Rachelle D. Alspaugh's Blog, page 46
March 7, 2016
Reflecting
I'm sitting out on my front porch on this beautiful spring morning, watching the sunlight spread over the yard, listening to the birds chirp and sing. I am thankful.
Life has felt heavy lately. My prayer list grows longer every day with stuff that's hard to even take in. Two people very dear to me are walking through the scary waters of unemployment with their husbands. Having just experienced that for almost half of last year, I really get it when they express their struggles with anxiety.
Just a few weeks ago, we had a baby shower for a friend to prepare to welcome her little boy into this world. Just a few days after that little boy was born, God took his daddy to heaven. This week I attended his daddy's memorial service. It's not fair that we gathered together to remember his daddy's life and celebrate his faith in Jesus, when we were supposed to be celebrating this little boy's life and entrance into the world. My heart hurts deeply for his mother, my friend and coworker.
Yesterday the church held another memorial service for another father who went to heaven just as unexpectedly, leaving his wife stranded alone in another country where they were celebrating their anniversary.
A former coworker shared her recent news of cancer, while another has been in and out of the hospital with complications from what cancer has done to her own body.
A friend is navigating the waters of a new normal after God took her young son home to heaven within the last year, while another friend is finding a new normal after a tornado stole the home she'd built her life in. Another friend begs for prayer for her son as they admitted him to a hospital under suicide watch. Someone else just buried their teenage son after he died in his sleep.
Life is heavy, and hard. Every tragedy I hear of gives me one more reason to be thankful for the blessings in my life, blessings I too often take for granted. My home. My job. Consistent income. My husband. My family. My church. My relationship with Christ.
It all takes me back to my motto for the year. Live. Embrace life. Stop planning and start living each day to the fullest. You never know when it might be taken away.
Attending my friend's husband's memorial service was such a great reminder of what really matters in life--knowing and loving God, letting Christ take hold of your life and letting Him live through you.
He is all that matters.
Tragedies all around me tend to inflict great fear within me, fear of something similar happening in my own life. I am finally beginning to see that the only way to be prepared for any kind of tragedy is to have a solid, growing relationship with Christ. Without Him, we'd never survive. With Him, we'll find the grace to help us in our time of need.
Life has felt heavy lately. My prayer list grows longer every day with stuff that's hard to even take in. Two people very dear to me are walking through the scary waters of unemployment with their husbands. Having just experienced that for almost half of last year, I really get it when they express their struggles with anxiety.
Just a few weeks ago, we had a baby shower for a friend to prepare to welcome her little boy into this world. Just a few days after that little boy was born, God took his daddy to heaven. This week I attended his daddy's memorial service. It's not fair that we gathered together to remember his daddy's life and celebrate his faith in Jesus, when we were supposed to be celebrating this little boy's life and entrance into the world. My heart hurts deeply for his mother, my friend and coworker.
Yesterday the church held another memorial service for another father who went to heaven just as unexpectedly, leaving his wife stranded alone in another country where they were celebrating their anniversary.
A former coworker shared her recent news of cancer, while another has been in and out of the hospital with complications from what cancer has done to her own body.
A friend is navigating the waters of a new normal after God took her young son home to heaven within the last year, while another friend is finding a new normal after a tornado stole the home she'd built her life in. Another friend begs for prayer for her son as they admitted him to a hospital under suicide watch. Someone else just buried their teenage son after he died in his sleep.
Life is heavy, and hard. Every tragedy I hear of gives me one more reason to be thankful for the blessings in my life, blessings I too often take for granted. My home. My job. Consistent income. My husband. My family. My church. My relationship with Christ.
It all takes me back to my motto for the year. Live. Embrace life. Stop planning and start living each day to the fullest. You never know when it might be taken away.
Attending my friend's husband's memorial service was such a great reminder of what really matters in life--knowing and loving God, letting Christ take hold of your life and letting Him live through you.
He is all that matters.
Tragedies all around me tend to inflict great fear within me, fear of something similar happening in my own life. I am finally beginning to see that the only way to be prepared for any kind of tragedy is to have a solid, growing relationship with Christ. Without Him, we'd never survive. With Him, we'll find the grace to help us in our time of need.
