Weekly Random Dozen ~ 1st of 2010!

Happy Friday to you!! I'm participating in the Weekly Random Dozen again this week. It's been a FULL week for us with school back in session, so I thought a little "randomness" would be a fun break. Hope you enjoy!! :)

1. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being a cranky-baby-hissy-fitter, how much of a complainer are you?

I really try not to complain much at all. This is hard for me to answer. I'll ask John and share what he says. (He says I'm a 2, if that ~ whew!).

2. When someone else is talking, do you listen, or are you thinking about what you're going to say in response?

I'll be honest, if it's my kids, I'm probably 3/4 listening (and the other 1/4 thinking about our schedule, what's for dinner, etc..). I'm also working on this. I want my kids to have 100% of my attention. (Maybe next week I'll share my new "after school idea" to help in this area. It's helped a lot!)

As for adults, I'm listening. Pretty fully and completely. I might be thinking of how I can pray for this person, or if there is an encouraging word I might be able to share with them ~ but I really try to be 100% fully present with them.

3. I just deleted 1062 messages from my email account. Do you have any plans for a clean sweep this month--of anything?

I am planning a pretty clean sweep of my mind!! It's time to clear out all the clutter and misbeliefs in there! My girlfriend and I are working on memorizing a whole book of Scripture to fill up the space.

4. Tell us about your perfume. Was it a gift? What does it remind you of? Do you have a signature scent?

When John and I were getting married, I received Victoria's Secret "Pear" as a wedding gift. He loves it. So, that's all I wear. If I try anything different, he knows and doesn't like it. So I stick with Pear ~ the spray, the sparkly powder, the lotion, etc.. I've got it all. It's a simple way to make John happy! :)

5. What is your best organizing tip for the new year?

At first I thought this was a hard question...but now I know! I organize all of my different holiday stuff with holiday bins. I have a different bin for all of them ~ New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Pat's, 4th of July, etc.. That way, I can put the left over napkins, confetti, etc.. in the bin and it's ready to go for the next Celebration! I've had friends come over just to check out my holiday bins. Nothing special...but keeps the Celebrations easier to plan.

6. What is your favorite comic strip?

My husband John is a huge comic strip fan. I'm not. I might peek at Baby Blues, but that's about it. John, however, reads them all (my son Benj too!)

7. Do you sleep with a fluffy or flat pillow?

I sleep with two, long thick pillows.

8. What color is your kitchen? Why did you choose that color?

Our kitchen is a "tealish/aqua" kind of color. (I forget what it's officially called). We picked it with the help of our friend Allison. When we moved into our house last year, she helped pick colors for all of the rooms in our whole house. I just love color, so we picked lots of purple, and teals and more, and then had every room painted! My basement storage room is bright orange! :)

9. What’s the most interesting bumper sticker you’ve seen?

Not sure. What's the most interesting bumper sticker you've seen???

10. Do you prefer an expensive writing tool or whatever is lying around? (Are you a Montblanc or a Papermate?)

I am particular about my writing tools. My favorite is a black Uniball pen (is that what it's called??). Anyway, I love them! They're not super expensive. I get them from Staples with my ink cartridge refunds. (Is this too much information?!)

11. What chore doesn’t feel like a chore – you just enjoy it (at least most of the time)?

Feeding my kids and all their friends. I love it! In our new home, we have a counter in our dining room that we use for all kinds of fun stuff ~ taco bar, make your own ice cream sundaes, build your own sub, etc.. I love it when Jake and his high school buddies come over to eat. And usually my little ones have a friend or two here also. The more the merrier, I say!

12. If your parents often repeated themselves, what is something one of them said more than once?

Not sure. I should have listened to them much more than I did!! :)

And now, dear bloggy friends, I am headed out for an over-night all by myself!! I have quite a full teaching/speaking schedule in the next few weeks, so John has given me the night off to pray, study, and prepare. Woo Hoo!!

I "priceline.com'ed" a hotel in the area. And would you believe...the hotel that was picked SHARES a parking lot with Starbucks. Yippee!! Is God good or what???! :)

Have a super, fun-filled weekend!! I'll be back on-line on Monday!!

Many blessings to you!!

P.S. Thanks again, to Linda, from 2nd Cup of Coffee for hosting the Random Dozen! :)

Moving Past Gym Class ~ Part 2

I am thrilled to share the winner of the Jesus Calling Giveaway (my favorite book from 2009) !! :) The winner is Angie!!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! I loved reading your comments, and was able to get great ideas for more books to add to my library!

On my last post, I shared some of the "false labels" that I picked up in gym class, and through other childhood hardships. (For a quick recap, click here).

Unfortunately, I grew up believing I was...

Not wanted.

Not good enough.

Rejected.

No one would ever pick me.

Thankfully, in 1996 I met Jesus. As I began a new journey of life with Him, He began to fill me with His peace and His hope.

I also began to learn my real identity through reading the Bible.

God's Word says that I am...

Accepted

Adopted

Forgiven

Loved

Chosen

I love that word "Chosen". In fact, it’s the Greek word "eklektos" meaning “chosen one, choice select, picked out, appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable”.

You know what this says to me. It’s almost as if God is saying….

