Humility+Boldness=Winning (Part Three)

I just found this and I just wanted to pass it along.

I LOVE THIS! I hope you do too.

The Next Time You Feel Like God Did Not Make You For A Grand Purpose, Remember:

Noah got drunk, Genesis 9:20-22.

Abraham was too old, Genesis 17.

Jacob was a liar, Genesis 27:19.

Leah was considered ugly, Genesis 29:17

Joseph was abused, Genesis 37:24-36.

Moses stuttered, Exodus 4:10.

Gideon was afraid, Judges 6:21-23.

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer, Judges 14.

Rahab was a prostitute, Joshua 2:1.

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, Jere.1:6-7 and 2Timothy 1:2.

David had an affair and was a murderer, 2Samuel 11:3-27.

Elijah was suicidal, 1King 19.

Isaiah preached naked, Isaiah 20:2-4.

Jonah ran from God, The book of Jonah

Naomi was a widow, Ruth 1:3.

Job went bankrupt, The Book of Job.

Peter denied Christ, Matt.26:69-70.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Matthew 26:40.

Martha worried about everything, Luke 10:40.

Mary Magdalene was cleansed of seven demons, Mark 16:9.

The Samaritan woman at the well had five husbands, John 4:18.

Zaccheus was too small, Luke 19:3.

Paul was too religious, Acts 8:1.

Timothy had an ulcer, 1Timothy 5:23.

Lazarus was dead! John 11.

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God desires for you to reach your full potential.

You are not the message. You are the messenger!

Believers, trust God to be at work in you, and in those around you. Offer grace to one another as you seek out what God is trying to do through you. Encourage each other. When we all, coming from very different places, can come together with a similar focus of reaching others for Christ, God will be glorified! Amen?

Humility+Boldness (Part One)

Have you ever thought that the only people who could speak out about God were the evangelical leaders of the world, and occasionally their spouses? :) If you have been telling yourself, "I am not equipped to speak out boldly on God's behalf because of x,y, and z" then guess what? You are wrong! It's not about you. You're imperfect. God knows that. News flash: Everybody on this side of heaven is imperfect. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for willing hearts.

Quick story and then I will get back to my point.

I was a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) leader at my church. At the same time I was a leader at MOPS, I was struggling with depression and was consumed with guilt for not loving being a mom. I was opening up to a dear friend of mine one day, who asked me this question: "Do you think you should be a MOPS leader when you are dealing with this?" The question implied that a person with my issues should not be trying to help other people. I considered her question. I prayed it over. I did not feel led to stop ministering to moms, so I didn't stop. I kept talking at our MOPS meetings. I told people how I felt about mothering. A handful of people related to what I was saying. Not all of them, but some of them. Some of them probably thought I belonged in the loony bin, but you know, that's the chance you take I guess. :) I was vulnerable. It's not always fun to be one of the first of a crowd to who steps into the role of "vulnerable", but I really did not feel I had any other choice. I had a need to be real with people. I felt like I couldn't change what I didn't acknowledge, and staying stuck where I was seemed like a really bad idea. I needed to stretch myself to be more of who God wanted me to be. Being an extrovert, closing off and trying harder to do it on my own was not the best course of action for me, and I knew that.

I think it's not unusual for us to put ourselves down, get real critical, and mull over all the ways that we do not measure up. Can I just tell you that this is NOT God's plan for you?

Here is what I want to tell you today: Satan will plant lies in your head that will mess with you. It might sound something like this:

-Do you really have any right talking about God when you sinned most of your life, and still are sinning?

-Who do you think you are? You don't even make sense half the time, and you talk with that nasally voice that only a Michigander could appreciate. People would want to listen to you a lot more if you were the girl with the Southern drawl, saying "y'all" instead of "you guys".

-What would all your college buddies say when they hear that you are a Bible thumper?

-Nobody wants to listen to what you have to say. You're not anybody special.

-People are going to think you are annoying.

-You're going to mess up God's word. You don't have all the background knowledge that a seminary student has, so you're going to take a verse out of context, get everybody all confused, and ruin any good that God could have done with that verse. You're better off just sitting and watching reality TV every night and posting on facebook what you think of Brad, who didn't give a rose to Charlotte, when clearly she was the one for him. :)

What? I don't say any of these things with a spirit of condemnation. We are all prone to look inward and find the things in us that make us unequipped to do any good for God's kingdom, from time to time. The truth is, you might say something stupid, you might annoy someone, and you might cry and look silly. Does that matter, though? I mean, really, if God told you, "when you share this message you are going to cry and look silly, but when you are done someone is going to come to know me and experience freedom they have never experienced before", would you do it?