February 21, 2016
From the other side
So I finally got to attend our church's adoption conference from the other side of an adoption. It hit me about half-way through the conference that I'd never attended one from this perspective.
I'll never forget the first one we sat through as a couple, over-the-moon excited to gain enough information to begin our journey. (2007)
Then the following year, we went to another one while in process to adopt two specific older children we'd met through a hosting program. (2008)
The year after that, we grieved. (2009-2010) And we kept to ourselves for quite some time, processing the unexpected turn of events in our journey. We completely withdrew from the adoption ministry. Period.
Once we met Julian, everything changed. Our hearts broke for the older orphan, the ones starting life on their own without a family. Rather than hiding our story and covering our heads in shame and embarrassment, we wanted to share it with anyone and everyone. Not just our story, but Julian's story, too.
Yesterday Mike took on the responsibility to transport the boys back and forth between their soccer games and their D-Now weekend activities with church so I could spend the day in Rockwall at the adoption conference. For the first time, I welcomed all the post-adoption information.
I loved the breakout session called Adopting the Older Child, where I heard both Julian and Juan David's voices through the speakers' words. They talked about their own experience adopting a 15 year old boy, and then they gave the daunting statistics about the ones who never get adopted. What a privilege to now encourage others to prayerfully consider adopting an older child, just as we had done.
I'm so thankful for a church with such a big heart for adoption and a passion for foster and orphan care. What a great resource to have at your fingertips, no matter what stage of the adoption journey you find yourself in.
(I wish I'd gotten better pics. I took a few of Jason Castro while he sang, but they didn't turn out very well. Here's one I stole from the Adoption Ministry's Facebook page. :))
I'll never forget the first one we sat through as a couple, over-the-moon excited to gain enough information to begin our journey. (2007)
Then the following year, we went to another one while in process to adopt two specific older children we'd met through a hosting program. (2008)
The year after that, we grieved. (2009-2010) And we kept to ourselves for quite some time, processing the unexpected turn of events in our journey. We completely withdrew from the adoption ministry. Period.
Once we met Julian, everything changed. Our hearts broke for the older orphan, the ones starting life on their own without a family. Rather than hiding our story and covering our heads in shame and embarrassment, we wanted to share it with anyone and everyone. Not just our story, but Julian's story, too.
Yesterday Mike took on the responsibility to transport the boys back and forth between their soccer games and their D-Now weekend activities with church so I could spend the day in Rockwall at the adoption conference. For the first time, I welcomed all the post-adoption information.
I loved the breakout session called Adopting the Older Child, where I heard both Julian and Juan David's voices through the speakers' words. They talked about their own experience adopting a 15 year old boy, and then they gave the daunting statistics about the ones who never get adopted. What a privilege to now encourage others to prayerfully consider adopting an older child, just as we had done.
I'm so thankful for a church with such a big heart for adoption and a passion for foster and orphan care. What a great resource to have at your fingertips, no matter what stage of the adoption journey you find yourself in.
(I wish I'd gotten better pics. I took a few of Jason Castro while he sang, but they didn't turn out very well. Here's one I stole from the Adoption Ministry's Facebook page. :))
February 13, 2016
Lots of stuff in my head
I had to chuckle when a student walked into class the other day with a new excuse as to why she didn't bring her materials to class.
"Es que mi mama tiene muchas cosas en su cabeza." (It's just that my mom has a lot of stuff in her head.)
It made me chuckle, but it also hit home because I've been feeling the same way recently. Between cramming 48 parent conferences into one month (30 in the first week), keeping up with my boys' school, church, and soccer activities, managing my house with Mike out of town for a week, doing a final proof of my book, and gathering a book launch team--yeah, I'd say I've been a bit overwhelmed. I've had a lot of stuff in my head and no time to collect my thoughts.
I'm happy to say, though, that I made some good progress this week, despite thinking the contrary. My launch team is growing, and I'm encouraged to see the wide variety of social circles that my book advertisements can start reaching. I created a trailer for the book that I am anxious to start sharing, but I think I better wait until the launch date is closer. Looks like we're still 61 days away.
I apologize for skipping a week or two on the Unexpected Tears blog. I updated it today and scheduled all the remaining posts, which will take us up to the weekend of the Painful Waiting launch. Good timing! I hope you'll consider purchasing a copy of Unexpected Tears even if you read it all on the blog.
