You Are Beautiful Because You Are Loved

Sharing this blog post from Ann Voskamp today. 

"The world has enough women who know how to do their hair. 

It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things."

A Holy Experience

I wish I could read this to my teenage self or even my twenty something self. Oh how I looked for love in all the wrong places. All the time I lost hoping for a boy to just love me for me.

Girls, if your earthly father didn't love you unconditionally or your mother didn't teach you that you should treat your body with honor because it belongs to God, you have a Heavenly Father who loves you and thinks you're beautiful because you were made in His likeness. He stands in the gaps where others have failed us. No need to be bitter, as God is continuing to write your story this very day.  
"Listen to The Voice who assures: “I am making your good decisions work for good — and I am working your bad decisions into the best loving plan for your ultimate good.” 

True romance is falling in love with Jesus the way I did 4 years ago. It's a perfect love. 
I have been redeemed and

I will never ever be the same...

DANA

PS - Here is one more blog post that I love:
My Husband Is Not My Soul Mate

The Best Mother's Day Gift Ever

After a couple of weeks of really hard parenting with one of my other children, God revealed once again His never ending faithfulness, his unfailing mercy, and His constant presence in our lives. Affirmation came when this guy, at age 5, decided on Thursday to share that he believes in Jesus and his death on the cross for our sins and that he wants to be a follower of Jesus. The opportunity came after a news story on TV sparked a conversation about death and heaven and the fact that not all people go to heaven, but only those who BELIEVE.

I knew that he loved Jesus. He has shared that with me often. We watched The Bible Series on the History Channel at Easter time and he often told me about what was going to happen in the story even before it did. My heart was filled up and overflowing. He knows the stories of the bible. He believes that they are true. He prays often and spontaneously for those in need. He is a self proclaimed "Prayer Warrior" and looks for opportunities to pray for people. 

We don't expect perfection in his walk with Christ and neither does God but we are so grateful that he recognizes that he needs Jesus for his salvation. Praise God! Thanks to our AHH-MAZING church (Prairie Lakes) and their amazing kids' program and to Orchard Hill Church Preschool, the director and teachers there, for pouring into my little guy for the past 3 years. It truly takes a village. 

What better Mother's Day gift could there be? It's a way of life and a journey that we are happy to take with him as he grows. 

ACTS 16:31

For we know that we are no longer separated from God because of our sin. Jesus paid the price. The veil was torn and we have been set FREE. 

Parenting Millennials/Generation Z

Friends, the last two weeks have been, hands down, the hardest parenting days of my life. Christian or not, the peer pressure to have sex, the temptation, the foul language, the bullying, the opposition, the need to "fit in" in the middle school/high school years is so very real, so raw. It's not just drugs and defiance anymore. It's a whole new culture in this digital age. Even the kid who makes straight A's. Even the track star. Even the one who seemingly makes good choices most of the time. It is happening, whether we choose to believe it or not. None of us is immune. Over the last two weeks, we have had some of the HARDEST conversations that we've ever had to have with anyone else in our entire lives. This generation has so many more pressures with access to so much social media like SnapChat and WhatsApp etc. Hard, hard stuff, friends. Thankful that God has us right where we are supposed to be during these years and thankful for a community of believers, mentors, teachers, leaders and other parents who pour positively into our children when we can't always be with them. If you have friends who are not on board with your values, your beliefs, your style of parenting, get new friends. If there are family members who aren't aligned with you, have some healthy boundaries. The opposition is always there. We can't protect them from everything, forever more. Hope in Jesus Christ makes ALL the difference. We can not "fix" our children. We can only guide them with the help of the One who turns chaos back into order. We are not called to perfection in this thing called parenting. We're all figuring it out as we go. One size does not fit all. Let's encourage each other today...

Romans 5:2-5

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Very encouraging words from a wise mentor of mine who raised 3 girls who are now grown and raising their own families : "Keep the faith and continue to be a STRONG parent. Being a STRONG parent isn't always the most "popular" thing to be even among our adult peers."

Parenting Articles From Jill Savage

Got Teens? Book by Author: Jill Savage

Real Moms...Real Jesus - Book by Author: Jill Savage

Recommended Reading by founders of Hearts At Home:

Have A New Teenager by Friday

Parenting Millennials

Christian Answers To Parenting The "Net" Generation

The Heart of Screen Time

Internet Safety Dot Com

From: todayschristianwoman.com "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance" (Ps. 32:7).

Nuclear Prayer

I'm not able to handle this one alone, Lord. The dangers that lurk behind the computer monitor are too dark for me to face alone. Please help me. Help me to be the parent I need to be, to make the time it's going to take to keep my family safe, and to be wise about all of the activities in my home. Help me to do the difficult things in the face of my teen's frustrations and confusion—let any rules I implement be received well and honored. In the end, it's about the safety of my kids, Lord. So please protect them and use me in every way possible in the carrying out of that task. Amen.

