Date Day

Today I had a date with my husband. A whole entire day just to be with him. It was awesome. "How, oh how does one get to spend an uninterrupted day like that?" I can hear you asking enviously. Well....

Our little one (6 years old) is spending some time at the coast. My parents live down there and wanted to take him for a couple weeks. It was hard to let him go, but I have to say the quiet time has been heavenly. I sure do miss him though. Especially at night. I am used to getting my Austin hugs and kisses and we always lie in my bed together before daddy comes in to sleep. That is when we have some of our most precious conversations. I am in dire need of a hug from my kid, ya'll! He is having a blast at his grandparents, though. I'll just have to suffer for a few more days.

Back to my date with hubby. We woke up this morning and were excited about having the whole day to ourselves with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever. We hurriedly got ready to set out for our adventure. Out the door and into the car, our anticipation mounted just thinking about what fun we would have! Then it dawned on us...

What exactly does a couple do with no kids in tow? We had actually forgotten. Our oldest is 18 so it has been quite a while since we found ourselves in this situation. We did not have to go to a playground, a dollar store, McDonalds, or Walmart. What else is there?

After a few minutes we decided to ride to the local flea market. We got a biscuit for breakfast. Rode to the mall. Got some coffee. We even got to walk leisurely through the stores without saying things like:

"Don't touch that."

"You cannot buy that today. Do NOT ask me again."

"Stay with me and hold my hand."

"I am Not going to carry you. If I am not too tired to walk, you can walk too."

"Just try to hold it until I can find a bathroom."

Although, I think my hubby said that last sentence to me right after I had that cup of coffee. But, I digress.

All in all, we had a great day. We had some great conversation. We enjoyed each other's company immensely. I am so thankful to God for my dear husband of almost 24 years. He is truly my best and most cherished friend in this world. It is refreshing to know we can still enjoy just being together, doing absolutely nothing.

I think I will get off this computer and go spend some more time with him right now!! This date isn't over quite yet......

Blessings,
Starr

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