Lately, I have been hearing a lot of people angry over legalism. What is legalism? I am sure if you asked multiple people what it is you probably would receive various answers. This seemingly attainable type of mindset eliminates the need for a Savior and yet it falls so far from the truth because no one is perfect (Romans 3:23). Bottom line, we need a Savior. Jesus fills the gaps of our imperfection and provides a means for salvation. However, sometimes I feel people take the term legalism too far, falsely assume many matters the Bible discusses as debatable. This too is dangerous because it undervalues the fact that God placed it in the Bible for a reason.

Blah. Blah. Blah. I wonder if that’s what some people hear when I talk. I want to make a difference, an impact on others’ lives, but I know it takes more than words to grow someone’s trust, to show someone love. They have to believe the words themselves and apply it to their lives, or no difference will take place. This transformation starts by getting to the heart of the matter; what is lying in the depths of your heart that only you and God know about?

I flip through the television channels as magic and sorcery is strewn through cartoons masquerading itself with innocence and enchantment, blurring lines with childlike imagination and deep spiritual darkness. The thought that these could go hand in hand is weird, yet they almost seamlessly do. As though it’s a game of ring around the rosies. On main stream television it is almost impossible to find something without magic. Then the pick and choose battle begins, or as some parents I respect do, go without TV. Wondering what will cause the greatest impact?

On May 9, 2009 at 11:24pm I gave birth to a 4lb, 11oz son. The first time I held him I didn’t fully comprehend what it was to be a mom, and yet I knew I loved this child I carried for 36 weeks. The sacrifice, the devotion, the love had not sunk in as I confidently assumed mothering in its entirety would come as naturally as riding a bike… perhaps I was thinking of a bike with training wheels?

As parents we need to be at the front lines for our children as their number one advocate and protector. Taking the first blows as situations come charging at our kids, whether it be filtering what they hear, protecting their steps, or nurturing their heart we need to invest in our kids with passion and conviction, teaching them what true love is and learning it ourselves. There are few days that go by that some foreign food substance hasn’t lodged itself on my shirt, or that the coffee pot has run dry way too early; yet, we need to plow forward. Not because it’s easy, but because we love our kids, and we are going to be held accountable for how we parented them.

Hello everyone, I had to share my new victory: chores for kids that they actually enjoy doing. It’s a magnetic chore chart, that they call a “game”, and voluntarily ask for… No, really! I’ve seen this concept on other websites; my biggest inspiration was from a website called A Spotted Pony. I gathered what worked for our family, omitted what didn’t and added my own twist on the subject. I’m a huge proponent of anything that keeps my sanity in tact.

The door shuts, as disagreements mount. There is a progression of pain, that escalates as one wonders where is this person I married? Does he hear the cries of my heart? Does he care? In a marriage you love deeply and hurt deeply. Each spouse knows the others buttons, and they WILL push them. What are some practical ways to make your spouse loveable again?

The night was still as the Star of David announced Jesus’ birth. Swaddled in cloth and appearing to have all the same attributes as the sweet babies that have gone before, God makes His appearance to man. After the anticipated journey, the wise men arrived, and in an instant they fell down and worshiped Jesus. They didn’t question what they should do, rather they immediately showed the respect God deserves. They were clearly called wise men for a reason.

A strong willed child? A rough marriage? Financial problems? What will cause our knees to bend? We all have trials and tribulations that force us to question the purpose of our troubles in the big scheme of things. We wonder why we couldn’t be stronger and overcome this adversity in our own strength.

These last couple of weeks have been dicey. The busyness that accompanies a transition to a new house has certainly effected me and my family. It has taken time to fall into a new routine; no wonder God reminded me to pray for patience this morning.