05/20/08 - Sarah Barlow (Part 2)

Here's part two of my interview with Sarah Barlow.

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When did you make this commitment to remain emotionally pure for your husband?

I don’t know the specific time….I was always raised with my cousins (BarlowGirl) having their stand for not casual dating and waiting for the right one….but eventually it became my own! I definitely haven’t remained “emotionally pure” and have accidentally led guys on in the past that I regret…it never went anywhere because I cut it off before we even got into a “relationship” but I know now that I have to protect my guy friends hearts and not just let anyone in! I've just recently been reading "Emotional Purity" and God is opening my eyes more and more where I need to guard my heart...so I would have to say my commitment to it has been a slow but good process:)

How does emotional purity fit into your life?

I definitely have an understanding with most of my close guy friends that we are just friends and there is no attraction there....which is absolutely wonderful to have a bunch of older brother type friends who I can "safely" hang out with without worrying about feelings! It's amazing! My parents always have helped me keep a check on how close I get to a guy too which is wonderful because they always see it from a non-emotional stance! We have such an awesome relationship even just from having sooooo many talks about boys! ha! Fun times!

Also, one thing that I was thinking about a couple weeks ago that really opened my eyes is that sooo many of us Christian's are committed to physical purity....but why so little to emotional purity in keeping all of our hearts? Our hearts our even more precious than our bodies! Why are we so loose in giving that away?

You are committed to remaining emotionally pure for your husband, what struggles do you find having during this season of waiting and being single?

Well I would have to say my number one struggle would be having toooo much fun! lol! Sometimes I scare myself because I've really come to being so content...probably because I'm too busy to even think about boys right now...who knows? :) But seriously though...I have a very similar story to Tracy and Mike in the book and have fallen into that trap and it does hurt! I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve sometimes in that I have a hard time NOT sharing things...but I always have to make sure I keep a check on my motives and keep guarding my heart! I know though that God has such incredible plans as far as my husband goes that if I get in the way I could totally mess things up! So right now I can completely focus on my relationship with God and become so satisfied in Him so that really nothing else matters!

05/19/08 - Sarah Barlow (Part 1)

I am going to spend a couple of days sharing this interview with Sarah Barlow. Sarah is a 20 year old Christian single woman. This will be the first a couple interviews with single women in my life.

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Name: Sarah Barlow
Age: 20
Occupation: Photographer, entrepreneur, and dreamer.

Tell us how you became a photographer:
Well….it was completely God!! I was actually going to go into architecture and was TOTALLY headed that way and NOBODY was going to sway me! I was planning on going away to college right when I was 18…well God definitely intervened before that!

My dad sat me down one day and said, “Sarah, what do you really want to do with your life??” at that time I wanted to get married RIGHT THEN…although I don’t think it’s legal though to get married at 15…lol! I replied that I really wanted to be a wife and a mother! He then asked what I had to do to become an architect, so I walked him through the stages…go to college for 5 years, be an intern for a year, then start at the bottom of a firm and work my way up having to work 100 hours a week! By that time I realized I would be about 25 before my life even started and I couldn’t even fathom that! My dad then said that he really thought I had an eye in photography and that he thought I should pursue that! I can’t say that it was overnight that BAM I wanted to be a professional photographer but God really started working on my heart in that direction!
This was when everything started falling into place and God opened sooo many doors!

I got a REALLY sweet internship at a high-profile studio in Chicago just by offering to work for free and then ended up getting payed and hired after 2 weeks. I then met my mentor in wedding photography who is one of the top wedding photographers in the world and he trained me up from the start! After God provided all of these top notch training opportunities he then opened the door for me to do weddings!

I was homeschooled my whole life and my junior year we had a school teacher come in and train us because my mom was so busy. She actually ended up getting engaged and planned to have her wedding at our house! She asked me to shoot the wedding and all I had was my film SLR camera and 5 rolls of film! I studied so much, then shot her wedding, and it turned out that I LOVED it...and everyone actually loved the pictures too! Crazy!

Two months later I was helping one of my friends plan her wedding and it was a higher end wedding so I knew what she was looking for in a photographer and it wasn’t me!! Lol! I helped scout out several photographers for her and called 3 weeks before her wedding to make sure she had booked someone…she then told me that she hadn’t because she really felt like I was supposed to shoot her wedding! I was like you’re crazy!!!! Lol!

After praying about it though I felt like I was supposed to shoot it! So I crammed for 3 weeks on everything photography!

After shooting her wedding I knew that this was what I was supposed to do! I finished up my junior year…which ended up being my senior year also because I had plenty of credits! Photography then became my full time job and business and I’m now going into my 4th year and have shot close to 50 weddings; shot my cousins, BarlowGirl, album cover; just recently shot the Fox Emmy awards party in Beverly Hills; and have been featured in several magazines like CCM and Brides magazine! I've also trained up about 10 interns and am now traveling all over the country and world for weddings and photo shoots! God totally did it because I have no clue how all these opportunities came about especially when I don’t even advertise! All this came from from submitting and surrendering to what God’s plan was for me and not my own!! I couldn’t plan it more perfect!

