Our First Attempt at the "Family Photo" Christmas Card

This time of year is often filled with everyone and their brother putting out these "family photo"-style Christmas cards.

In fact, 2013 went down in the books as the year of the first (I think?) viral video Christmas card. You can check it out here.

And to each his own. I've just never really felt compelled to do so. 

Drawing Challenge {Link-Up} - Luke 2 (x2!)

Well, I'll say it. I'm a drawing challenge slacker. 

Truth is, this time of year is busy. Full of work, work, work, until it's time to rest, rest, rest. And even that "rest" seems to be filled with the stress of a lot of last-minute-ing that goes along with our Americanized, uber-materialistic "Christmas" hype.

So...all of this is to say that I have two drawing challenges to post - one from this past Friday and one from the Friday before that.

What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?

For those who have been following the recent "Mega Millions" wins...the question should not be, "What would you do if you won the lottery?" but rather, "What are you currently doing with the money God has entrusted to you?"

I mean...it would be grand to have a bazillion Gs just land in your lap all of a sudden! But the likelihood is so small - even if you play regularly - that it's generally not worth feeding your funds into the black hole known as "the luck of the draw."

What "Color" Were Jesus and Santa?

This morning, I read a CNN Belief Blog post entitled "Call Jesus White? Expect a Fight." I clicked the link out of vague interest. But the further I read, the more absorbed (and annoyed!) I became. Basically, the article included views on whether or not Jesus and Santa were/are/should continue to be...white. There was also a corresponding video from Fox News in which Megyn Kelly stated that both historical figures actually were white.

Egads.

Choose Joy

There are many times when I am not joyful in my job. In fact, there are days that I would rather yank the covers over my head and drown myself in sleep deeeeeep into the afternoon than go visit kids and families in their homes and then have to write case notes about it. Anybody feel me?

But that's a normal day in the life of a social worker.

To be technical, I am not a true "social worker." A social worker usually has a degree in the field and pursues licensure. I, on the other hand, have a rogue BA in Youth Ministry and am pursuing an MDiv. I actually stumbled upon (ha, ha...God's ways are perfect) mental health work over 8 years ago when I first started seminary. It was the only job I could obtain at the time that worked with teen girls (my fave population) in a capacity as close to "vocational ministry" as I could get. And these years spent in the mental/behavioral health field have proved invaluable for getting hands-on experience with crisis issues that face the youth in our churches today! 

Drawing Challenge {Link-Up} - Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Join in the fun over at the Mavis Davis Blog by clicking the button below!

Ultimate Sleepover 2013

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking eight of our tween/teen girls from church to this year's Ultimate Sleepover. This is a girls' event hosted each fall by the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. We had a ball, as our time there was spent with faith AND fun.

I was fortunate to get to teach two breakout sessions this year: "My Strange Addiction" (about harmful behaviors that we often set up as idols above God) and "Netiquette" (regarding how to have a safe, aware, and God-honoring online presence). What an experience that was! And although many may begrudge opportunities to get LESS sleep (away from home and on a Sunday School floor, to boot!)...I love them! Times like these allow for some deep and meaningful convos that often lead to real growth and change. And since I feel teaching young women is the "sweet spot" of what I am called to ministry-wise, weekends like these really enliven me.

That Time I Got 22 Instant Retweets...

So I've been at this blogging thing for a few months, now. And I really enjoy it. I like having an outlet to share my thoughts, rants, convictions, and soapboxes. And I get super excited about sharing what God is teaching me through His Word.

But with blogging, it is easy to get caught up with how many "likes," "shares," "comments," "pins," and "retweets" you get.

Drawing Challenge {Link-Up} - Luke 1:26-38

The passage for this week's challenge over at the Mavis Davis Blog is about the foretelling of Jesus' birth.  I chose to draw Luke 1:38, because I believe this is the response we all should have when God calls us to a task.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Drawing Challenge {Link-Up} - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

This week's Mavis Davis Blog drawing challenge was a tough one. The passage was 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

I'm not ultra-satisfied with my rendering of this one...but nevertheless, here it is!

Click on the link below and join us in the challenge!

A Response to Kmart's "Show Your Joe" Jingle Boxers Commercial

Kmart has received quite a bit of backlash from their recent commercial about jingling boxer shorts.  Many are offended, stating the ad is "ridiculous," "disgusting," and even "filthy." Me? Well...  