Any lies that Satan whispers in your heart, telling you to wallow in your inadequacy, need to be fought back with the truth of God. When you are tempted to shrink back and look inward at a time when God is calling you to reach out and be a blessing, consider this: It's not about you. Trust God. YOU can be bold in speaking out God's message of love. Build on your faith of WHO God is, and then trust HIM more than you trust yourself. This is not about you having all the answers, or being good enough. This is about bringing what you have to the table, and saying "God, do what you want with what you have given me. I trust you". He has been building your story. He has given you a message that YOU are supposed to share. Lean into Him, and be open to what He is trying to do through you. Take one small leap of faith, sharing just a little bit of your testimony with someone, or a group of someones, today. Tell them what God is doing, what you heard at church, what God did for you in the past, anything that gives God glory. Just do it. Make it a habit. Practice your discipline of boldly speaking about God in your life. If this is a new territory for you, begin by sharing with someone you trust. As you learn to trust God more and practice this discipline of speaking boldly in His name, you will find that it comes easier and easier for you to trust Him in the future, speaking more and more. You will see God at work, and it will build your faith all the more, empowering you to do even more than you ever thought possible. You are called to be a blessing. As you boldly reach others for Christ's sake, you will be blessed more and more! :)

Some messages that God wants to speak over us...

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 31:6
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Be strong in the Lord today! Be bold, knowing that God is going to go before you, and will guide you gently along the way. YOU are loved. YOU are cherished. YOU are going to do great things, as you lean into the strength of God that He has already made readily available to you. TRUST HIM TODAY!

How building our vocabulary increases our beauty

When I was younger my mom had a conversation with me about what words I chose to use. It was not a conversation about cussing. At this point, we had already established the idea that I would not be someone who was cussing. She was referring to my everyday vocabulary. Her idea was that we would determine how we saw things in life, and our take on life, by the words we chose to use to describe life. Her example was that she was going to start using the word, "beautiful" more, because she wanted to SEE beauty in her life. I liked that. It made sense to me, as a child.

There were times I reflected on that, and times I didn't give a CRAP! :) CRAP! Ya hear me!? :) There were times when it was harder for me to express gratitude, and see beauty, in my life. Right after college, when I did not get offered a job...and then, right after having kids who made me feel like I was going insane, I experienced, a raw feeling of "Is this all there is?" Here's the thing. I have read the verse that talks about "thinking on what is praiseworthy..." I love that verse on a good day. But on a bad day, (deep sigh) it's a lot harder to muster, isn't it?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Philippians 4:8

There have been days my kids all slept through the night and I had a shower, put on make-up, had a clean outfit to wear that makes me feel good, ate a great breakfast, had a few compliments thrown my way, etc. etc. On those days, I feel like saying things like, "Isn't God so good?"

Then, there are those days when I stayed up past midnight on facebook, got woken up three times in the night to a whiny, hard-to-understand baby, didn't have anything healthy in the house for breakfast, couldn't find an outfit that fit well and was clean, and didn't have any coffee to make. :( Those days make me want to say things like, "CRAP!" :) I'm smiling now, of course, because I am very aware of how ridiculous I sound, but in that moment, I am not usually smiling.

Sometimes I need to switch up my vocabulary. Sometimes I need to trust my feelings less, and trust my God more. I need to develop a discipline of talking in a way that pleases God even on a bad day. There was a time when I thought, "Well, that is fake, and I don't want to be fake" so I let myself rant and rave and go on and on about my frustrations, worries, hang-ups, and other garbage in my heart. It didn't feel right, though. I would tear through the house like a Tasmanian devil just so I could "be real". What's that about? Who I REALLY am, is not always pretty. Who I want to be is someone who IS always pretty. The more I allowed myself to wallow in self-pity, describing my life with words that referred to the drudgery I was experiencing, the worse I felt, and the less good I was capable of accomplishing. The longer I stayed stuck there, the worse it got for me. If I keep thinking, "I'm just being real" and never stretch myself to be anything more than "real" then I am denying myself of being GREAT for God. At some point I had to say to myself, "this being real stuff is not all it is cracked up to be. I want to be better than real. I want to be authentic, but at the end of the day it is more important to me to be uplifting, encouraging, strong, obedient, and loving."

