She Sleeps, She Savors, She Submits

Upon returning yesterday from She Speaks, I had a myriad of things on my mental agenda. First on the list was sleeping. Exhaustion had set in; spiritually, mentally and physically. I did what any other competent woman would have done. I changed into comfortable clothes, grabbed a blanket, and curled up on the couch.

A couple hours later emerged a fresh mind and an eager spirit. I fervently plunged into the wealth of information I received from the wonderful weekend writer's conference. Feelings of gratefulness washed over me as I began to realize the fullness of the blessings I had been given.

In the past, I've always found myself fearful about contacting publishers and writing query letters. Fears of rejection had frozen me into a lull. Moving towards success seemed an impossibility. Because of my fear, I wasn't prepared to submit my articles. Because of my fear, I wasn't willing to completely submit to God's plan for my writing. Now, to the credit of Proverbs 31 and She Speaks, I now have the knowledge and the confidence to do both.

I finally have a sense of direction for my writing. I know what to do with the words the Lord has given me. New friendships have been formed with kindred souls. Exciting possibilities loom on the horizon! I can see the light growing brighter already.

The Lord has increased my confidence ten fold. The intimidation has dwindled and boldness is developing in it's place. Rejection no longer frightens me. It's just part of the journey. I am aware of God's hand in my life and I know that He is going to use me for His glory.

Today is the beginning of my total submission to Him and His will for my writing. The words aren't mine. They originate in Him. He generously allows them to flow through me and onto the pages in order to grace the lives of His people.

Here I am, Lord. Send me. I submit.

Psalm 45:1 "My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." (AMP)

Colossians 4:17 "...See that you discharge [the duties of] the ministry and fulfill the stewardship which you have received in the Lord." (AMP)


Praise you Father, for bringing so many eager women together this weekend to seek Your perfect will for their lives. I lift each and every one of them up to You today as we all begin the first day of the rest of our writing and speaking lives. Bless those who so willingly shared their knowledge with us. Thank You for your provision. Thank You for Your wisdom. Thank You for preparing the way for us. How wonderful that You have also now prepared our hearts and minds for Your service. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and Blessings,
Starr

Countdown To She Speaks!!

I am so excited about an upcoming writer's conference I am attending in Charlotte, NC next weekend. It is just a skip and a jump from my home in Lexington and I am going with two other ladies who are very dear to me. Our church has even blessed me with the means to go!! Finances have always kept me from attending in the past, but God has come through once again in my life and given me a blessing far beyond measure.

You can find out more about this conference at their website: http://www.shespeaksconference.com
It is sold out as far as I know, but there is always next year if you want to attend.

I have been busy preparing myself mentally and logistically for this event. A few weeks ago, I lost many of my articles and my favorite Bible. I also lost two favorite books that were autographed for me. I am an old-fashioned southern girl and do most of my writing with pen and paper unless I am going to place it on one of my blogs or get it published. I kept it all in a tote bag that I usually guarded as closely as I would one of my kids! But, I guess I got side-tracked somewhere along the way because it has disappeared from the face of the earth.

I know God has a divine plan in all of this and I have come to grips with the fact that I may never find it. So, I have been writing like crazy for the past few weeks and God has blessed me with more and more insight which has lead to more and more articles.

Last night I had a dream about showing up at the conference wearing a hideous outfit! It was so-not-my-color and I had a large gold glittery belt tied around my waist and three various colored tank tops underneath my dress!! Don't know where that image came from, but I think it was a perfect example of the way my mind is thinking deep down somewhere about how I am not good enough to be attending. Funny how you can have low self-esteem issues even in your sleep. I know better than that, though and I certainly know how to dress more appropriately!! After all, I have heard Shari Braendel speak about what not to wear!

I hope if you are coming to She Speaks that you will leave a comment on today's post and maybe we can "connect" before we even meet there!

The verses that are standing out to me as I prepare for this conference are typed below. I hope they will encourage you as well. God is going to do great things for His people who are willing to serve Him!! I am looking for His direction and ready to follow His leading! Amen!!

"For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP)

" Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe in and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 AMP)

"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25 NKJV)

Writing. It's what I do. Jesus. He's Who I do it for.

