We Are Not 'Of This World'

* Christianity is foolishness in a world full of earthly wisdom.
* It is peace in a world filled with war.
* It is 'the meek will inherit the earth' in a world of 'get out of my way so I can have what I want'.
* It is 'seek ye first the Kingdom of God' in a world of 'well, what can I get out of this?'.
* It is goodness in a world where impurity is rampant.
* It is giving your first fruits to God in a world where materialism is esteemed.
* It is 'turn the other cheek' in a world of get rid of those you don't like.
* It is 'spare the rod and spoil the child' in a world where 'having a talk' and discipline by reasoning is the norm.
* It is 'whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men' in a world of backstabbing and political correctness.
* It is 'sell everything and follow Me' in a world bent on having the newest and the latest.
* It is modesty in a world where mothers dress their daughters to be "cute" and "sexy" from age 4.
* It is male leadership and female submission in a world where men are becoming non-leaders and women are becoming dominant.
* It is love and acceptance in a world of resentment and revenge.
* It is grace freely given in a world where 'you owe me' is the daily agenda.
* It is 'peace, be still' in a world of never ending activity.
* It is the Word in a world where people would rather be visually entertained than pick up a good book.
* It is 'I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me' in a world of cultural relativism.
* It is 'whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me' in a world of pushing aside the less fortunate, poor or weak.
* It is 'for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part' in a world of marriage for convenience sake.
* It is 'loving your wife as Christ loved the church' in a world of liposuction, fad diets and plastic surgery.
* It is 'honor thy father and mother' in a world where young people don't know what the word respect means.
* It is communicating with the God of the universe in a personal and passionate way in a world of self-help advisors.
* It is the One, True God in a world where we have become our own gods.
* It is 'if you want to be great in the Kingdom, learn to be a servant' in a world of people demanding to be served.
* It is 'loving your neighbor as yourself' in a world of egocentricity.
* It is 'holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come' in a world of lewdness and profanity.

There is a reason that Satan was termed "The prince of this world".

Thoughts on What I Think

I just returned from my 30 year reunion at VFCC (Valley Forge Christian College). YUP, I am old! :)
Had an awesome time with friends that I haven't seen, well... in thirty years! Some, I had seen 28 years ago at weddings and such and one friend that moved to my home state of Virginia I have seen since, but otherwise, besides keeping in touch via Facebook and Christmas cards, that was it.
There were 22 of us that attended the actual dinner. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of people, but it really was a good turnout. The other classes had less than we did, so I was very pleased.
Great to reminisce and share old times and laugh.
Also, got to hang out at a really neat Bed & Breakfast (my first encounter) about 10 miles from campus. It was a beautiful Victorian home and my three best friends from school days and their hubbies all stayed there. So, we had an awesome time. Again, reminiscing. And did I mention that we laughed a lot?
One of the activities that we attended was the Friday morning chapel service at VFCC. Chapel is required every weekday.
Okay, so here are the thoughts I was thinking (is that redundant?)
Chapel service was good. I was struck, though, by the dress-code or lack of one. I know, I'm old, I already said that, but, come on folks, this is a Christian college and this is a incubator for ministry and excellence, right? Can't we at least wear a decent shirt, jeans with no-holes and something besides flip-flops to chapel?
I know, we're trying to be "culturally relevant" (that term scares me sometimes) but it's not like these kids are out in the world reaching people while they're in chapel. There needs to be some semblance of standard here. I'm all for reaching people where they are at, but I'm also for there are correct times and places for casual and sloppy clothing.
I just think our culture is changing so much and we are trying to fit in so much that we are forgetting who we are and that we do need to be different. I am NOT saying that we hang on to the old just for the sake of hanging on to the old. But I also think there is danger in trying to be just like the world in everything we do and say.
I know it's a dangerous subject to open. But I did and that is what I think. What's wrong with looking nice? What's wrong with dressing up (not even dressing up, but just wearing decent pants and a decent shirt)? What's wrong with wearing shoes instead of flip-flops or going barefoot? Which one will exclude people? Which way will include and make people feel more comfortable?
I realize our culture has become extremely casual and informal. Not only have we done it in our dress, but in our morality. And I believe that the two can be connected. I did not say that just because you dress casually means you are immoral. (I am one who loves to walk around in a t-shirt and jeans.) But, I do believe that we have let our guard down as Christians and we have accepted the "norm" of society as our own norm. I think clothing is just one of many areas that we need to be careful with. It also includes issues of what and how Christian women should dress and modesty. Okay, there, I said it! You may not agree, but that's what I think.
Anyway, we had a great time and did I mention that we laughed a lot?

BOOK REVIEW #2 - Find Your Strongest Life

Well, here it is. My much anticipated 2nd book review. HA. Just kidding.

But I did just finish reading my second book published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and wanted to share my review with you.

The book is entitled: Find Your Strongest Life - What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently and the book was authored by Marcus Buckingham.

Personally, I did not care much for this book. Here are my reasons:

1. The book was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers which means (to me) it's going to be a book with some sort of Christian world-view. Right? Well, nope, not even a little bit. I am sure Marcus Buckingham is a great guy, but he didn't mention God one time in the book. There was one chapter where he used a certain lady as an example and the fact that she had a "great faith" as he termed it. But that was it. I was really surprised.
I guess because, to me, any success at all that we derive in life, male or female, comes from the Lord. And He is the One who is in charge of our lives. He is the road map that we need to direct our lives and He is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

2. The premise of his writing was based upon an experiment he conducted on the Oprah Winfrey show. He had 30 women come to the show and talk about why or why not they felt their lives were meaningful, fulfilled, etc... I, personally, have a difficult time with Oprah these days. She has openly talked about her New Age belief system and I don't think that I want to draw from that kind of input.