Wow…and this was the extremely short version!!

Share with us about these years of being single, what are you doing to fully enjoy them, relish this season?

Wow! I can’t even tell you how fulfilling it’s been!! I always told everyone that I wanted to get married when I was 18…like I could actually choose;) I never wanted to consider myself single because I thought every person who was single was lonely and desperate! Well I found it can be completely the opposite! I’m now 20..two years past when I “thought” I would get married and it’s been two of the most incredible years of my life!

My best friend and I were sitting down the other day and she was telling me, “Sarah, I still think that there is more of your single years that you have to exhaust!” How true is that?? These years aren’t meant for us to sit around to wait for a husband! We seriously need to get every ounce of life out of them!! We are only single for a couple years of our lives! Think of that! I really don’t have time to date or even be looking for a guy…because of how much fun I’m having and how satisfying it is!

I’ve been traveling non-stop, starting up workshops, internships, businesses, a young women’s ministry, doing missions work, writing on 9 blogs, shooting weddings and bands, all while living at home and being the oldest of 7 and helping out around there too!

Also….the best is Rotic nights! It equals romantic without the “man” so it’s rotic!! Lol! My girl friends and I get together all the time for movie nights, shopping, a night out on the town in downtown Chicago, so many fun times!! I love it!!

I also have a lot of guy friends that I hang out with so I really don’t need a boyfriend to distract me right now…I know that when it’s God’s timing I will be having so much fun and all of a sudden God will just bring that man right up alongside of me and reveal him!! I won’t have to be on “the hunt!” So I can REALLY focus right now! It’s so exhilarating and freeing!! I highly recommend it!

05/17/08 - Dirty Feet

My feet were filthy! I mean filthy dirty from raking my front, dirt lawn in a pair of Crocs!

I went right up to the shower and scrubbed my feet! (Now you're all asking, "Why is she telling us about her dirty feet!?!")

As I was washing away the dirt from being outside this morning I thought of Jesus in the upper room. My feet were dirty from a couple of hours outside raking and finishing up my garage sale, but the disciples...well who knows how long it had been since their feet had been scrubbed clean!

Yet, our Savior washed the feet of these 12 ordinary men. He bent down and cleaned non-pedicured, rough, dirty, smelly feet!

Who's feet have you been washing? Do you only choose "clean feet" to wash? You know, serve where your comfortable and not inconvenienced? Or do you choose to roll up your sleeves and clean "dirty feet"? Do you move outside of your comfort zone to serve God's people?

05/16/08 Misc.

This is the first chance since my last post that I've a had a moment on the computer! (This is rare for me ;-) )

My garage sale has kept me busy, but has been well worth it. God has supplied all our needs and the money I've made thus far, is what we budgeted for our summer vacation! YIPPEE!

My bathroom will be functioning before the end of today! YIPPEE!

Someone asked in the "Question" post: What type of music do I listen to?

These days it is mostly Sunday School CD's in the van. But I enjoy Kari Jobe, BarlowGirl, Michael Card, Fernando Ortaga, and general praise and worship.

Back in my college days, however, I enjoyed country music, pop music, and big band. I found however I don't desire noise when I have a chance for peace, thus I mostly listen to Christian music when I get a chance.

05/14/08 Garage sale and home repairs

Right now I have:

• A front porch jam packed of items for my garage sale starting tomorrow.
• A two foot by four foot hole in my bathroom floor!
• A hard working husband to get my bathroom functioning again.
• A son who is crying who should be sleeping!
• A tired body thinking I got up too early and have too much to do today!

The joys of real life!

05/12/08 - Fully Trusting

Tonight as I surf around the net, I read some of my favorite blogs and there is one I have been following for awhile: Audrey Caroline. Every time I read Angie's blogs I weep...I should just have a rule to bring my Kleenex when I open her site!

I sit here with my own thoughts about what this amazing woman has walked through. Not only her, but her friend Sara. Both of these women have given birth to beautiful babies who were taken by God in the first hour or two of their life.

Angie surprised Sara at her son's memorial service this past weekend (Yes, Mother's Day weekend). Angie tells how she watched Sara's husband, Brandon, singing, "It is well with my soul" standing, arms raised to heaven, with tears rolling down his cheek.

Just pause and get this mental image in your head. This man is burying his son...his baby son. In the midst of the enormous pain and loss this man responds to God in praise: arms raised and singing: "It is well Lord, it is well with my soul, what You've done causes me to say 'It is well with my soul'."

My heart just ponders that response to our God! What a blessing to "watch" a fellow brother in the Lord trust God so deeply, so passionately, and so completely. Do you think if you lost something so precious you'd respond to God with such trust? How I pray this faith for each of us!