Adapted from Hot Buttons: Internet Edition. Copyright © 2012 by Nicole O'Dell. Used by permission of Kregel Publications.

LIFE - How Precious...How Wonderful...How Fragile

Today at my mom’s group, I had the honor of holding a fresh, brand new baby for an hour or so. He was so warm. He had tiny little hands, tiny ears and a tiny little nose. I was watching him make cute little faces as he was drifting off to sleep, and thinking about the words from our speaker on how God created us in His image and thinks we're all beautiful because we are each His very own masterpiece, uniquely gifted. It was in those moments that a wave of emotion rushed in that was so unexpected and it was hard to fight back the tears. So many things have happened over the last week or so that have me thinking about the celebration of life and the fragility of life and just how truly precious each life is.

Just a week ago, my pastor was present here locally with a family as they laid to rest their 20 year old son who was so lost that he took his own life. Also this week, a friend whose 3 year old has been fighting for his life with brain cancer is triumphantly finishing up his last two chemo treatments after an 18 month journey. Another friend is on the other side of her battle with breast cancer and has been continuously blessing others with her sunny disposition, even though some days are still hard for her. Sadly, another friend just lost a baby and is heavy with physical pain and emotional grief. Still, other friends are longing and waiting patiently to have a baby of their own. Another friend is grieving the fact that after two babies, she physically cannot have any more and is trying to process those feelings in the midst of her friends having babies all around her. Another dear friend is challenged with caring for her dying father whom she never knew while working full time and taking care of a husband and three young children. And lastly, a longtime family friend is angry and afraid and crying out on Facebook as she is in her final stages of life and has entered hospice care.

As I was processing all of this today, I was thinking about seasons, specifically Spring and how it brings new life to this dormant land. Oh, how I can't wait to see new life spring up from the ground! Along with that, I thought of Easter coming up, and  how Christ Jesus and his death on the cross and resurrection also brought new life. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy; but I (Jesus) have come so that you may have life, and have it in full. He also says in John 11:25,“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” What a comfort it is to know that God loves us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may all have life. He does not intend for us to merely get by but to live life fully and not in captivity of the enemy’s lies. He wants a relationship with us. He wants our hearts and he promises us eternal life and a place with him in his kingdom if we choose Him.


I’m praying for each one of these lives tonight. I pray for the little baby boy I was able to hold this morning that he would grow up to know Jesus. I pray for friends who are grieving, longing, waiting; that they would have peace and find joy while they are waiting and that they would know how very much they are loved. I pray for those who are sick with depression and suicidal thoughts that God would bring them to a safe place high on the Rock and they would know of His power and how mighty enough He is to meet their every need.  I pray that God would bring people into their lives to tell them how beautiful they are and speak truth to them by reminding them that they are the sons and daughters of the King of kings and that they are precious in His sight - and that who they are is not defined by their current circumstances.

I pray for the dying that as God is pursuing them even in death that they would make the decision to receive Him so that they may have eternal life with Him in His kingdom. I pray for their caregivers that they would have courage and strength and that they would be led by the spirit in their days ahead.

I praise God and celebrate with friends who have trusted and triumphed and have come out on the other side of their storms. It is a time to dance and a time to share of all He has done through these storms and to give hope to others who are fighting the darkness.

God! He is so faithful! Thanking Him for LIFE tonight! How precious...how wonderful...how fragile it is.

The Most Important Place On Earth

So recently, I've been struggling with connecting with my teenager. This age calls for more intentionality as most of the time he wants to be in his room with the music turned up or socializing with his friends. I remember being this age so I don't think he's a lost soul. However, when I do try to connect with him and on the rare occasion that he opens up to share, as a parent, my response often comes off sounding like I'm "lecturing". I immediately want to instruct him on how he could have or should have handled a given situation differently. Yes, he actually used the word "lecture" to describe his conversations with me.  

What I think maybe we're missing as parents with our teenager is that we don't spend enough time getting to know him face to face outside of the side by side problem-solving that goes on with him in the daily grind. But more importantly, we haven't been leaving much room for grace. As parents, we have been given these children as gifts, only for a time. God has instructed us to be good stewards of our gifts and He has entrusted us to gently guide them and instruct them along the way. This is THE most important job we will ever have and it's important for us to remember that we can not make them into who or what we think they should be. Instead, we must guide them to figure out who God made them to be and provide them with a safe place to do so. Ephesians 6:4  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.