3. This book was filled with many statistics and examples of women he had talked to over the course of his research for the book. It had the feel of a "women's lib" kind of take from the moment I started reading it.

It was basically just your typical self-help kind of book. I gleaned nothing new from this one at all. I found this book to be geared more toward the working business-minded woman who wants a career above all else. Nothing wrong with that, mind you. But, because of that, I found that his basic premise of what constitutes "success" to be flawed.

There is also an on-line quiz you can take, which in just a mere 23 questions, gives you your strengths and weaknesses. Both of my daughters took this and neither of them felt the quiz was at all accurate.

Finally, in my opinion, it doesn't matter how many quizzes I take or how deep I look within myself to find out what motivates me, energizes me and keeps me committed; I can never reach my fullest potential without Jesus Christ. I have had to juggle a marriage with a full-time job, have had to work outside the home when my kids were little to help put food on the table and have had a time of getting to be at home and homeschool my children. All of these experiences in themselves have not helped me to have stronger relationships, stronger kids, stronger joy. The one and only thing that has kept me through the wonderful and difficult times has been my relationship with Christ. He made me and He knows what is best for me. He knows me inside and out and if I am listening to Him, then He will direct me and show me the areas in which I am weak. Does that mean I don't seek wise counsel and find out more about myself and how I fit in this world in which He has placed me? Certainly not! But the counsel I seek is wise counsel based on God's word. I do not think this book's philosophy or approach are things that will benefit me as a Christian woman, wife and mother.

Tea from Gay Pa-ree

Most of you know that I am a collector of teapots and teacups.

Well, my very thoughtful aunt just returned from Paris and brought me back this adorable tea set.

I just had to show it off!

Believe

If you don't know me, I am a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan. This year, for the first time since 2005, the Braves have an opportunity to get into the postseason. It's a very scant opportunity as they cannot clinch their division title and are 2 games out from the Wild Card race, with the Colorado Rockies holding first place. Basically, we have to win every game left in order to do this. We have won 13 out of our last 15 games. We have a chance. I hope we can do it! I would love to see them get in, they have worked hard. GO BRAVES!! (Tomahawk Chop)

Substitute Teaching

Well, I finally got an email the other day from Oconee County and I am going in mid-October for the substitute teaching course.

It's been a long ride for me trying to figure out what God wants me to do with my life after my son is through with his homeschooling. This will be in three years.

I have been praying and asking the Lord to give me direction because I'm going to need to have a job to help financially with the college bills.

I felt the Lord spoke to me back in the spring to put my resume out there and just see what happens. Well, I didn't get any bites.

I haven't officially worked anywhere for a long time. I was an office manger for Honeywell way back before hubby and I got married and had good experience and references for that. I also worked in D.C. as a secretary and have had several great experiences with secretarial and office managerial positions. But, after we got married, I have basically been a stay at home/homeschooling mom. I don't regret one minute of it. I know it has been the path that the Lord has had for me. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but that time is coming to a close and the next step is????

Anyway, over the last 10 years, I have taught part time at the local Technical college. I've taught Spanish to adults in the Continuing Education Program at the Tech. College. I have absolutely loved doing that. About 5 years ago, another location asked me to come teach Spanish. So, I have been teaching Spanish to adults there as well. I have also been teaching English as a Second Language to Hispanic people for about 5 years and this has been a delightful experience for me. It has also given me the opportunity to improve my Spanish conversational skills. (For those of you that may not know, after graduate school, I lived in Paraguay for a time as a short-term missionary and this is where I became fluent in Spanish.)

The reason I'm sharing all of this is that I feel as if I have some really good experience and I have some great references. But, because I don't have a teaching certificate, it's going to be virtually impossible for me to be hired as a teacher.

I could kick myself for not taking the two or three extra classes that were required of me in college to get certification. At the time, I never saw myself teaching or enjoying teaching. Lesson learned. And something to think about for those of you who think "I'll never do that"!

So a good friend at church has been giving me some ideas on ways that I can get into the school system.

1. I could go back to school and spend $10,000 to get my certification. I mean, I already have a Masters Degree and, plus, I really don't have that kind of money, nor the time to do that.

2. I could also take the GACE test. This is a test offered to residents of Georgia that is basically a proficiency test. My friend at church that took it (and she is really more proficient in Spanish than I am) told me that the written part was easy but the verbal part was difficult. My verbal skills are "okay" but I'm not too hopeful.

3. The other avenue, that she mentioned to me, was getting in as a substitute and being in a school system and basically "selling" your skills to them. Show them how good of a teacher you really are (which I am a good teacher - and I don't mean that in a proud way) and then when the time comes that they have an opening, they will pick you first. From there, the school system can help me to obtain my certification.

It's all a very complex process and I am still not sure I understand it all. But I am excited for this opportunity to become a sub.

I am just praying and asking the Lord to open the right doors. I feel as if I have done my part and now, I will stand back and see what happens!

Autumnal Equinox

The Autumnal Equinox - fancy term for First Day of Fall! It is only one of two days during the year when the length of day and night is the same.

Yes, it's here. My favorite season of the year. (hey, that rhymes!)

Why is it my favorite? Well, let me count the ways:

Beautiful leaves, cooler temperatures, less humidity, pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving, Christmas, shopping, ornament exchange, pumpkin bread, baking, fireplaces, long socks, sweaters, family traditions, Christmas trees, decorations, hot cider, crisp mornings, pumpkin pancakes.

Welcome Fall!! Fall, oh, how I love thee!!