Yes, the truth is, by blogging the book, I really did give it all away for free. But when my publisher asked me to do it, she reminded me, "Rachelle, it's not about sales. It's about maximum Kingdom impact." That's why I love ABH. Sales or not, let's reach as many people for Christ as we can. I hope our story challenges you in some way to draw closer to Christ, to increase your faith, to believe for bigger things, to take God out of the box, and to lean on Him when nothing in life makes sense.
I can hardly wait to share Painful Waiting with you. Bear with me if I over-advertise, or if I seem a little scattered at times. I really do have a lot of stuff going on in my head, all of different ways to spread the word. It's such an amazing story of God's faithfulness, and I want to give Julian, Juan David, and their sister a voice to tell their story between the lines of my own. I hope, more than anything, that you hear their voices above my own.
"Es que mi mama tiene muchas cosas en su cabeza." (It's just that my mom has a lot of stuff in her head.)
It made me chuckle, but it also hit home because I've been feeling the same way recently. Between cramming 48 parent conferences into one month (30 in the first week), keeping up with my boys' school, church, and soccer activities, managing my house with Mike out of town for a week, doing a final proof of my book, and gathering a book launch team--yeah, I'd say I've been a bit overwhelmed. I've had a lot of stuff in my head and no time to collect my thoughts.
I'm happy to say, though, that I made some good progress this week, despite thinking the contrary. My launch team is growing, and I'm encouraged to see the wide variety of social circles that my book advertisements can start reaching. I created a trailer for the book that I am anxious to start sharing, but I think I better wait until the launch date is closer. Looks like we're still 61 days away.
I apologize for skipping a week or two on the Unexpected Tears blog. I updated it today and scheduled all the remaining posts, which will take us up to the weekend of the Painful Waiting launch. Good timing! I hope you'll consider purchasing a copy of Unexpected Tears even if you read it all on the blog.
Yes, the truth is, by blogging the book, I really did give it all away for free. But when my publisher asked me to do it, she reminded me, "Rachelle, it's not about sales. It's about maximum Kingdom impact." That's why I love ABH. Sales or not, let's reach as many people for Christ as we can. I hope our story challenges you in some way to draw closer to Christ, to increase your faith, to believe for bigger things, to take God out of the box, and to lean on Him when nothing in life makes sense.
I can hardly wait to share Painful Waiting with you. Bear with me if I over-advertise, or if I seem a little scattered at times. I really do have a lot of stuff going on in my head, all of different ways to spread the word. It's such an amazing story of God's faithfulness, and I want to give Julian, Juan David, and their sister a voice to tell their story between the lines of my own. I hope, more than anything, that you hear their voices above my own.
February 2, 2016
Launch team
I would love for you to be part of my team! Here are some things you can do to help me get the word out to as many people as we can about the book, Painful Waiting. You can pick and choose whatever you are comfortable with and have the time/ability to do.
Level 1: (I will consider you to be one of my bestest and dearest friends.J)
· Share any of my posts from Surviving the Valley Series on your own page or even in any other groups you are in.
· Share any Pinterest quotes from the book on your own page, in other groups, or on your own Pinterest account.
· Share any of my posts from Surviving the Valley Series or any of my Pinterest quotes on your Twitter account. #PainfulWaitingbook
· Write a review on Amazon after it comes out.
· Write a review on Amazon for Unexpected Tears if you read it (or if you read From the Mountain…to the Valley…and Back, since they are the same book.)
· Talk to your friends about it! J
· Advertise it in any adoption groups or circles you are a part of.
In addition to any of the Level 1 support, I would love to express my appreciation in a tangible way for anyone who would like to go above and beyond into levels 2 and 3.
Level 2: (I will send you the PDF version ahead of time so you can pre-read it, as long as you will commit to at least two of these things. That’s right! You will get to read it before anyone else . The absolute most important is the book review on Amazon!)
· Blog about the upcoming book before and after it launches.
· Share other people’s blog posts about the book.
· Find quotes that stand out to you and create a pin to add to our Pinterest page.
· Write a review for the book to post on Amazon within the first week that it comes out.