While this commercial doesn't really "offend" me, I do find it in poor taste and lacking more of the witty sentiment I've seen in past Kmart shock value-style commercials. I'm sure many of you were not keen on Kmart's recent "Ship My Pants" and "Big Gas Savings" ads due to their obvious use of phrases that make the actors sound like they're cursing. But I will admit they've led to a few chuckles in my home. No, they're not appropriate. And no, I don't think these ads are in the best interest of kids who may be watching and mimicking. But why would I delineate between these prior commercials and the current one? Because I think it's one thing to use pseudo cuss words in an ad and another thing entirely to use genital humor in an ad. I guess my formal statement is something akin to, "Is this really necessary?"

Stand Up For Jesus (even in the "small" things)

Have you ever gotten that feeling in the pit of your stomach that you needed to take a stand for Jesus? I have. Usually that physical discomfort points to the sweet conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Who do I call it a "sweet" conviction? Well, because I'm not talking about something drastic here...I'm taking about the SUDs. In the counseling world, SUDs are seemingly unimportant decisions. I'm talking about the normal, the mundane, the daily - heck, the hourly! - opportunities we have to share Christ in small, often subtle ways.

This morning, I had one of these SUDs-type opportunities.

I was at an all-day training for work at an office in another town today (for which I wasn't necessarily REJOICING to be at in the first place!). Not too long after I'd settled into my chair, gotten comfy, and taken my first sip of break-room coffee, the trainer began asking us questions. One of the first questions asked of us was, "Who/What is the most important person/thing to you?" 

"Ultimate Sleepover" Facebook Cover

Hello to all you girls and leaders out there who attended SCBI's "Ultimate Sleepover" this year! I truly enjoyed spending the weekend hanging out you and talking about the truths in God's Word.

If you went to my breakout session on "Netiquette," you may remember me challenging each of you to use your social media presence for God's glory. Well...

At the top of this post is a free Facebook cover that matches the backdrop from the Sleepover event. Feel free to click on the image to pull it up bigger, right click, save, and set it as your banner. This would be a great way to show your faith to others and get your friends asking about the awesome time you had this past weekend. Who knows? It could even lead to some opportunities to witness, get friends involved in your youth group, invite people to next year's event...all things that may bring them one step closer to becoming Christ followers themselves!

Enjoy!

Encouraging Words

Words have the power to tear us down or to build us up. Words also have a certain "linger-abilty" to them. Have you ever experienced a conversation that just sticks with you? No matter how much time elapses or how many words follow, that ONE powerful statement made seems to clings to your mind like a magnet to metal.

In my day job, I often am blessed with the awesome responsibility of teaching parenting skills. One of those skills I teach most frequently is how to encourage or praise your kids when they do something well. This is called specific praise, to be exact.  

Drawing Challenge {Link-Up} - Psalm 9:1

The 15 Minute Drawing Challenge over at the Mavis Davis Blog this past Friday was to create artwork from Psalm 9:1.  Here is my finished piece:

I did not get a chance to create a drawing or post this till today because I took my girls from the youth group to the "Ultimate Sleepover"...a girls' conference the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana puts on each fall.  However, stay tuned, because I will be posting a collage of all the girls' artwork from the sleepover.  I have been inspired by Amy's challenges each week, so I had all my girls draw out our theme verse at the conference.  Yay, fun!

If you feel so led, please click the pic below to hop on over to Amy's Psalm 9:1 challenge yourself!

BE Titus 2

I came to know the Lord in a real and life-changing way at age 13. But as I've mentioned before, it took me a few years to really figure out what it meant to be a DISCIPLE of Christ. And I'm still learning. 

Mentors can make a huge difference in the growth process of young believers. And God designed this mentoring process. Titus 2 is probably the most hailed of the passages in the Bible that speak to older believers teaching younger believers to live as true disciples.

Commit to Purity

For a few weeks now, my pastor has been preaching a sermon series based on the letters to the churches in Revelation.  Yesterday, the sermon's focus was on the letter written to the church at Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17).  The people of that city were participating in idol worship, sexual deviance, and the like.  And the church was coming right alongside - jumping straight into the fires of sin like all the rest.  In short, the letter was a harsh rebuke to a community of professing believers who were living anything-but-Christlike lifestyles.

15 Minute Drawing Challenge {Friday Link-Up}

Thanks to Amy Davis, I have a Friday link-up drawing to post.  For today's challenge, I was to spend 15 uninterrupted minutes on a drawing of Phillipians 4:19.  I am very much a beginner at hand lettering, but I do enjoy it - so I gave it a whirl!  