For more thoughts from me, visit http://www.freewebs.com/thresholdsdevotionsandbiblestudy

Love and Blessings,
Starr

Bible Study On Colossians

I have written a new Bible Study on the book of Colossians and it is up and running on my website! What better way to join in a group study without ever having to leave your home! Perfect for the busy mom! You can join in while wearing your PJ's, drinking your morning coffee, hair all messed up and teeth not brushed if you want to!! Just grab your bible, turn to Colossians and come on over!
There is a discussion forum set up as well so we can share what God is teaching us through this study.
Here is the link:
http://www.freewebs.com/thresholdsdevotionsandbiblestudy/thresholdbiblestudy.htm

Hope to see you there!
Blessings,
Starr

Seasons

I love this time of year. It is just refreshing to look out the window and see life all around! I had grown weary of looking out to see dried up remnants of what used to be nature's beauty. Spring is a gift from God to us, His children, don't you think? I certainly do believe that is true. He realizes, in His awesome wisdom, that we need a pick-me-up after being shut in and cold for such an extended time. I am so glad that He cares for us so deeply that he even gave us the seasons so we wouldn't get stuck in a rut.

I am also in a different season of life right now. I find myself having to loosen my grip on my oldest child who has just graduated from High School. Not just any high school, our home school, where I have had the privilege to be his teacher, his mom, his mentor and his friend for the past eleven years. I think it may be even harder for a home school mom to let go of her child; more than any other mother. Just for the fact that we have spent so much time with our children. In reality, I can look back and feel blessed that I got to see him grow and learn every step of the way. I can honestly say I have tried to be the best mom I could be. In contrast, I guess we all have some regrets as we glance back over our parenting experiences. We could have always done something better. But I am so glad I had the blessing of homeschooling.

The new signs of life out my window are inviting me to come out and explore what God has offered. I am excited as I venture out to experience it all! I am sure my son feels the same way as he sets out to experience all that God has planned for his life. I can be assured as he moves forward that his mind is fixed on Christ and his plans will mirror that image. What better gift could a mom possibly ask for! I am excited for him as well. I can't wait to see what God will accomplish through his life and I am so glad I played a part in getting my son to this point in time.

I do have a five-year-old to keep me occupied, though. We are just beginning on his home school journey. There are lots of windows to be opened for him. He is in a new season, too. Our house is brimming with hope and expectation as we pass through all the future thresholds!

I trust God to lead us all the way. Life is great and full of newness. Even in the dormant times, God is working on our behalf to bring His purposes to fruition. If only we can remember that no matter what season we find ourselves in, change is coming, and it always brings us something good in the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 -"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." (NIV)

What season are you in right now?

What is God showing you in this time of life?

How can you use what you are learning to help someone else?

Thank Him for His wisdom and His love and be glad for your season. It has a purpose and Romans 8:28 says that it will all work out for your good, if you love Him in the midst of it.

Love and Blessing,
Starr

Those Pesky Have-To's

I hate tax time. I tend to put all my preparations off until the last possible minute. Today, we have a 3:00 appointment to get them done professionally, and I am just now getting everything together! How ridiculous is that!! It's not like I don't know April 15th is fast approaching just as it does year after year after year. At any rate, I am now finished compiling all the information and will be glad to hand it over to someone much more qualified than myself to make sense of it all. The best part is that we will more than likely get a nice refund check for all the inconvenience!

There seems to be a myriad of those have-to things every day. Taxes are the worst, by far, but the rest of them aren't so great either. For instance.....laundry comes immediately to mind. No matter how many hours a day I spend drudging away in my too-small laundry room, the next day it is all there facing me again. Maybe we have entirely too many clothes. Maybe we change them too often. (well, daily is probably not too often!) I don't know what the answer is. I just know I will be there in front of that washer and dryer today just like I was yesterday and just like I will be tomorrow.

Another have-to thing is work. Not that I am lazy in any way. I think it is actually impossible for a work-at-home mom to be lazy. But, when you throw in the homeschooling, the housecleaning (and don't forget the laundry, ugghh!!), who has time for work! My issue is that I try to work while the kids are in and out of the room interrupting me every other second about something "urgent" to them. The struggle comes because I would prefer to be giving them my full attention, but instead, I am trying to work. How can that be right? To me it isn't, but at this point in time, I have no choice. It is a have-to.