Recently, I was given this book as a gift from a friend. This friend loves on me consistently by her deep desire to share the things she's learned while creating her own Christian home. Although, she is younger than me, I look up to her and I'm always struck by her intentionality in the ways she conducts her home with her husband and four children. I love this quote from the book: "You get only one shot at creating something special just inside your front door."

In light of the context of this book and learning new ways to connect with my teenager but also with my youngest son and with my husband, and just getting into some better rhythms in general, I searched and found some really neat ideas. The internet is crawling with ways to start conversations with your kids at the dinner table. Here is a website with a link for some great open-ended conversation starters that you can print out and start using immediately to help you be more intentional with your kids.

http://beautyandbedlam.com/conversation-starter-questions/

We're not striving for 100% participation 100% of the time. It's just not practical. Each of the kids has sports during the week and we have other appointments and meetings that don't provide enough room for us to sit down every night and have an open discussion. But, I am hopeful and I think it gives us a good place to start. Maybe it will draw more than the typical response to, "What's your favorite thing about school?" As to which my teenager responds, "Lunch". When I further ask, "Why is it your favorite?" He answers, "Because we get to eat."

One thing I would like to be consistent with and I'm striving for 100% on this one, is asking the following questions of each family member every night.

There is almost nothing that is as powerful as having a friend or family member pray with you and for you out loud in your presence. My friends have done it with me, my husband has done it with me and it connects us on a level that is indescribable. For we know this:

Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Jesus also tells us this in Matthew 18:20  that "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

So, here's to more intentionality, more connecting, more loving, more grace, lots of grace, more face to face and more of Jesus in our home in 2014!

Come Away With Me

Negril, Jamaica

On this day, 7 years ago, on February 7th 2007, barefoot on a sandy beach at sunset, I said, "I do"! We danced to Come Away With Me by Norah Jones and I thanked him for loving on my children and for taking on the tremendous challenge of becoming a blended family. I thank God every day for loving me through him. Today he wrote me the sweetest love letter ever! It has been the greatest blessing to grow in our faith together. Though life together is not always as romantic as the day we wed, and though many storms have come and gone and surely more will come, we remain committed. He is always pursuing me just as my heavenly father is always pursuing me and he never gives up. My heart is so full. What a ride!

Enough!

Luke 1:45 - This is the truth I am resting in today. His word is alive and His promises are true. 

I've been in a storm over the last few months. Let's face it, friends, we're all in one of three camps at any given time. We're either 1) in the middle of a storm 2) coming out on the other side of a storm or 3) waiting for the storm. Even believers are not immune. Storms will come. They will come! The difference for those who believe, is Jesus and the HOPE that He provides. We often cry out in despair asking, "What does all of this mean? Why? Why me?" Well friends, God wants us to turn to Him in our despair. I've been on my knees crying out to Him for several months now. Days have gone by that I've been frustrated, angry, resentful towards others. The storm was swirling overhead; raging in my heart. But, I hung on to HOPE. Others that I thought should have my back during this time; well they didn't. Still, others showed up encouraging me to get in the Word and loving me like Jesus does. It was as if God was standing there right in front of me, saying, "Trust Me." He wants us not just to believe IN Him, but to BELIEVE Him. God sees the depths of our hearts and loves us just the same. Nothing is hidden from Him. He walks with us. He promises that He will never leave us. I knew these to be true.

2 Corinthians 12:10 

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When I read a friend's post on Facebook a couple of days ago about her own personal storm, I was reminded that my story is important. Our stories are all important. When we are finally coming out on the other side and we're able to look back and see just how God has been working all along (even while He seemed so silent), it is most certainly, a celebration and we should share that. More importantly, I am reminded that God is enough. He is enough. When we put our trust in humans, or things of this world to help get us through, we will almost always end up disappointed. The thing is, we don't need to fight our own battles. They've already been won. He always fights for the good of those who love Him. He whispers to us in the midst of our groanings, "My precious child, I am enough."

Today is a celebration! Love came down and rescued me from my storm. Today, I will boast of my weaknesses. Because in those weaknesses, God's power has been revealed to me. He heals. He makes hearts brand new. Over and over He has proven that His promises are true. The bitterness and resentfulness towards those who disappointed me, it has faded away... Because that's what He can do. He sufficiently provides us with just what we need. The storm may not be completely over yet, but it's stopped raining. I'm standing in gratitude today.  He answers prayers and He is enough. Always. Always.

Song: Listen Here: Kari Jobe - "Healer" 

Right now, I'm dancing around my living room singing out with tears of joy! JESUS, YOU'RE ALL I NEED!

You hold my every moment.
You calm my raging seas.
You walk with me through fire.
You heal all my disease.
I trust in You. I trust in You.

I believe You're my healer.
I believe You are all I need.
I believe it.

I believe You're my portion.
I believe You're more than enough for me.
Jesus, You're all I need.