· Write a review (likely the same one) to post on Goodreads.
· Allow me to do a guest blog on your blog.
Level 3: (I will send you a free autographed copy of the book as soon as I am able to order copies).
· Help me connect with a radio show, newspaper, etc. to advertise the book.
· Help me connect with a local church, group, or event where I could possibly tell our story or speak on behalf of the older orphan.
If you have other ideas, I welcome those, as well! And, of course, I will start a private Facebook page and e-mail group so I can be in contact with you to give you any important updates. Please e-mail me at ralspaug@gmail.com so I can add you.
With thanks from the bottom of the heart,
Rachelle
January 30, 2016
It's on the way!!!
As promised, the painful wait will soon be over, as Painful Waiting is set to be launched on April 14th, just 75 days away.
I know, those 75 days still seemed pretty far away yet to me, too, until I realized how much marketing needs to take place between now and then. Not for my sake. I tell you very honestly that I wouldn't care if I never received a penny for this book. But at least 20 percent of sales will go toward an international pastor who recently had to flee his country, and I would love for our family's story to bring him financial blessing. I also believe very deeply in the vision and ministry of Authenticity Book House (abhbooks.com), and I am honored to share our memoir as part of that ministry.
I am currently setting up a launch team of about 25-50 people who can help me get the word out about my book. Marketing for Unexpected Tears was a bit complicated and messy due to it being a republication of From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back! I apologize to those of you who didn't get the message that it was not the second book.
Painful Waiting, I assure you, is that second book I've been talking about for the last two years, the story I never dreamed would unfold after the first book was published. The sequel I had no idea I would write.
This story will tug at all of your heart strings and challenge your faith on many levels. It will warm your heart, draw your tears, frustrate you to the core, give you goosebumps and warm fuzzies, break your heart for the older orphan, and make you stand in awe of a personal God who orchestrates every last detail of our lives.
I hope you will consider joining my launch team. You can contact me at ralspaug@gmail.com or search for my new Facebook page, Surviving the Valley series to find out how. In another post, I will have several levels of marketing outlined with options for you to choose from. Depending on how much or how little you'd like to help, there may be some nice surprises for you along the way. Thank you ahead of time!
I know, those 75 days still seemed pretty far away yet to me, too, until I realized how much marketing needs to take place between now and then. Not for my sake. I tell you very honestly that I wouldn't care if I never received a penny for this book. But at least 20 percent of sales will go toward an international pastor who recently had to flee his country, and I would love for our family's story to bring him financial blessing. I also believe very deeply in the vision and ministry of Authenticity Book House (abhbooks.com), and I am honored to share our memoir as part of that ministry.
I am currently setting up a launch team of about 25-50 people who can help me get the word out about my book. Marketing for Unexpected Tears was a bit complicated and messy due to it being a republication of From the Mountain...to the Valley...and Back! I apologize to those of you who didn't get the message that it was not the second book.
Painful Waiting, I assure you, is that second book I've been talking about for the last two years, the story I never dreamed would unfold after the first book was published. The sequel I had no idea I would write.
This story will tug at all of your heart strings and challenge your faith on many levels. It will warm your heart, draw your tears, frustrate you to the core, give you goosebumps and warm fuzzies, break your heart for the older orphan, and make you stand in awe of a personal God who orchestrates every last detail of our lives.
I hope you will consider joining my launch team. You can contact me at ralspaug@gmail.com or search for my new Facebook page, Surviving the Valley series to find out how. In another post, I will have several levels of marketing outlined with options for you to choose from. Depending on how much or how little you'd like to help, there may be some nice surprises for you along the way. Thank you ahead of time!
January 24, 2016
Notes with Beth
I usually like to share a bunch of my notes and thoughts and favorite quotes after I get the chance to attend any kind of big Christian conference of some kind. However, since I know Beth Moore said she's going to be airing our sessions on her television program, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might want to watch it.
I will share a few things she said that had a deep impact on me.
"A huge purpose for why you are on this earth is on the other side of that 'no' that you keep pleading to God for a 'yes'." When you plead with God for something and He still gives you a no, "there is something He knows that you do not know."
Had I gotten the yes I pleaded for over Juan David's adoption the first time, I would have missed the chance to write so deeply about God's faithfulness in the two books I wrote about that whole adoption experience.