Here's where I am at now. Lord, Thank you for this day. You provide a roof over our heads, and even a roof over our cars. You provide food in our stomachs, and we even have enough food that we can throw some of it away when my one year old dumps it on the floor. You provide GOOD things in our lives. All good things come from you. I will develop my vocabulary today, as a means of honoring you, as the Lord of my life. You will search my heart, and weed out the offensiveness that is not coming from you, and I love you for that. I love your grace as I continue to strive to put your will above my own. I will speak out of love today. I will use words like, "abundant, extravagant, gracious, precious, and hopeful" rather than "sucks, stupid, crap, and hopeless". Thank you, Lord, for redeeming the ugliness that is hidden deep inside of me that only you know exists. You truly know what is best for me. It is for that reason that I give my life to you and your calling for me. Amen?

My mom is someone who is FULL with joy, and it spills out onto everyone around her. She has created a discipline of speaking what is hopeful and beautiful in her life. It is second nature to her now. On my bad days when I call her up and ask her what I can do to be more like her, there are times she cannot even tell me how she does what she does. It's not what she DOES anymore; it's become who she IS. Who she IS, is beautiful.

May we create discipline in our vocabulary, so that God can honor that, and change us into who HE wants us to be...which will increase in beauty with time.

100 THINGS…

My name is Alisha.

I was the third child in my family.

I was the last child born into my immediate family.

I was the only girl in my family.

I love my brothers very much.

One brother lives in California and the other in Michigan.

I was born in Michigan.

I spent most of my childhood in Lansing, Michigan, and loved it.

I live in Valparaiso, Indiana now and love it.

I am trying to get my parents to move to Valpo.

I really enjoyed second grade and fifth grade the most.

I always liked school.

College set me up nicely to be a teacher, but I have yet to get a teaching job.

I am not looking for a teaching job right now.

I was a substitute teacher for about a year and I did not enjoy it.

I was a children's pastor and I found that to be VERY rewarding.

I have always loved children…even when I was one.

Fourth and fifth graders are usually my favorite.

I am a mommy now.

I have a hard time spending an entire day in my house, even when little sweeties are over.

I got married the year after I graduated from college.

As much as I love my children, my husband is the biggest blessing in my life.

I tell him that.

My husband makes me laugh harder than anyone else I know.

My husband made me chocolate covered strawberries for Valentines Day one year.

I love chocolate covered strawberries.

The well being of my family is more important than any career I will ever have.

I know how to hem jeans so that they look like they weren't hemmed.

I am not very good at sewing, but I do enjoy projects that allow me to be creative.

I am typing on a computer that is hooked up to two screens.

My husband knows a lot about computers.

My husband works at a church.

I am a Christian.

I have been a Christian since I was very young.

I LOVE spending my time pouring into the ministries at our church.

The two cars we have are paid off.

Our student loans will never be paid off.

Our house has a basement.

It's pretty much always a mess.

I am learning a lot about God's grace lately and I LOVE it!

Eating out with people I love is one of my favorite things to do.

I bought McDonalds with my first dollar.

My brother bought a funnel with his first dollar.

I think that says a lot about us.

If eating out was healthy, and we could afford it, I would do it every day.

I love El Salto.

I was sad when Chi Chi's went out of business in Lansing.

I am not a huge shopping fanatic.

I get a big kick out of getting awesome deals on things that other people paid lots for.

I don't drink anything alcoholic, and never will.

My reason for not drinking is the fear that I could turn into a drunk someday.

I think I would make a terrible drunk.

I also could not afford to the support the habit.

I also don't smoke.

I considered smoking once when I was 6 years old and it was offered to me.

Someone stuck up for me and I never had to make the choice.

I am grateful for God's hand of protection in my life.

I am 5'7".

I like the words to hymns.

I have bought CD's with hymns on them.

I eat more chocolate than I should.

I also love coffee when it is all sweetened up, and as white as I am.

My friend introduced me to Starbuck's white chocolate mocha and I am glad she did.

I think young people who help older people are fabulous.

I think young people who are patient with older people deserve to be praised.

I love being 30.

I was not all that wild about my 20's. (understatement)

I lacked a lot of self-awareness as a child.

I liked it that way, but I think I frustrated many people.

I had a lot of friends in spite of the fact that I was frustrating.

I give God credit for that.

I prayed to be cool as I walked to school as a child.

I also prayed whenever the teacher would ask us to partner up with someone in the room.

Now I pray for my kids, but never that they will be cool.

I pray that God will help me raise my kids the way He wants me to.

I believe that God can, and will, answer that prayer.

I read a lot of parenting books.