God bless you Sara and Angie!

05/12/08 - Hope Chest

Okay, so I had a hope chest before I got married. I bought so much for when I set up house: dishes, platters, pitchers, wall hangings, and a host of other odds and ends.

Well, we are having a HUGE garage/yard sale this weekend and you know what I am selling? Many of those items.

Why, you ask?

Well, it's not my taste any more. I had phases: Coke Cola phase, Chili pepper phase, collecting pitchers phase, collecting platter phase, Toy Store 2 phase...and other varies phases during those single years.

We moved into our house two years ago and we brought all that with us. When we decided to have a garage sale I told John, "Anything we've not used in 2 years we're selling!"

Well, I have a front porch FULL of stuff and more in my garage (and this doesn't include the big items in the basement and upstairs).

It sure feels good to be lightening our load!

I am not saying: have or don't have a hope chest...just be warned to not collect stuff during those phases ;-)

05/10/08 - Croatian Emotional Purity

This is Marjia...my amazing friend from Croatia. She is standing in front of the Emotional Purity booth at the young people event two weeks ago. Yes, that is the Croatian cover of Emotional Purity...crazy huh?

I ask that you pray for Marjia as she continues to get the message of emotional purity into the hands of the young people in her area. She paid (yes, out of her own pocket...talk about dedication to this message) for 1,000 copies of Emotional Purity! Please pray that she is able to recover all her expenses. Also, pray for her and her husband as they begin their own publishing company in Croatia.

Below is an e-mail she sent me about the conference and other things:

"Conference. Well, it was great. I wasn’t all the time inside (where the program was) but they told me it was really good for young people. Also, that was historical happening: young people from countries that were in war came together to worship Jesus in the very center of the capital of Croatia!!!

Also, we had a big concert (Anthony Skinner from USA) at the very main square in Zagreb. This was for the first time in history that new born Christians had this opportunity. Also, during the day there were 3 spots in town (on very frequent positions) where there were worship, testimonies and witnessing going for 2 hours for 2 days. I think this was strategic happening and also that it motivated youth from all of those countries to be more active and bold and on fire for Jesus.

This is just beginning; we plan to have such conferences in a future.

Concerning the book: I had really nice stand and on a good position. People were buying it and were interested in what it said. Most of those who heard what it talks about bought it. But the sale wasn’t like I hopped. I covered ¼ of printing price with it. But I believe it needs time for the word to spread out. I expect there will be more orders, and also I’m planning some advertisement campaign. I will write to pastors of different churches and will describe the content and advise them to inform the youth in their church about it. Also, there will be some advertisement in Christian magazines.

Anyway, this is still thing for the prayer. Please, pray for the book to spread over those countries, and also that I would get the money to cover the print (which is quiet high, about little less than $3000.). thanx.

Well, this is for now. You can see in attachment the photo of the stand and advertisement for the book."

Marjia...we are praying for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your faith, your boldness, and your willingness to partner with me in this ministry! God bless you!

(You're welcome to leave comments for Marjia...I will direct her to them!)

05/09/08 - The Answers

I received two questions:

"Is it hard to raise boys, when you grew up with sisters?"

I love having boys! Although it does make me wish I had brothers. It has been more of a challenge, I believe, not growing up with brothers. However, being married to a man, who used to be a boy, helps greatly in giving me perspective and a general understanding of boys.

More than anything I feel a sense of responsibility to raise my sons to be men who stand up for what they believe in, have high morals, are warriors for God's kingdom, know what it means to love and protect a wife and children, know how to hear from God and respond in obedience, and finally know how to rise above the standard of this world.

Before we had Miles, John and I went to a "Raising Boys" seminar at our church (we didn't know what we were having). That was the beginning of my quest in learning about raising sons.

I've read a couple of books on raising boys that have helped:

Preparing Him for the Other Woman, A Mother's Guide to Rising Raising her Son to Love a Wife and Lead a Family

That's My Son: How a Mom can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character

Now I will admit that when I was growing up I thought I have all daughters, so having boys has been more of a challenge, but God has used it to grow me and causes me to rely on Him more.

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"When did you first sense that the Lord had laid this message of emotional purity on your heart to share with women (and men)?"

This question relates to the first one. I started writing my book as a journal to my future children. I was in my early 20's and thought my daughters would enjoy peering into their mom's past! (Again this was when I thought I have all girls! ;-) )

As I wrote I realized that there was a desperate need for this message of emotional purity to infiltrate the church. In the last 7 years that I have spoken about emotional purity, I realize the depth of this need to understand this concept.

I don't remember a "light bulb" moment when God clearly laid this on my heart, but I see how He prepared me for this for years before it came to fruition!

05/07/08 - Question

I got this idea from another blog!

In the comment section you are free to ask me any question. I will answer the questions in future blogs!