As she quoted, "There is something on the other side that means something in eternity."
I pray every day now that God will use something, anything, I've written to bring just one person closer to Him. One person a day.
Our loss was the hardest thing I've ever experienced, but perhaps the way I wrote about getting through it will now impact someone's eternity.
She spoke on a pretty profound word, nevertheless. How she got so much out of one word is quite perplexing to me, but the sessions went pretty deep. The word nevertheless actually is used to tie two opposing statements together, starting with a statement that seems hopeless and then adding God to the equation. (I'm alone; nevertheless God is with me. I live in fear and anxiety; nevertheless, I will trust God.)
My favorite and most challenging quote from the weekend,
"Nevertheless is where my faith lives. That's where my God will be faithful."
In fact, I think I will write it on a notecard and pin it up on my wall so I don't forget it. Stay tuned to Beth's program on Wednesday nights so you don't miss it when this particular teaching airs.
I will share a few things she said that had a deep impact on me.
"A huge purpose for why you are on this earth is on the other side of that 'no' that you keep pleading to God for a 'yes'." When you plead with God for something and He still gives you a no, "there is something He knows that you do not know."
Had I gotten the yes I pleaded for over Juan David's adoption the first time, I would have missed the chance to write so deeply about God's faithfulness in the two books I wrote about that whole adoption experience.
As she quoted, "There is something on the other side that means something in eternity."
I pray every day now that God will use something, anything, I've written to bring just one person closer to Him. One person a day.
Our loss was the hardest thing I've ever experienced, but perhaps the way I wrote about getting through it will now impact someone's eternity.
She spoke on a pretty profound word, nevertheless. How she got so much out of one word is quite perplexing to me, but the sessions went pretty deep. The word nevertheless actually is used to tie two opposing statements together, starting with a statement that seems hopeless and then adding God to the equation. (I'm alone; nevertheless God is with me. I live in fear and anxiety; nevertheless, I will trust God.)
My favorite and most challenging quote from the weekend,
"Nevertheless is where my faith lives. That's where my God will be faithful."
In fact, I think I will write it on a notecard and pin it up on my wall so I don't forget it. Stay tuned to Beth's program on Wednesday nights so you don't miss it when this particular teaching airs.
January 23, 2016
The Friendships of Women
My boys get on to me sometimes, saying I don't have any real close girlfriends. I guess they're right. I'm not much of a social butterfly. I'm usually pretty introverted and very focused on whatever I'm doing.
That's not to say I don't put a high value on friendship, though, and God blessed me this week with opportunities to connect with several other Christian women, all varying in ages.
Just a week ago, I was in the car with my new friend, Jan, driving back from an uplifting weekend in Houston with Beth Moore and several hundred other women on the Scripture memory team.
The following morning, I ran the booth for the Adoption Ministry at church and had a chance to chat and catch up with two fellow women's Bible study teachers who ran the Women's ministry booth beside me.
Monday I had lunch with a friend visiting from out of town, along with another dear friend that I haven't seen in a while. We all three used to meet together often for a small group and we carried each other in prayer for many years.
Thursday evening I spent a few hours having dinner and talking with several other ladies from the church who will be teaching women's Bible studies at church, one of whom I spent two cherished evenings with her family while we stayed in Colombia. How nice to reconnect here!
Friday evening I had a chance to attend a Parenting conference at church with a new friend, (who just happens to be the mom of my youngest son's female "friend"). The more we get to know each other, the more we find we have in common, besides the fact that our kids are attracted to each other. I am really thankful for this new friendship.
Made for a busier than normal week, but I feel so blessed and refreshed after spending such quality time with these lovely Christian friends, from my age to my grandma's age. I cherish each one of these friendships the same.
I also got an e-mail from another sweet friend from my writer's group, who recently edited my book, saying my book got sent to the formatter. We're so close to publication! She completely made my day, my week, and my month. I can hardly wait to share this book with you, the true story sequel I had no idea would ever follow that first original book.
It's been a week full of blessing.
That's not to say I don't put a high value on friendship, though, and God blessed me this week with opportunities to connect with several other Christian women, all varying in ages.