If you feel so inclined, link to Amy's blog yourself (www.mavisdavis.wordpress.com) and join in the Friday challenges.  What a creative way to meditate on Scripture and get some artsy practice in at the same time!

Fellowship So Deep

Lately, I have been listening to a 2006 Caedmon's Call album called "In the Company of Angels II: The World Will Sing."  I LOVE me some Caedmon's, mostly due to their thick harmonies and their lyrical richness.  In this day of crank-it-out-quick pop hits, Caedmon's has always hearkened to an older age of more thoughtful writing.  Their music is rife with quality vocabulary and imagery...and the biblical and historical allusions abound!

The "In the Company of Angels" albums were compiled in order to breathe fresh air into old hymns and create new songs that still had that older, hymn-like structure.

One of the songs I've had on repeat (and there have been SEVERAL) in my car lately is "Fellowship So Deep."

Two Are Better Than One...

Ecclesiastes 4:6-12 (ESV) reads:

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.  Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, 'For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?'  This also is vanity and an unhappy business.  Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Bring It Into the Light!

I once heard someone say that if you leave things in the dark, Satan and your flesh can use them for evil. But if you bring them into the light, God can use them for your good (read: sanctification).

Many times, we think we can handle things on our own. I was that child...the child who wanted to do it all by herself. Actually, I remember that being my favorite phrase for quite some time. "I can do it MYSELF!" I would frequently yell at my mother.
 

Singing...or Singing FOR THE LORD?

I love to sing. 

When I was young, I was heavy into the choir scene.  You know the type - in my church's adult choir every Sunday morning, at youth choir every Sunday night, joined the extracurricular show choir at school, starting singing solos in front of my local congregation, etc.  And I was a soprano...because that's what all good girls were.  Sopranos. High ones, at that!  In fact, I remember practicing in my room with Mariah Carey (the ultimate high soprano!) blaring on the boombox, thinking I sounded SO smooth when I could hit her notes or nail her runs.

A Proper View: Worldly Self-Esteem vs. Biblical Self-Image

Self-esteem and self-image have been used as interchangeable terms for as long as I can remember, but they are NOT the same thing. After researching the two, I believe one points to worldliness while the other allows for a godly perspective. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines self-esteem as “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” Synonyms (related words) listed are ego and pridefulness. However, the world says that we should all have a good sense of self-esteem. Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? 

The world says we should love ourselves, we should be proud of ourselves, and we should not listen to what the “haters” say.

Gleanings From the 2013 Influence Conference...

I had the opportunity to attend the 2013 Influence Conference back in September.  IT. WAS. AMAZING.  I have been mulling over the lessons I learned there throughout the past month, and I think I am finally ready to write about it.

REWIND: 

A while ago, a friend of mine had advised that I attend a good, solid blogging conference if I was serious about wanting to enter the world of online writing.  Boy, was she ever right!

The Life of a Teacher's Wife

So, if I haven't already told you...my husband is a teacher.  To be precise, he is a 4th & 5th grade teacher who is REALLY good at what he does.  In fact, I run into teens and adults on the daily who were his students in the past.  And they all have fond memories of their time in "Mr. Pratt's class."

Sometimes, I get the chance to come along and experience the work life of my husband.  Whenever I bring him lunch or drop off something he left at home, I inevitably end up interacting with his students.  And it's always a joy.  Since he has the same group of students for two years in a row, he really gets to know the kids well.  And in turn, they get to know me.

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 10 - Leah Leaps: "Epic Fail" or Right Where I Should Be?)

Many times in my life have been lived in true "comedy of errors" fashion.  You know how people say, "Years from now, you'll look back and laugh about this!"  Well...sometimes I laugh, and sometimes I cry.

Sometimes, I look at my life and wonder if I am where I should be.  For most, this brings up the "what is God's will for my life?" debate...yada yada yada, ad nauseum.  

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 9 - Miley Cyrus and Contentment)

Good Monday to you!

I have been pondering the Miley Cyrus MTV VMA debacle for a while now.  And I've been wondering how to tackle it.  I have a lot of thoughts, and I am debating writing a post that more fully details my swirling contemplations.  But suffice it to say...I've been doing a lot of praying for Miley lately.

31 DAYS - CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 8 - Content in Any Situation)

In Philippians 4:10-13, Paul discusses his own journey toward being content in Christ:

"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.  You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through HIm who strengthens me."