We'll see what some of you would like to know about me!

I'll share most anything (just not my home address or anything crazy like that!)

05/06/08 - Grace

Do I think you can have a healthy marriage even if you've not remained emotionally and physically pure? Of course! If I didn't, then I would not believe in a God of grace.

God can heal, restore, and cause there to be a newness to your heart even if you've given it away.

If you have already given yourself away and now God's convicted you of emotional purity what should you do? Most likely you've already done a 180, you've turned and are walking closely with God. If you've been convicted just remain in that conviction.

There was a gal I knew who gave herself away physically when she was in her early 20's. After God broke her and brought her close to His side, she repented of her sin and never went back. She was not physically active again until her wedding night! God healed her, restored her, and has used her testimony of His goodness and grace.

05/05/08 - Your Story

I have a wonderful friend, Rebekah. I am so thankful for her and our friendship. You never would have put us together as friends because our personalities are different.

Rebekah is soft spoken, thoughtful, a deep thinker, analytical, calm, and reserved (in a very good sense of the word).

If you know me, or have gotten to know me through my book or blog you'll know I am not soft spoken or calm and can get excited very easily...not always a good thing.

But our friendship has blossomed over the past 10 months and I always look forward to our time together. My boys also love Bekah and look forward to her time at our house.

Rebekah is a single 26 year old woman who has a gift for writing. Her blog posts today are worth sharing (every blog she writes is worth sharing, but these especially)!

Are you wondering if God is every going to write your love story? Read her two posts from today. Start with this ONE! Then read part TWO!

I have interviewed Rebekah and two other single women...so look for more to come from them on being single.

05/02/08 - Purity People

Are you looking for a place on the web to really connect with likeminded people?

Then PurityPeople is the place for you!

Check them out!

05/01/08 - Croatian

Today my book is being released in Croatia. There is a large youth event this weekend with over 1000 students attending and for the first time Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart will be read in a different language!

Please pray for this event, as it is the first of it's kind in this former Yugoslavian Republic.

The story of how it came to be translated is a God story in and of itself. Over four years ago I received an e-mail from Marjia. I was still self-published so I said go ahead. Then just two or three weeks ago she e-mailed me and told me it was done! I was shocked! I told her that Crossway had to be contacted, which she did. They told her that she had to use the new edition to translate.

In less than a week she made all the corrections, got the green light from Crossway, and designed a new cover! (We didn't get the rights to use the USA cover in time for it to go to print. I did however call her in the 11th hour to try to get the rights...that was the first time I've ever called Croatia!) This was a labor of love and dedication by Marjia and I praise God for her faithfulness to translate Emotional Purity. She is part of this youth conference and has promised to send me an update!

When she first contacted me she was single, but now here's her lovely family:

How awesome is God!?!

04/30/08 - Knowing the Word

In our morning devotionals, the boys and I are reading through the New Testament, which we started about a month ago.We don't read too many verses a day, but it's a joy to read through the life of Christ with them.

Do you know that when Jesus was tempted by satan, satan quoted scripture to Him? Jesus quoted scripture right back at him! (Matthew 4: 1-11)

Knowing God's Word...I mean knowing it, not just the stories, but knowing what God's Word says will equip you face temptations. Satan will distort the scripture and may appear as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), but really be out to tempt you.

When I struggled with giving my thoughts over to God (in regards to being married, boys, relationships) I memorized Scripture and used it when my thoughts were out of line with what God wanted me to think upon! How powerful!

Are you bible literate?

04/29/08 - The Problem

Ever since I saw Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed I've been studying and reading up on Evolution vs. Creationism.

As I read I have come to realize the importance of believing in creationism and denouncing evolution. Believing in the foundation of our faith brings about our biblical worldview.


I saw this photo by Answers in Genesis and had to share:

We Christians are using our energy on fighting some of the topics, which we should. But are we focusing on their foundation and destroying their foundation?

04/28/08 - Dumbing down America

Do you ever feel like at every corner you turn you hear about the same thing? Lately, one topic I've heard a great deal about is the dumbing down of America.

Media only feeds you what tickles your ears. School only teaches you what a non-biblical worldview has to offer. Mom's don't expect much from their young children. Society expects nothing from teenagers....and so on.

Our standard is so low. Not only is our standard low, people are not expected to raise it any. In our Sunday School class one of our classmates shared that he was instructed how to write a proposal for work at a 6th grade level!

Why is this so? Why are we not engaging our minds and thinking? Are we even taught to think...and I mean think critically?

My hope is that you not only have a high standard for yourself, but are challenging yourself with critically thinking through life and world issues (evolution, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, pornography, lawlessness).

Not just thinking through them, but know how to defend your faith and beliefs when challenged (which in this society you will be challenged!!).

What do you do to challenge yourself to think more critically?

