The troubles in our world today are not new. They may come upon us in a new way, but they are still the same temptations, trails, and troubles that have always confronted society since the Garden of Eden. Every day the newspaper, radio, Internet, and television give evidence to the fact that our world is evil.

While awful things may happen to us as a result of living in this fallen world, our hope lies in God’s everlasting and unchanging love. His love promises to sustain us, restore us, and make us new. It doesn’t matter what we face in this life when we know that God, in His timing, will change the outcome either in this world or the next. That’s a promise! My hope is that one day I will be reunited with those I love who have gone on before me. Likewise, the disabled person will one day be made whole by the love of God. The lame will walk and the blind will see. The deaf will hear and the mute will speak, all by the power of love. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

While tragedy and sorrow may touch our lives by way of sickness, a fallen economy, devastating wars, or the fury of nature in the form of a tsunami or tornado, the worst thing that can happen to a person is never to know the love of God. I came to this realization when I thought about the question Parker asked me, “What is the worst thing that can happen?”
Parker agreed, “Oh, yeah! If you don’t know God’s love you can’t be forgiven of your sins and go to heaven.

Nothing is worse than that!”

Parker was right on target. Those without the love of God not only suffer in this world but in the world to come. They will not be comforted or made whole. Instead, they will live separated from God forever. Can you imagine what it’s like to be totally separated from God? The Bible calls it hell. This world in which we live is filled with much wickedness, immorality, and violence. Just think how much worse it would be without the presence of God caring for His own and holding back evil? Because of God’s Spirit in the world, even those who do evil benefit from His mercy. Imagine what it would be like to live without that mercy forever.

…Friend, nothing we face on this earth is as tragic as not knowing the love of God. Once you and I are secure in His love, the Bible says nothing can separate us from Him. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35;39). Holding our burdens and concerns before the backdrop of the cross, where God displayed His greatest love for you and me, allows us to know this: If you have Jesus, you have everything you need. Living without Him is the worst possible scenario for any man or woman.

Okay sister's. Help me encourage those who may be struggling with this truth. If you've found the love of Christ to be more than enough for you, leave a hearty "A-Men" in the comment section. If you want to leave more than an "a-men," we'd love to hear your testimony!

Peace!

God saved us from ourselves to have a personal relationship with us. You and I were created by God for God! He has a wonderful plan for your life.

Most don’t believe that statement. They think that after their birth God looked down from heaven, sighed, and questioned—“What on earth am I going to do with her?”

That’s not how it works. Before you were born, God knew you. Before you were saved, God was shaping your life. He was molding everything about you. The truth is…the Christian life is a relationship with a Person (God) who has taken upon himself the responsibility of shaping and molding you until you are the person He wants and desires you to be. As you begin walking with God, everything he is working in you becomes real and complete.

Most people want to know immediately what God is preparing them for. Is God going to shape me into a lawyer; a mother; a fashion designer; a missionary, or a writer??? Perhaps…but that’s not the thing He’s working toward most. God has more for your life than that!

Are you ready… God is preparing you and me for ….Himself! There’s no greater privilege; no greater joy or satisfaction than knowing God. It’s what we were made for.

Do you know Miley Cyrus’ new hit song? Forgive me if I don’t have all the words right, but I heard some deep rooted truth in her lyrics while listening along with my kids. The song talks about dreams. In the midst of making dreams come true Miley sings, “There’s always going to be a mountain that needs to be moved; the realization that sometimes you’ll lose.” BUT, she continues, “It’s not about getting to the top of the mountain or what’s on the other side.” (Read that sentence again)

It’s about the climb!

The Christian life is about the climb. It’s about our journey with God. When we’re focused on knowing Him and walking with Him, then one day, we’ll look back and realize we lived the dream. God’s dream.

There are some questions that can’t be answered on Google! One of those is, “Why would God allow so much pain in one person’s life?”

In my last post, I stated some of the reasons that God allows us to suffer and noted that the bible calls these things “benefits” or…God at work with our best interest in mind. Nevertheless, pain is pain. It hurts; a lot.

Some of my friends are suffering right now. While each of their circumstances are different, the pain is the same. It’s that hollow empty feeling that leaves you breathless as if someone as punched you in the stomach. I know. I’ve experienced it too.

For some, it seems like the darkness will never end. In fact, I made the comment about a family in my last post that says, “"It’s almost as if they can’t escape trouble. It follows them wherever they go." Thankfully, Edie reminded us all that while trouble in this world is to be expected, so is God’s goodness and mercy.
Here’s a part of the comment she wrote: “I just wrote a post about the part in your book that discusses Psalm 23:6. Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”

Here’s what I wrote in my book, An Untroubled Heart, concerning God’s goodness and mercy found in the 23rd Psalms:

“David wrote this psalm as praise to God for His faithfulness throughout David’s life. It reflects David’s confidence in “fearing no evil” because God is his shepherd who promises Him “goodness and mercy” amidst the strains of life.”

I further explain how God’s Goodness and Mercy are our bodyguards following us and providing for us all the days of our lives. Here’s an example from a story in my book…

I didn’t know it then, but God already had a plan to care for me. I was far along in my pregnancy with my first child when my dad approached Porter and me with a heartfelt concern. With a new baby on the way, Dad advised us to invest in life insurance. It was a great idea, but we just couldn’t afford it. Under the circumstances, Dad felt compelled to pay the premium until we could pay it ourselves. Porter accepted. Little did we know what the future held. Just two short weeks later, Porter tragically died. What would my son and I do now that our sole provision for food, shelter, and clothing was gone? The pressure was on as I tried to make sense of it all.

When I became pregnant, Porter and I decided that I wouldn’t work, but would stay home with our son. It wasn’t that we could afford for me to stay home. We simply chose to make sacrifices so I could be with him. After Porter’s death, things changed. I was pressured to work. Like many, I needed to put my son in daycare despite my wishes and I had to do it quickly. I had no income.

During this time of terror and transition, family and friends brought food, diapers, and paid some of my bills. Behind their efforts, Goodness and Mercy were providing and protecting my son and me every step of the way.

Just when I thought God couldn’t be any more gracious, it happened. It was nothing short of a miracle. It was Goodness and Mercy at their finest. Although the life insurance policy had only been signed two weeks before the accident, and was still in the probation period, the company honored it. With that blessing, I was able to stay home with my son for a while longer.

It may be different for you. Goodness and Mercy may show up in a job offer that you weren’t expecting. It may be as simple as someone buying you dinner or offering to baby-sit so you can have some time to yourself. Whatever the form, it is Goodness and Mercy showering you with care in your time of distress. Acknowledging these acts of kindness that flow from the heart of God builds our faith. Before we know it, our faith has become stronger than what we fear. I wonder in what ways Goodness and Mercy have shown up in your life recently just when you needed them most.

Regardless of the road you travel, Lonely Lane, Brokenhearted Boulevard, or Poverty Parkway Goodness and Mercy will follow after you. No heartbreak, no death, no betrayal, no rejection, no failure, no disappointment, and no evil can stop them. They will always come for you. They cannot fail you. They will never quit, never forget you, and never leave you.