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 7, Praying for You!)

Hello all!  I just wanted to let you all know that today, for post #7 of this 31 Days Challenge, I am praying for each of you out there.  I am lifting my readers up in prayer today - that you may find contentment in Christ, no matter your circumstances.  I am not just saying that I am praying for you...I am ACTUALLY praying for you.  Some by name (those I know), and some not (those maybe trolling or stopping by via web search).  I will resume writing more in-depth posts on this topic tomorrow.  For today, be blessed y'all!  

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 6 - Conviction Via Music)

I connect with music.  It often drives me, motivates me, encourages me, saddens me...but I can identify with most music.  And whether the music is designated "Christian" or not, our God is powerful enough to use any music to speak volumes to our hearts.

Today, I was CONVICTED by music.  God spoke through his "still, soft voice" through the work of the Holy Spirit in my life to convict me of my sinful nature...via a lost songwriter on my iTunes.

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 5 - Definitions, Part 2)

Let's forge ahead in defining being "content in Christ."

Remember, Merriam-Webster defines it as so:

        contentment: the state of being happy and satisfied

Yesterday, we looked at the satisfaction portion of this.  Today, let's look at the happy!

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 4 - Definitions, Part 1)

On the first day of this writing challenge, I unveiled my topic with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definitions for "content" and "contentment."  Today, I'm going to flesh out these definitions a bit.  I'll start with "content."

content: pleased and satisfied; not needing more

When was the last time you were pleased?  Did it involve something done by you?  For you?  With you?  Or did it involve something entirely different?

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 3 - More Than Enough)

When Chris Tomlin came out with his worship song "Enough," the words totally resonated with me.  At that time, I had just left my hometown in pursuit of re-enrolling in college to complete a new degree path.  I was single and very much in need of Christ to awaken a desire in me to be content in Him alone.  I learned this song while I was working at a Christian youth camp that summer (Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters - seriously the best camp on earth!).  

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 2 - "You Complete Me?")

Back in 1996, a movie debuted on the silver screen that rocked ladies' worlds when it came to romance.  That movie was entitled Jerry Maguire...and I do NOT recommend watching it.  Besides the gratuitous nudity, sex, cursing, etc., it dealt a devastating blow to the hearts and minds of women everywhere.  Mind you, women did not see it as a blow at first - they saw the movie as wonderfully fulfilling.  I argue, however, that it deceived us into thinking incorrectly about how love works.

31 DAYS: CONTENT IN CHRIST (Post 1 - Introduction)

Throughout the month of October, I will be participating in the "31 Days" blogging challenge hosted by thenester.com.  I would like to post daily; however, the reality of the matter is that I will be posting thoughts on my topic every few days. I will be studying and writing on the topic of being "content in Christ."  I was introduced to the concept of finding my contentment in God alone when I was 18 years old - five years after I first trusted in Christ as my Savior.  

And all I can say is...I wish I had known about this Divine contentment from the start!

Be Careful What You Search For

Google is amazing...am I right?  I mean, you can type anything into that beautiful little search box, and you are instantly connected to a wealth of information.  While online searches are wonderful, I'd like to caution you to be careful what you search for.  Just ask anyone who's ever done an image search, and they'll tell you to be cautious lest all things pornographic pop up.  However, "dirty pictures" are not the topic of my post today.  BAD THEOLOGY is.

Selfies!

Selfies have taken over!  But seriously...the term "selfie" was just added to the Oxford  Dictionaries Online (the ODO for short), along with other recently-coined words like "twerk," "emoji," "derp," and "squee."  The ODO defines "selfie" as follows: A picture that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.

To the left is one of my personal faves - a totally metal, rockin' pic I took with a long-forgotten (I can't imagine why!) keytar in a local Goodwill store.

The Influence Conference

Hello, fellow ladies who will be attending The Influence Conference!

I look forward to meeting and connecting with each of you...but most of all my sister, who is flying in from El Paso, TX to attend the conference as well.  This will be quite the reunion for us, and I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for us two "new-ish" bloggers at this event.

LEGGINGS AREN'T PANTS!

I live close to Bloomington, Indiana - a college town. Along with college towns come college girls, and along with college girls come fashion trends en masse. Several times a day, I find myself inwardly screaming, "LEGGINGS AREN'T PANTS!"