04/25/08 - Anti-Authority

At MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) meeting on Wednesday the topic was "Why are kids growing up so fast?"

It was a great topic and well presented. When we broke up into small groups I asked, "Why do we think kids are growing up so fast?" Some of the other moms responded that they felt that parents want to be their kids friends and not parents. That there was little discipline of kids these days, thus causing them to have or get whatever they want.

Then I asked what was driving that mentality?

Instantly the thought: anti-authority, came to me. We live in a society that is anti-authority. Parents don't like to be under the authority of someone, so why would they want to suffocate their kids with a line of authority to come under?

Kids don't obey their parents, students are disrespectful to their teachers, employees don't like their bosses, church members balk at their leadership, wives don't obey their husbands, people make up their own rules when driving...the list is endless, anti-authority attitude is everywhere.

At the core of our human sin nature is a desire to be our own boss. We want to be in charge! We don't want someone telling us what to do or be in "charge" of us! All sin is anti-authority. We believe we know what's best for us, so we don't obey what God says is best for us.

I believe that my greatest freedom comes when I am submitting to the line of authority God has established. My kids know there's a line of authority in our home and my prayer is they will one day be able to easily transfer that attitude of obedience over to God!

04/24/08 - Emotional Affairs

A lot of visitors come to my site looking for information on how to break free from an emotional affair.

First, that is the first step...realizing you are in an emotional affair. Here are some questions to ask yourself to know if you are in an emotional affair:

1) Do I look for private time with this person (via the phone, Internet, text messaging, or in person).
2) Do I tell this person things I do not talk to my mate about?
3) Do I think about this person more than is normal in a friendship?
4) Would I talk about these things if my mate was with us?
5) Do I keep my friendship with this person a secret from my mate?

Realizing you are in an emotional affair can be the biggest thing you can do. If you are in denial you will not work towards breaking free.

Second, you must cut off the relationship. Stop seeing this person, stop text messaging this person, stop talking to this person via. the Internet!

I can hear some of you now, "But I work with this person." Or "I have to have contact with this person because of our ministry."

If you have to have contact with that person it doesn't mean you need to talk about things that are not appropriate. Keep the conversation about the topic at hand. If they try to talk to you about things you shared in the past, just tell them that you need to not talk about such issues with them because you realize it is not appropriate!

Third, find accountability! A friend or a co-worker can help you keep in line with this friendship. I knew one gal who was starting an emotional affair with a young man who worked at the gym she went to. She learned to take a friend along with her to workout so she could not engage in any conversation that was not appropriate!

Hope this helps!

04/23/08 - 37 I's

From Ecclesiastes 1:12 to 2:26 King Solomon uses "I" 37 times. 37!! In these verses is a long list of everything he did, from seeking wisdom to building houses.

Have you ever tried to take the word "I" out of your vocabulary? Try it for a day.

04/21/08 - Craft Idea

Are you looking for a craft to help your pre-teen or young teen understand the concept of emotional purity?

Yesterday, I taught the 7th grade girls at our church. I knew I needed a good visual aid for them and this craft idea came to me.

I gave them each a heart with the words: emotions, feelings, dreams, goals, respect, trust, hopes, passions, and devotion written all over the heart.

Then I gave them a black piece of construction paper with boyfriends written on the top of it. I explained that emotional purity is about guarding your heart, saving it for your mate.

Then I glued their heart to their "high school sweet heart". I explained that our hearts have the ability to stick to boys, I call it heart glue. About five minutes laters we tore the heart off of the boyfriend.

They didn't like how much black they took on their heart and how much red was left on the black paper. I told them that their hearts are left with who ever they date and don't marry.

Then we glued their hearts to their "college boyfriend". He stayed put for about 10 minutes, which allowed it to really dry. When the girls "broke-up" with him, a lot of their hearts tore or ripped.

Then I glued a third boyfriend to their black paper. By this time, most of their hearts were thin, ripped and far from well put together.

As I was sharing more of the concept of emotional purity the girls started picking at the red paper that was left behind on the other two boyfriends. As they were picking I said, "See you're trying to get your heart back, but it's stuck with that boyfriend."

Finally, they ripped their heart off one last time.

At that time I pulled out a white piece of paper with husband written on the top of it. I went around and glued their ripped, thinned hearts on to their husbands.

Here are pictures of the one I tried at home before class:

I finally gave them a piece of paper with a perfect heart glued on to a paper that said husband. I wrote these two verses: Prov. 31:12: She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. And Prov. 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.

I heald up the ripped up heart on one husband and the perfect heart of the second paper. I explained that these are their choices, to save their heart or not.

04/19/08 - Expelled

Last night we went to see Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed!

Okay, you have to go see this movie! Do whatever you have to: get a sitter, cancel plans..this movie is a must! Show your support for an Intelligence Designer!