Just a week ago, I was in the car with my new friend, Jan, driving back from an uplifting weekend in Houston with Beth Moore and several hundred other women on the Scripture memory team.
The following morning, I ran the booth for the Adoption Ministry at church and had a chance to chat and catch up with two fellow women's Bible study teachers who ran the Women's ministry booth beside me.
Monday I had lunch with a friend visiting from out of town, along with another dear friend that I haven't seen in a while. We all three used to meet together often for a small group and we carried each other in prayer for many years.
Thursday evening I spent a few hours having dinner and talking with several other ladies from the church who will be teaching women's Bible studies at church, one of whom I spent two cherished evenings with her family while we stayed in Colombia. How nice to reconnect here!
Friday evening I had a chance to attend a Parenting conference at church with a new friend, (who just happens to be the mom of my youngest son's female "friend"). The more we get to know each other, the more we find we have in common, besides the fact that our kids are attracted to each other. I am really thankful for this new friendship.
Made for a busier than normal week, but I feel so blessed and refreshed after spending such quality time with these lovely Christian friends, from my age to my grandma's age. I cherish each one of these friendships the same.
I also got an e-mail from another sweet friend from my writer's group, who recently edited my book, saying my book got sent to the formatter. We're so close to publication! She completely made my day, my week, and my month. I can hardly wait to share this book with you, the true story sequel I had no idea would ever follow that first original book.
It's been a week full of blessing.
January 17, 2016
Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration 2016 (#SSMTC16)
What a fun, inspiring, uplifting way to start a new year--celebrating with women from all across the country who invested their time to memorize two verses a month throughout the year 2015. I met people this weekend from California, Virginia, Arizona, Washington State, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, and other parts of Texas. (Probably more states, too, that I am not recalling at the moment.)
I am so glad my friend, Jan, told me about this amazing group of women and challenged me to join in!
If you've never heard of it, let me explain. On Beth Moore's Living Proof blog, you have an opportunity to sign up at the beginning of the year to be a Siesta team member, dedicating yourself to post and memorize a Scripture verse on the 1st and 15th of every month during the odd years. They started this in 2009, and then they have continued in the years 2011, 2013, and 2015. Then in January of the even years, they have a celebration retreat (for free) at her previous church where she served and taught for 30 or so years. There at the retreat, you get to attend an evening and a morning worship and teaching session with Beth and her worship team (with Travis Cottrell). There is also a set time for everyone to partner up with someone to recite their verses to each other, something that I found very beautiful to witness. Everywhere you walked, you saw and heard people quoting Scriptures that they'd been meditating over for the last year. Your notebook of Scriptures is your "ticket" to get in.
I will post another day about the highlights of the teaching that stood out to me, but for now I will post pictures. (Oh, and Beth just started her own TV program with Living Proof on TBN each Wednesday night, so they will be airing the teaching we sat through on her show sometime. Stay tuned to the Living Proof blog for more information.
LPM TV: http://www.bethmoore.org/TVTBN : http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/4/p/1826.htmlTBN online: http://www.itbn.org/
So, here's my pics!
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
We had front row seats the first night!
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
Stay tuned to the Living Proof TV program to hear the teaching on this fascinating word when used in Scripture, nevertheless.
[image error]
Women writing their favorite verse on the wall.Mine was Colossians 4:2--Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
[image error]
My friend Jan in her moments of fame when she got to go up on stage to play Wheel of Favor.
[image error]
Jan finding out what prize she won, the audio version of the book Audacious that she'd just bought.
[image error]
[image error]
(Pictures with Beth)
[image error] [image error]
Women reciting their verses to each other all over the building, and even outside.
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
I hope to go back in 2018 with a bigger group of women from my own church with new notebooks that say SSMT 2017. Who's going to join me?
http://blog.lproof.org/
I am so glad my friend, Jan, told me about this amazing group of women and challenged me to join in!