Cindy, I pick you for my team!! In fact, if I had a 6th grade kickball team, not only would I hand pick you – I’d appoint you captain!!! :)

(Just my "for fun" interpretation...but it sure brings healing to my heart!)
And the beautiful thing...what God says about me is true for you too!!

You are Accepted ~ just the way that you are!

Adopted ~ a precious member of God's family when you believe in Jesus!

Forgiven ~ regardless of where you have been or what you have done!

Loved ~ dearly, lavishly, and unconditionally!!

and Chosen ~ hand picked by our Great God for His team!!

I don't know about you, but I need to remind myself of my TRUE IDENTITY on a daily basis. The world screams, "You're not ______ enough. Thin enough. Pretty enough. Rich enough, etc... " And if I don't watch it, I can easily pick up and start believing the lies.

However, I now know who I am in Christ! And my worth and value is not in who people say that I am, but who God says that I am!!

Accepted. Adopted. Forgiven. Loved. Chosen. And you are too!! :)

Let's pray.... Oh God, we thank You for Your love and grace and faithfulness in our lives. Please shield us from the voices of this world that shout at us, and remind us afresh of the Truth of who we are in You. May we each live out of our true identity in Christ. May we be the people that You desire us to be, and live the full, superabundant lives that You have planned for us!! For Your purpose and Your glory alone!! Amen!

Blessings to you~



P.S. I just bought a new book today called "Sparkling Gems from the Greek". Have you read it?? Oh my goodness, I think this is going to be my new fave for 2010!! Where has it been hiding all this time?! You may want to check it out!! :)

Moving Past Gym Class...

OK, true confession time. I stink at New Years Resolutions. I make them every year, and usually 2 days later (or sooner), they are out the window.

This year is no different. I've already had Diet Coke, chips & salsa, and Starbucks lattes (things I usually try to give up). I've not been to the gym yet this week (something I usually try to do), and forgot my vitamin again today. Shoot.

Another reason I am so grateful for God's grace. :)

I will, however, live differently this year. Not because it's a resolution ~ but because I am determined to live as the woman that God has called me to be. I am committed to knowing and believing who I am in Christ ~ and not allowing false labels to define me anymore. Period.

You see, for me, it started in gym class. Many, many years ago.

I'm not sure how you felt about gym class as a kid, but I thought it was horrible.

And the worst part...the picking of teams.

I mean really...is there anything more humiliating then being lined up along a wall, while 2 classmates hand pick who they want on their team.

I can still remember, nearly 25 years later, the pain and the humiliation of standing there – so desperately longing to be wanted – only to be the last one left again.

And unfortunately, I allowed gym class and other childhood hardships to shape my identity – and grew up believing that’s who I was.

It was like I was wearing a name tag labeled...

Not wanted.

Rejected.

I believed no one would ever choose me.

This became my identity, and I allowed these false labels to shape my life.

Thankfully, in 1996 I met Jesus. (Woo Hoo!!)

Jesus ripped off the false nametags I was wearing.

And the false labels weren’t just erased - but REPLACED with a whole new set chosen just for me. :)

And He has new nametags for you too :)

To be continued tomorrow.....

Happy New Year & Our Family Tradition

If you haven't had a chance to sign up for my Jesus Calling Book GIVEAWAY, please join the fun! (Click here for more information). You have until Monday, January 4th at 9 PM to enter. :)

Happy New Year 2010 from our home to yours!!

We hosted a fun, family friendly New Years celebration last night. We had 19 people (kids and adults) enjoying a taco bar, sledding, games, an ice cream sundae bar, tattoo stand and so much more! :) What fun!!

For today, we have a simple family New Years Day tradition. I'll bring out markers and paper, and then each family member draws two pictures. The first picture is a note reflecting on things for which we want to say "Thank You" to God. For example, here is my picture from 2002...

That year, I was thankful for John, my two boys (the girls weren't born yet), Harbor Clubs (a ministry at Church), the opportunity to serve in Africa, and growing as a disciple of Jesus.

Here's a fun example from my son Jake (shared with his permission). Jake is now 15, but here's his Thank You for 2002.... :)

Or here is Benj's from last year...

For our New Years Day tradition, after we share our "Thank You" page, we take a new piece of paper. On this paper, we write out/draw specific prayer requests for the coming year. For example, this is Benj's paper for 2009....

It is always so fun to see what the kids come up! It's also a blessing for me and John to put our requests on paper, and then watch how God works over the year! When I pulled out John's paper this year (I keep them all in a special New Years tub) ~ I gasped out loud. God answered every single item on his list (and they were big prayers!).

For my New Years Day prayers last year, I had written "opportunities to share Jesus with others". (I just love Him so ~ and want to tell everyone I can!) I had no idea at that time that God would open a door for me to lead a Bible Study of 80 women on Monday nights (and less than a month later, no less)!

God is so faithful, isn't He?! :)

I can't wait for our special tradition to get started today !! I've pulled out the paper and markers, but John just said first I can sneak off to the bookstore for a bit with my Bible, while the kids are still waking up after their late night. Woo Hoo!!

What about for you?? Do you have a special New Years tradition?? Share with us please!! I'd love to hear from you! :)

Happy New Year! May 2010 be a year filled with much joy, peace, health, and God's richest blessings!