I will tell you this that it takes more faith to believe in Darwinism than it does to believe that there was a Creator. The two Darwinist who actually shared where we came from had these two theories: we were created on the backs of crystals and we were "seeded" here from an alien planet. WHAT! That takes more faith to believe that then God created us!

You'll be surprised at how angry darwinist are at anyone who dares to believe in ID.

You'll laugh at the end when the Richard Dawkins, author of many books debunking God, and Ben Stein have a discussion in which Dawkins himself says, "Well, if there was a God then where did He come from. He can't come from nothing!" WHAT! Isn't this what he believes we came from. Also, he says that these aliens that seeded planet earth must have been created by something.

Oh and the main video they recommend Ben Stein to watch pretty much says that we were started by: "lighting or something". Or something!!

One Darwinist said: Evolution is a fact!

Well, if it is a fact then why do two top evolutionist have two different theories from where we began.

Two things happened at the end of watching this movie, which I've not ever seen before:
1) The audience clapped (this has not happened in a long time)
2) Everyone gathered in the lobby to talk about the movie

Ok, I'll stop, hopefully this whets your appetite to go see this movie!

04/18/08 - Back from "Sicksville"

Do you know when I was single I was hardly ever sick? I guess I should say before I had kids I was hardly ever sick! They seem to pick up stuff, then I get it...phew!

Anyway, today we're all healthy, we're just praying Miles doesn't get sick.

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The other day Miles was singing, "I got peas like a river, I got peas like a rivers, I got peas like a river in my soul."

As I listened to him sing with all his might, I prayed that as he grows in the Lord that He always feels God's "peas".

It also was a good reminder to me that one of the greatest benefits of knowing the Lord intimately is that we have His peace, peace that surpasses our finite, human understanding.

Do you have peace right now? Remember God is not the god of confusion, but the God of peace.

04/17/08 - My turn

Whatever Luke had, I now have!

I'll leave it at that!

04/16/08 - Puke

Yes, the title of this blog is puke!

My mom took my boys to the mall while I ran errands yesterday. We met up for lunch and we were dancing, playing, and laughing in our booth...when all the sudden Luke started throwing up! All over him, all over me, all over the table, all over the booth!

Now this was not gross to me at all. It was more alarming than disgusting. Had this been another other child I would have started to throw up myself, but it was my flesh and blood, my son, my sick son. I wanted nothing more than to hold him and comfort him.

God is our parent in heaven. As I reflected on my reaction to this very gross bodily function, I realized how God loves us in our "puke". Not only loves us, but desires to comfort us and care for us at the lowest point in our life.

Luke's first reaction was to run to my arms. Is that our reaction: To run to the arms of our heavenly Father when life turns sour?

Luke is feeling better, but did have some interesting diapers last night...I'll leave it at that!

04/13/07 - Indulging

As I flipped open my bible today I stopped in Ephesians 2:3 "Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."

I had underlined in my bible: indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind.

What are you indulging in your thought life? Are you allowing yourself to over think situations? What is the attitude of your mind and thought life? When you indulge the desires of your mind, do you find contentment? Do you allow yourself to have pity parties about not having "someone"?

We, in our old nature, indulged the mind! We have the Spirit to help us keep our mind on the things God would want us to think about.

We must keep our thoughts obedient to Christ! (2 Cor. 10:5) We need to think on those things that are pure, lovely, right, excellent, of good repute. (Phil. 4:8)

04/13/08 - Meant For More

If you want an update on Meant For More, check my family blog!

04/11/08 - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This is our theme verse for Meant For More.

How I pray that these young women catch a vision for being transformed by renewing their minds. I pray that the speakers, worship, and fellowship draw them closer to the heart of God.

Thank you for all your prayer and support! I'll let you know how the conference goes!

04/10/08 - Tonight and this weekend

Tonight Women of Worth has their main spa night. I ask you to pray for them as they reach out to the women at Northwestern. Pray also for their safety as they have been up against some angry protesters!

Also, this weekend is the young women's conference I have been helping plan since November!

If you are a young woman, grades 6 to 12, join us for a powerful weekend.

I also ask that you pray for this conference as well. Our main speaker is flying in on American Airlines and the airline has had over 2000 cancellation in the last two days alone. Pray that her flight does not get cancelled.

Thank you for all your support and love!

04/09/08 - Psalm 37

I've not been able to stop thinking about the college culture I witnessed on Monday night.

Also, my heart has been praying for the Women of Worth group, whose flyers were covered up with very vulgure "mock" flyers, making fun of them and their purpose.

This morning I read Psalms 37 and thought of them and the battle they are fighting. I'll just let the verses speak for themselves! (italics and bold mine)

Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great PEACE.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

04/08/08 - Sex Week

DISCLAIMER: This post is not for younger readers!

Last night I was asked to speak at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where the students pay over 50,000 dollars per year to attend the college. The group that invited me to speak is: Women of Worth (WoW).