If you've never heard of it, let me explain. On Beth Moore's Living Proof blog, you have an opportunity to sign up at the beginning of the year to be a Siesta team member, dedicating yourself to post and memorize a Scripture verse on the 1st and 15th of every month during the odd years. They started this in 2009, and then they have continued in the years 2011, 2013, and 2015. Then in January of the even years, they have a celebration retreat (for free) at her previous church where she served and taught for 30 or so years. There at the retreat, you get to attend an evening and a morning worship and teaching session with Beth and her worship team (with Travis Cottrell). There is also a set time for everyone to partner up with someone to recite their verses to each other, something that I found very beautiful to witness. Everywhere you walked, you saw and heard people quoting Scriptures that they'd been meditating over for the last year. Your notebook of Scriptures is your "ticket" to get in.
I will post another day about the highlights of the teaching that stood out to me, but for now I will post pictures. (Oh, and Beth just started her own TV program with Living Proof on TBN each Wednesday night, so they will be airing the teaching we sat through on her show sometime. Stay tuned to the Living Proof blog for more information.
LPM TV: http://www.bethmoore.org/TVTBN : http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/4/p/1826.htmlTBN online: http://www.itbn.org/
So, here's my pics!
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
We had front row seats the first night!
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
Stay tuned to the Living Proof TV program to hear the teaching on this fascinating word when used in Scripture, nevertheless.
[image error]
Women writing their favorite verse on the wall.Mine was Colossians 4:2--Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
[image error]
My friend Jan in her moments of fame when she got to go up on stage to play Wheel of Favor.
[image error]
Jan finding out what prize she won, the audio version of the book Audacious that she'd just bought.
[image error]
[image error]
(Pictures with Beth)
[image error] [image error]
Women reciting their verses to each other all over the building, and even outside.
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
I hope to go back in 2018 with a bigger group of women from my own church with new notebooks that say SSMT 2017. Who's going to join me?
http://blog.lproof.org/
January 13, 2016
Putting 2 and 2 together
My word for the year: JOY. I want to find joy in all areas of life, to make each day, hour, and minute count, to live in the moment. Truthfully, though, I'm not good at that. At all. I am either reflecting over the past (writing about it) or planning for tomorrow (stressing over details). But what about today? Right now? The present moment?
This is a real challenge for me.
My motto for the year: LESS IS MORE. I've been trying to put this into practice in all areas, pulling back and finding some margin. As a mom, a teacher, a writer, a traveler, etc. I even skipped my beloved writer's group this month in order to have one night with all of my family at home this week. Plus I'd prefer to save my energy for the retreat in Houston rather than wear myself down with too many activities and end up sick.
I'm trying to focus more of my attention on the task at hand. One. Thing. At. A. Time.
While talking to a colleague this week about the changes in kids these days due to their constant stimulation, I started putting two and two together.
I struggle to find the joy in life so often because I'm too overstimulated. How do I expect to truly enjoy the present moment or the task at hand when I'm so busy doing twenty other things at the same time? We call it multi-tasking, but all we're really doing is giving twenty things a smaller percentage of our focus, and then we're not fully engaged in any of them.
I looked around my living room the other night to see the TV on while one son had his headphones plugged into the IPAD so he could watch music videos and the other son sat glued to his cellphone texting three or four friends at once and also playing a game. My husband read e-mails on his phone while I sat reading new Facebook posts on mine. Later David and I decided to play a card game, but not without constantly checking each of our phones for new messages or status updates.
No wonder life seemed so much more fulfilling when we had less gadgets to occupy us, less e-mails that needed to be checked, less social media begging for our attention. Between Facebook, Twitter (for school), multiple e-mail accounts (work and home), Instagram (to follow my boys), and any kind of self-marketing I'm supposed to be doing through social media as an author, I often feel like I'm drowning in it all.
I struggle to fully engage in anything these days. It's not even about slowing down, taking on less responsibility, leaving empty space on the calendar, or finding time to be still. It's not about finding breathing room.
It's a need to fully engage in whatever I'm doing at the moment. Talking to a friend. Writing a story or a blog post. Watching a movie. Playing cards with David. Watching Juan David's soccer game. Going out for breakfast with Mike. Eating lunch with a coworker. Teaching a new lesson to my four-year-olds. Reading a book.
My new challenge to myself is to focus on doing one thing at a time. I bet I might end up finding that joy I seem to be missing when I follow my own advice, seeking a less is more lifestyle.
This is a real challenge for me.