One thing I truly have-to do every day is a joy to me; That is to pick up my Bible and spend time with Jesus. It is a have-to because I cannot survive without it. No one makes me do it. I am aware, though, that if I don't, all the other have-to's will be entirely overwhelming to me. I would certainly collapse under the weight of them if I was not supported by a relationship with my Creator. Spending time in his Word gives me the strength to face all the mundane stuff in my life.

My husband, children and my home bring me much joy. The upkeep of them does not. Through my daily time with God, I find just what I need to face those challenges in any given day. I find ways to get through the have-to's joyfully so I can REALLY enjoy my family.

If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed today, grab a cup of coffee and your Bible. Try to find a quiet place to meet with your Savior. He is the professional that can make sense of it all. He can take the mess that we have compiled and turn it into something worthwhile and beautiful. Pass through the inconveniences with Him and you will find something good waiting for you.


Psalm 29:11- " The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses His people with strength."

Colossians 3:16-17- " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him."

Write down in your journal what seems to be overwhelming you today.

Ask God for some ways to pass through the have-to's with joy.

Write a prayer thanking God for all the have-to's in your life. Remember, without them you would be lonely and unproductive....Unable to make a difference. Our have-to's are a gift from God. They make us stronger.

Blessings,
Starr

Decision Making 101

The first scripture I ever memorized is Proverbs 3:5-6. It says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and He will direct your paths." Those verses have served me well over the years. Many times, I have learned the hard way that my own understanding is usually far, far from the wisdom I have needed to decipher the trials and tribulations of life. On my own, I can't accomplish much of anything. But, with God, the possibilities are endless!!

Decision making is no different. When we are faced with a fork in the road and can't discern which path is the right one to pursue, acknowledging Christ is the best place to start. He wants us to desire His will for every decision. Most times, our will does not line up with His; not if we follow our first instinct. We almost always will choose the easiest path, the most obvious path, the shortest path, or the one that seems to be the most pleasurable. His path for us does not usually fall into one of those cut and dry categories.

How is His will determined? Well, it's not very easy sometimes, but it is do-able. Matthew 6:10 plainly states that God's desire is for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done on the earth. Basically that is telling us that first and foremost, whatever the final decision is, it needs to bring glory to Him and it needs to enhance His kingdom. That one verse lets us know that finding out what God wants is the most important part of our decision.

Right now, my husband and I are faced with some very difficult decisions concerning the well-being of his 76 year-old mother. She is currently in the hospital suffering from the effects of multiple strokes and is in need of full-time care in the near future. That is a hard place in which to find yourself; making decisions that will effect the remainder of your mother's life. I guess, sooner or later, every person with an aging parent will be in a similar situation. For us, this is our first time and it is heart-wrenching to say the least.

We are constantly asking ourselves how we can best handle this-or-that. What would she want us to do? What is the best solution for her? Why do we even have to be in such a situation? Why is this so hard? Traveling down this undesirable road has often left us with a less-than-joyful attitude. As I have studied God's Word looking for solutions, some of the words that have leaped right off the page have been in Romans 12:2. Renewing our minds, focusing on Christ and His Word; those things will keep our attitudes in check as we decide which path to take.

If you find yourself facing some hard decisions (as we all will eventually), all you have to do is pick up your Bible. In it, you will find not only the answers, but the right questions to ask yourself.


-Will my decision show God's love and build another person up or is it for my own selfish desires?
( Romans 15: 2-3, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:33)


-Will my decision honor the Word of God?
(1 Corinthians 10:31, James 1:22, Titus 1:9)


-Will my decision glorify God?
( Psalm 64:10, John 17:10, Ephesians 1:11-12)



-Will my decision make me a more effective witness for Christ?
( Isaiah 43:10, 1John 4:12-15, 1Timothy 4:12)


-What is the right thing to do?
(Psalm 119:128, Galatians 6:9-10)



Facing difficult decisions is something none of us look forward to, it is just a part of life that we all have to deal with. God's Word will never fail to give us the answers we need, refresh our joy and calm our spirits during the process.