The feminists at Northwestern sponsor an event called: Sex Week (please enter their site with caution!). A week long event with conversations from: The truth about being a Porn Star to Sexual Positions. (There are other events, but I don't even feel comfortable sharing them on my blog!) Yes, parents are spending over 50K to send their kids to learn the truth of what it means to be a porn star!

Their flyer's were plastered all over the campus! Everywhere read: SEX WEEK: The birds and the bees were never this hot!

A young woman, Chelsea Thompon, was sickened to learn about this Sex Week and decided to offer an alternative called: Women of Worth. She offered a free spa night last year and received donations and services from Christians all over this area. This year she has over 120 women pre-registered for her event!

This year she has added more events, one being me to come speak about Emotional Purity. There were 12 women who showed up to my event and over 400 who went to the Sex Week workshop last night. Twelve beautiful women seeking God's best for their life! Pray that God will use those women to shine His light to those around them!

We are in the minority, we are swimming up stream, we are to be counter cultural!

What if Women of Worth posters were plastered everywhere with some type of "religious" message, do you think the campus staff would allow that?

How this was so sad to me...this whole Sex Week! Women are selling themselves short, thinking the cheap sex will somehow offer the satisfaction they are looking for. When only God can bring them self worth, love, and honor.

EDIT: Please read the Women of Worth blog and here what they are up against! We're praying for you ladies!

04/07/08 - Meaningless Talk

The other night I felt compelled to read 1 Timothy. It's not that long, so I was able to read the entire book in one sitting (of course the boys were in bed and the house was quiet ;-) )

There were a few things that jumped out at me, one verse was 1:6 said, "For some men....have turned aside to fruitless discussion." NAS

In NIV it states: Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.

(I am not going to do a commentary on the entire first chapter or even put this verse in context, but this is the truth I took from the Word that night as I read.)

How often do we end up in these types of conversations. They're gibberish chatter, unedifying, not God honoring, and do nothing to further God's kingdom.

Our speech is so important. Our mouths are so important. The words we use bring life and blessing or death and curses. We can waste a great deal of time on words that need not be spoken!

I'll admit my mouth is my greatest weakness (UGRRR), but when it is under God's control has the power to be my greatest strength. I am reminded to make sure my words are always "full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Gal. 4:6).

04/04/08 - Marriage

Yesterday, when John was home for lunch, I looked over at him and began thinking about the mystery of marriage. He must have known I was thinking something because he said, "What?"

I said, "Isn't marriage a strange thing really? Just a few years ago we were total strangers. We knew nothing about each other. Now we've been married five years, we are accountable to each other, we always know what the other is up to, we know where we are spiritually, we check in with each daily, we share our most private moments with each other, we have two kids together, we've walked through the darkest season of our life (our miscarriage of our first baby), and we're best friends. Now we're one. It's definitely a God thing. Only God can cause us to have a oneness feeling in our marriage."

Becoming one in marriage is a mystery indeed. How two total strangers become one.

Then we began talking about marriage without God. I said it would be like a shot in the dark. Like, "Hum...I guess I'll pick this person and just hope it works out!" What fear would be involved.

Praise God, if you are faithfully following Him, He'll point and guide you. Know you'd rather be in marriage that is God ordained, than in a marriage just for the sake of being married!

04/03/08 - Two blogs

I want to direct you to two other blogs of people who need your prayers:

CF HUSBAND

AUDREY CAROLINE

Both of these families are under an enormous amount of stress and struggles. There is pain and joy. Both of these families are glorifying God in the midst of their struggles.

04/02/03 - Complaining and Arguing

This past Sunday the message at church was based off of Philippians 2:14, 15

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe"

Do you want to shine God's light in your life? Then don't complain or argue! WOW!

How often do we spent our time complaining? We complain about the weather, our parents, our teachers, our bosses, our family, lack of clothes, bad tasting food, being uncomfortable, not getting our way, having to do load after load of laundry, cleaning up after people, loud people, quiet people, being cold, being hot, grades, unfair situations, not having a large enough house, not getting enough sleep, the pastor, the music at church, homework, not having the computer when you want it, doing chores, tithing, lack of money, the President, the Presidential race, the school system, unreliable cars, being single, being married, having no kids, having kids...the list is endless.

Our society is a bunch of complainers!

Now to shine like the stars for God's kingdom, Paul states: Do everything without complaining or arguing!

How simple!

04/01/08 - How Deep

I have just been drawn to this song. May it minister to you in the way it has to me these past couple of days!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

03/31/03 - While waiting to be a wife and mom

After college I moved to Denver for a year. After three years of living away from my parents I moved back home. My dad asked me to come home and prepare for marriage.

I didn't think I had a lot of preparation, but was I wrong!

In those three years I had developed an independent spirit, which would not be conducive to a healthy marriage in which I believe an interdependent spirit is most beneficial!