My motto for the year: LESS IS MORE. I've been trying to put this into practice in all areas, pulling back and finding some margin. As a mom, a teacher, a writer, a traveler, etc. I even skipped my beloved writer's group this month in order to have one night with all of my family at home this week. Plus I'd prefer to save my energy for the retreat in Houston rather than wear myself down with too many activities and end up sick.
I'm trying to focus more of my attention on the task at hand. One. Thing. At. A. Time.
While talking to a colleague this week about the changes in kids these days due to their constant stimulation, I started putting two and two together.
I struggle to find the joy in life so often because I'm too overstimulated. How do I expect to truly enjoy the present moment or the task at hand when I'm so busy doing twenty other things at the same time? We call it multi-tasking, but all we're really doing is giving twenty things a smaller percentage of our focus, and then we're not fully engaged in any of them.
I looked around my living room the other night to see the TV on while one son had his headphones plugged into the IPAD so he could watch music videos and the other son sat glued to his cellphone texting three or four friends at once and also playing a game. My husband read e-mails on his phone while I sat reading new Facebook posts on mine. Later David and I decided to play a card game, but not without constantly checking each of our phones for new messages or status updates.
No wonder life seemed so much more fulfilling when we had less gadgets to occupy us, less e-mails that needed to be checked, less social media begging for our attention. Between Facebook, Twitter (for school), multiple e-mail accounts (work and home), Instagram (to follow my boys), and any kind of self-marketing I'm supposed to be doing through social media as an author, I often feel like I'm drowning in it all.
I struggle to fully engage in anything these days. It's not even about slowing down, taking on less responsibility, leaving empty space on the calendar, or finding time to be still. It's not about finding breathing room.
It's a need to fully engage in whatever I'm doing at the moment. Talking to a friend. Writing a story or a blog post. Watching a movie. Playing cards with David. Watching Juan David's soccer game. Going out for breakfast with Mike. Eating lunch with a coworker. Teaching a new lesson to my four-year-olds. Reading a book.
My new challenge to myself is to focus on doing one thing at a time. I bet I might end up finding that joy I seem to be missing when I follow my own advice, seeking a less is more lifestyle.
January 10, 2016
Houston bound!
I sure am looking forward to this upcoming weekend. Friday morning a friend and I will be meeting up to drive to Houston together for Beth Moore's 2016 SSMT Celebration.
A lady in my Bible study two summers ago talked about Beth's Scripture memory challenge to memorize two verses a month for a year and then attend a celebration at her church the following year.
I thought it sounded great, so I decided to give it a try. What a lifeline those verses became to me through quite a challenging year. I am now headed to Houston to celebrate with my new friend, Jan, the same lady that showed up in that Bible study two summers ago. I can hardly wait!
Here's my ticket to get in: my collection of verses from 2015.
A new Scripture memory challenge will begin again next January for the year of 2017. My new challenge for the current year is to continue learning verses while applying art to them. I bought myself one of those new adult coloring books that has a verse on each page. I love it! Adding art back into my life has really helped me to slow down, unplug, to relax and refocus. I highly encourage it.
I'm thinking maybe some of the pages I color will need a frame to go up in my prayer corner, aka war room. :)
Stay tuned for pics and for my reaction to my weekend in Houston.
A lady in my Bible study two summers ago talked about Beth's Scripture memory challenge to memorize two verses a month for a year and then attend a celebration at her church the following year.
I thought it sounded great, so I decided to give it a try. What a lifeline those verses became to me through quite a challenging year. I am now headed to Houston to celebrate with my new friend, Jan, the same lady that showed up in that Bible study two summers ago. I can hardly wait!
Here's my ticket to get in: my collection of verses from 2015.
A new Scripture memory challenge will begin again next January for the year of 2017. My new challenge for the current year is to continue learning verses while applying art to them. I bought myself one of those new adult coloring books that has a verse on each page. I love it! Adding art back into my life has really helped me to slow down, unplug, to relax and refocus. I highly encourage it.
I'm thinking maybe some of the pages I color will need a frame to go up in my prayer corner, aka war room. :)
Stay tuned for pics and for my reaction to my weekend in Houston.
![[image error]](https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t34.0-12/12583994_10208325307032628_1660935227_n.jpg?oh=efe4fa9858dc995eb8ecf25b151629f5&oe=569D8DEE){kind=link}