Psalm 119:28 offers the remedy for the heaviness we experience in our hearts during the tough times; "My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to (the promise of) Your word."

Psalm 119:130 says: "The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple."

He will NEVER leave us wondering which path to follow. Acknowledge Him first, He will illuminate the way and you can rest peacefully when you know you have made a God-honoring decision.

Leave a comment and let me know how this article may have helped you today!
May God Bless you always,
Starr

Character First

This is my first year "officially" homeschooling my youngest son, Austin. I have homeschooled my oldest all the way through and he will be graduating this year. It has been a wonderful journey and I am looking forward to the continuation of the experience for many years to come. Though, I believe this second time around the block may prove to be a bit more of a challenge.
Austin has just recently been diagnosed with ADHD. He is such a loving and thoughtful child and this whole ordeal has been rather dis-heartening for our entire family. His main issues are impulsiveness and hyper-activity. He also has some anger management problems. Any type of formal teaching has been somewhat difficult and I have had to re-invent my teaching methods in order to better serve him. That's one of the wonderful perks of homeschooling; Building the education around the child instead of vice-versa. It works so much better that way.
Sometimes I think Austin may be smarter than me! That is a little scary. He is a very deep thinker for such a small boy. He ponders the things of life in such an intriguing manner that he quizzes me on things I really have to ponder myself before I can give him an educated answer! That has proven to be a good thing, though. I am somewhat of a deep thinker myself. I guess he gets it honest! All his questions leave me searching and finding some pretty enlightening ways to respond. Along the way, I learn quite a lot myself.
I had one of those light bulb moments the other day. You know how it is; you have a revelation about a certain thing at a time when you aren't even particularly thinking about it. Those are what I call "Thresholds". Doors that God leads me right through when I least expect it. I had been struggling with how to best deal with the academic aspects of Austin's homeschool day. After being undecided about what direction to take, I just took a few days off and Austin and I just did fun things together. We did Bible studies, art, watched some educational videos, went to the library, had some long conversations, stuff like that. All of a sudden that "Threshold" opened up and I heard the words "Character First". Not audibly, but they were in my mind so clearly, I knew they were words from my Father.
That's it!! Now I have a clear direction! Austin is only five years old. And, a mind-wandering male at that! Academics don't have to be top priority at this time in his life! Especially if that is stealing his joy (and mine, too). What an eye-opener! I think in the back of my mind, I had that feeling all along, but hearing it directly from my (and Austin's!) Creator kind of gave me the permission I needed to relax and work on the important thing, Austin's character. I can stop depending on medication (which hasn't worked anyway) and trying to put him in a box and make him act like other kids do. God made him to be who he is and hand-picked us to be his family. How wonderful! This ADHD thing is not a burden after all! It is a gift! A gift that, paired with the blessing of homeschooling, can help me to discover who Austin really is in Christ. A Gift that allows me (his hand-picked mom) to develop and guide him into God's plan for his life! My husband agreed wholeheartedly when I shared my new insights with him. That was another confirmation for me right there!
I praise God for giving me this child later into my life. There are many advantages to having a child as an older woman, but one I can see clearly now is that I am at a stage myself where I have experienced many things. I am more open to hearing God's voice and obeying what He tells me to do, in spite of my own doubts and fears. Even in spite of what other people may think or say. I have learned that God's way is ALWAYS the best, and if I obey this time and get Austin's character in line with God's word, all the rest of the things in his life will fall into place. No struggle. Granted, I know life will never be perfect, but I sure would rather do it God's way. That's a lot closer to perfection than my own way, for sure.
My love for my children is so great I can't fathom that God loves them even more. But, that strong invincible love we all feel for this special child along with this perfect layout straight from God's word will be my new lesson-plan from now on. He has shown it to us all in Colossians 3:12-17, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
We are thankful for Austin. We can forgive Austin for his mistakes. We can forgive ourselves for the many mistakes we have made as well-meaning parents. We will all remain clothed with the virtues of God and peace will rule in the lives of this family! And, it will all be accomplished in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who we are so thankful to for giving us this blessed experience! Austin is chosen by God and we will honor and appreciate how God created him. And that, my friends, is building the education around the child.
Hope you all have an "enlightening" day in the Lord!