Living at home with my parents I had people who I had to "check-in" with, run my calendar past, and be accountable to. All of these things had become obsolete to me. Living on my own I was my own boss, so moving home and having that structure and authority was a bit of an adjustment.

After moving home I was free (thanks to my parents) to pursue ministry, God, preparing for marriage, and life. God birthed my book from this season of my life!

I know there are those of you who read my blog who are doing just what I did....living at home, preparing for marriage, and not pursing a career at all. Be encouraged to seek the things of the Lord! He will use this season of your life in ways that can not be imagined!

03/30/03 - I want to be a wife and a mom

"What do you want to do when you grow up?" The curious woman asked the young woman.

In her heart she wanted to say, "I want to be a wife and a mom." But she knew that this answer never satisfies the critics who think that to "just" want to be a wife and mom is not a good enough answer!

"I am hoping to become a elementary teacher after college." Was her half-hearted answer.

How many of you feel this way? You really have a deep longing to be a wife and a mom, but the world around you says that this is not a good enough goal to have!

Well, I am here to encourage you!

I am a proud helpmate to my husband and full time mom to my kids! It's what I always wanted to do and I love my job!

Our culture seems to think that desiring to have a career is far more exciting, adventurous, worth while, than "just" being a wife and mom.

Let me ask you: What can you take to heaven?

Before we had kids we agreed that the only thing we can take to heaven were our kids and we were going to make any sacrifice we had to in order that we could use as much energy as we possibly had to see our own children enter the gates of heaven!

You can't take a position, prestige, money, a job title, a big house, fancy vacations, brand new everything, and a large ego to heaven...just souls!

Being a wife and a mom is powerful! I have the chance to make an eternal impact...ETERNAL IMPACT!!!

So next time someone asks: What do you want to do when you grow up?

Tell them, "I desire a godly wife and a mom! I want to see God's kingdom grow and one way for that to happen is for godly men and women to marry, have babies, and raise them in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. This would be far better than any 'job' I could have. But until God does that, I am working towards becoming a teacher."

03/29/08 - Centrality of the Family

I had a chance to hear Voddie Bauchman last May. Just today a reader sent me this link to a podcast. I heard this message (not this exact message, but him give the same talk) and it is very powerful! It was awesome to listen to it again.

If you want a vision of what the centrality of the family means and how radically the church can be change, spend 45 minutes and listen to Voddie:

The Centrality of the Family

03/28/08 - Did you break something?

Yesterday, I was feeling so frumpy! Ever feel that way?

It was just a day where I felt...blah about myself. I felt fat, frumpy, and just lethargic..and this was when I woke up! As John left for work I was checking e-mail and hardly looked up to say goodbye.

As soon as he left I thought to myself, "What kind of wife am I?"

I looked around my messy house and thought, "I am going to either sit here and feel bad about myself all day, or get up and be productive!"

Thankfully, I choose the second option! I started spring cleaning! I actually unpacked the last box from when we moved in to this house, almost two years ago!

When John got home for lunch I had a hot lunch waiting for him (which he loves) and we sat together to eat lunch. (Normally I eat with the boys, but I waited to eat with him.)

Then after lunch I caught sight of myself in the mirror! WOW! I was not a site I'd want to come home to. So I finally got my shower (at 6 pm), blew dried and curled my hair, put on make-up, and got dinner ready. (Thursday nights he doesn't get home till after 7:45 or so.)

When John got home he said, "Oh, you look pretty tonight."

After about two hours he said, "Did you put on make-up and do your hair?"

"Yes." I replied.

"You cleaned the house, took the garbage can out to the curb, had a hot dinner, and you got all dolled up!" He said.

"Yup, see...well..." I said, getting ready to confess how I felt so bad about not seeing him off to work. How my e-mail took precedence over him and I wanted to be a better wife overall and make this home the one place that he longs to be, over any other place.

"Did you break something? Did you run the van into the garage wall? Did you break something in the basement?" He said in all seriousness, before I got to my confession.

Laughingly I said, "No...." and then went on to share with him my desire to not lose sight of the fact that he is my number one ministry and I want to make this place the most desirable place he longs to be.

He just kissed me and told me that I am the best wife he could have ever asked for and that this is the one place he longs to be over any other place, but it was nice to see me all dolled up just for him and have a hot lunch and dinner!

Why do I share?

I think it's easy to put only my "good" foot forward. But know that I have to make a point to foster my marriage. I work towards making my family and my husband my number one.

I never would have believed I would have become one of those women who doesn't see her husband off to work and greet him at the door, but with two little ones it's easy to see my husband as the only one who doesn't "need" me. My boys need me, they are unable to do things on their own. My husband doesn't so at times it's easy to just want him to fend for himself, but I am called to be his helpmate.

I thank God for the reminder! I am sitting here, with dinner ready to be made, hair done, make-up on, and just waiting for him to get home from work!