Now, lest you think I am out of touch with fashion - I realize the trends. I even follow some of them. In fact, I remember growing up in the 80s-90s, when leggings (or stirrup-pants...YIKES!) were frequently worn under long, tunic-style blouses or sweaters.  

Coming Attractions: TRUEbeauty Series

Calling all girls: I am working on a series called "TRUEbeauty" that will be posted in the near future. We will be looking at the TRUE beauty that God has created each women to have. The first post will be about how God has created each and every woman beautiful. That beauty is expressed in different types: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual beauty. The second post will involve how men have a special attraction to a woman's beauty (all types!). Because of this second point, the third post will deal with our responsibility to use our beauty for God's glory--especially as we relate to the men around us.  Please click on the comments section, and submit any questions you'd like to see answered in this series.

Stay tuned, ladies!

My Journey to Christ

"It's not the journey that's important; it's the people you meet along the way." - Anonymous

Along my life's journey, I have met many different people...but none so enticing as Jesus Christ. Now, I'm sure you're thinking, "How old is this chick, anyway?" Well, I didn't meet Him 2,000 years ago when He was walking the streets of Jerusalem or anything, but I assure you--I did meet Him!

When I was 13 years old, my family moved to a new state that was a loooooong way from the place I had always known as “home.” However, what I thought to be a travesty (a.k.a. biggest bummer of my life!) at that age turned out to be the biggest blessing for me instead.

Music Review: Everlife

Have you ever checked out the band Everlife? If not, pleeeeeaaaaase do...you will not regret it! They are sure to be an encouragement to ANY young woman out there who is looking for quality music with a quality message. Everlife is a band made up of three real-life sisters who got their start on the Disney music circuit. These truly stunning beauties, inside and out (Amber, Sarah, and Julie) are fellow believers in Christ who have some really great stances on girls' issues.

Servant Leadership

Servant leadership. We’ve all heard that term before, right? This is the phrase most often ascribed to Christ’s style of leadership when He walked with us here on earth. Jesus led the people by meeting them where they stood: in poverty, in hunger, in sin, and in spiritual darkness. Our Savior met them there, in their muck and mire, but He did not leave them to shrivel and die there. Christ reached out to lost sinners and served them. He did for people what they could not do for themselves. By ministering to their physical needs first, He was able to break through to their inner need for salvation. It literally didn’t matter WHAT Christ did for people, it was all in HOW He did it. Jesus’ tender, compassionate heart burst forth with love for sinners. Everything He did, He did in love.

Divine Appointments

Have you ever gotten that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach that you are in a certain place at a certain time for a certain God-given purpose? For me, it usually means that I have stumbled upon someone I am to reach out to in Christ's love. Many Christians refer to these chance meetings as "divine appointments" (due to the fact that the meetings are not really "by chance" at all!). One of the most dramatic divine appointments in my life occurred while I was a junior in college.

Have I McDreamied Myself Out of a McMarriage?

For those of you who have followed ABC’s hit series Grey’s Anatomy, you may have begun to identify two types of “desirable” men in the world: the McDreamys and the McSteamys.

The McDreamys are the tall, dark, and handsomes who are strong of jaw and quick of wit. With a headful of gorgeous locks, they are the men whose eyes smile long before their lips and who love as intensely as they work. They are the men whose crisp, blue eyes can pierce the darkness of any girl’s “dark and twisty” soul. McDreamys are the rescuers. They are the strong and devoted men who value love and commitment above all else.

What Do You Crave?

What do you crave? Why do you crave it? I ask these questions because of a craving in my own life...for a milkshake. Now, this is not just ANY milkshake, but the mother of all milkshakes. This milkshake has power. Have you ever felt like that about something? That it had the power to take over your thoughts, your dreams, your every craving? I have. The culprit: the limited-time-only "Birthday Cake Shake" at Zaxby's restaurant.

Do You Have a Mentor?

Mentors come in all different kinds of packaging throughout our lives. Some are spiritual mentors who guide us closer to the Lord. Some are field mentors who help us navigate our school or career paths. Some are health mentors who spur us on to greater fitness goals. Many other mentor types can exist, but for the purpose of this blog, these three will suffice.

Music Review: James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"

As I was listening to the radio the other day, the song "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt came on. Now, I realize this song is quite a few years old at this point, but I remember a time when this song was so over-played that it was frequently stuck in my head. I suppose that's how #1 hits are! Anyway--as I was listening to the lyrics, I must admit that I developed quite a beef with this song. Bear with me...this will be a rant.