I ask other moms for advice a lot.

I hate changing stinky diapers.

I admire girls who care enough to pick out several shoes and actually wear them all.

I will never be that girl.

I think TV is a waste of time.

I watch it anyway.

I think video games can decrease motivation in children when they are older.

I bought my husband an XBOX 360 anyway.

I believe we will be held accountable for what we do here on earth.

I look forward to heaven.

I don't believe heaven will have much comparison to our experience here on earth, and I am good with that.

I think that for unbelievers, this is as good as it gets.

I think that for believers, this is as bad as it gets.

I love God's grace.

3's of me.

Three names I go by:
1. Mom
2. Mama
3. Alisha

Three Jobs I have had in my life:
1. Chuck E. Cheese hostess
2. Substitute Teacher (would much rather be a REAL teacher any day)
3. Stay at home mom (by far, the most challenging)

Three Places I have lived:
1.Lansing, MI
2. Bourbonnais, IL
3. Vale of Paradise

Three Favorite drinks:
1. White chocolate mocha blended with a shot of caramel (NOT from Gloria Jean where they dunk a truck load of caramel into your little cup...bleh)
2. Coca Cola slurpee...oh man! I can't drink them anymore, but I still love them.
3. Water...that sounds good too, I think I am dehydrated.

Three TV Shows that I watch:
1. Undercover Boss
2. America's Funniest Home Videos
3. Whatever show happens to be on PBSKids

Three places I have been:
1. Mt. Baldy
2. The Portage Super Kmart when they do double coupon days
3. Lansing Lugnuts Stadium

People that text me regularly: (okay, well, maybe not regularly...more like, "on occasion")
1. Sarah Anderson
2. Jennifer Crane
3. I don't really text, so people don't usually text me unless they just had a baby. :)

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Cheese dip at El Salto
2. Steakburgers with cheddar cheese and A-1 sauce
3. Snickers Ice cream bars

Three Things I am looking forward to
1. getting a glass of water
2. when my kids all go to the bathroom by themselves, wipe, flush, and wash their hands without having to be told to do so
3. My Mom to Mom meetings where I sit and chat with other moms while my children are lovingly cared for down the hall.

A message to my precious teenage friends, who are called to great things.

"God does not call me to a career; He calls me to be faithful."

-Theologian David Timms

Be faithful in the little stuff now, so the big stuff will make more sense when you are older. Many young people float around through high school thinking it is all about just getting through school so they can move on with "real life". Don't wait for "real life" to happen. This is it. You are developing your story. Lean into God's plan for you now by being faithful in the little things...friendships, school work, your family life, your part time job if you have one, the money you make, etc. etc. Decide what you will stand for, and what is not worth getting worked up over. (which is very rare for anyone who is young, in my opinion, and many adults for that matter) Devote yourself to developing your natural strengths. God gave them to you for a reason. You are not who you are by mistake. You cannot know now what you will be doing when you are 30, but what you do need to ask yourself now is "what is God calling me to today?" If you spend 18 years thinking, that someday life will just "happen", then guess what? It ain't gonna happen. :) You reap what you sow. Have fun, enjoy your youth, but seek God in all you do. It's in seeking Him that you will find your purpose in life. Trust God with your life. He knows what is best for you, according to His plan for you. If you tap into His plan for you, there are GREAT blessings around your corner.

May the choices that you make today be building blocks that you can stand on in the future, with pride and grace.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21

P.S. YOU ARE LOVED!!!!!!!! So proud of you!

My kiddos.

In a previous post I referred to "a line I put down in our driveway to keep the kids from going into the street". My kid's reactions demonstrated their response to authority over all. You can read about that experience here if you want to. I finally had a chance to upload the pictures from that day, and thought I would share them. Here they are.

Here's Preston, my first born. 5 years old. He always stopped himself before he got even remotely close to my line, and threatened anyone who attempted at disobeying my orders in regards to the line.
Here's Keely, middle child. 3 years old. She joyfully lifted her feet high in the air and let herself go as far as she could. She would have loved if the car would have "accidentally" taken her past that line.
Then, there's Kipton. The baby of the family. 1-1/2 years old. He played on the line for quite a while, while looking up at me occasionally to make sure he still had to stay on that side of the line.
Cute as a button.

If you are wondering where all the recipes have gone, we have good news. We'll be posting more soon. As for myself, I have a ton of great recipes to share along with the Weight Watchers Points Plus values tacked on to them. I even have the pictures taken already. I just need to get around to posting them is all. They'll be coming soon.