I Double Dog Dare You

Why is it the moment our family begins to get ready for church my pathetic attitude rears its ugly head for all to see?

My daughter had a little friend spend the night last night. With spatula in hand, my robe on and wet hair hanging around my face like the mythological creature Medusa, she quietly comes up to me and announces she doesn't want to go to church with us as planned.

Now, I am not one to force church attendance on anyone...but I was irritated. As adorable as this little girl is, I had only minutes left to get everyone fed, run this child home and head back to make myself presentable and get to church.

Like Cruella Deville I sped through our little town to take this child home. After ringing her doorbell until my index finger was numb, we discovered her parents weren't home.

Can you feel my growing irritation?

Racing back home in our Suburban, thoughts danced in my head. My hair is going to look awful drying on its own. I bet the breakfast dishes are now stuck by syrup to my kitchen table. Why did I eat pancakes for breakfast today anyway? I feel like I have a brick in my stomach. Why didn't Paul offer to take this child home?

Like the godly woman I am (interject sarcasm here), I fumed on the way to church. I thought for sure my fake smile screamed "Hypocrite!" as I walked into church minutes later.

Leaning over to one of my girlfriends, I smiled from ear to ear and spoke through clenched teeth, "I am not in a good mood today."

...and then it happened.


Worship began.


Have you ever tried to stay in a bad mood while praising God? It's impossible to do. My anger and irritation melted away.

Replacing my foul, ugly flesh was a heart that needed forgiveness for snapping at my husband and for all of the ways I was imagining I could torture my children for creating such a mess this morning.

When we praise Him, we take our eyes off ourselves and place them where they should have been all along...on Jesus.

So, when you feel yourself heading down the ugly road of selfish, prideful, self-absorbed you, crank up the worship music.


I double dog dare you.


Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them! 1 Chronicles 16: 9

Fill Her Up!

Why do you go to church?

Many of us get caught up in the trap of believing church is where you go to be a Christian. Not so.

Church is a pit stop. It is our soul's refreshing place. We need to spend time there so we can go back out and run another lap in the race the Lord has set before us.

Too often we get caught up in the high school mentality of church being our hang out, our place to shoot the breeze with friends, or to make new ones. We forget that friendships in the body of Christ are a blessed byproduct of the true reason we are a church to begin with...to grow and mature up into a body of believers who can make a difference for Christ in a hurt and broken world.

One of my favorite quotes says it perfectly. "Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car." Dr. J. Laurence Peter


I couldn't agree more.

Bookaholics-Anonymous Meeting Over at Blessed...

Hi. My name is Joanne and I'm a bookaholic.

Except, I'm far from recovering. I don't want to and I don't plan to. I love books. I love how they feel. I love how they look. And I love how they smell. I acquire books like one who is searching out precious gems for their own selfish pleasures.

Some say reading and writing go hand in hand. I say reading and breathing go hand in hand. I have books by the side of my bed, books by my sofa, books on my shelves and books in my bathroom. I heart books.

I love them so much that I plan on having a few book reviews in the next few weeks. I will be including interviews with the authors of these books too!

As for now, I am reading Crazy Love by, Francis Chan. Head over to Lauren at Walking by Faith to read her wonderful post on this very same book. I am also finishing up The Dream Walker by Bruce Wilkinson, a book that a precious blogging sister sent my way, Barbara with B His Girl.


So, from one bookaholic to another...what books are you reading this summer?

The Great Mom Debate

To work or not to work, that is the question! The moment Rosie the Riveter picked up her drill life hasn't been the same. Rosie's battle cry, “We can do it!” was the shot heard round the world. A new page in history was written. Off went the pearls and apron, up went the hair, and on went the pants. Women were leaving the home and entering the workforce in droves.

With over 600,000 men killed in World War II and hundreds of thousands more injured, there was a need for the woman to step out in faith, seeking a job that would provide food and shelter for her children.

With Rosie the Riveter's children grown with grandchildren of their own, the debate continues. Should mom work outside of the home or not?

Being from both sides of that debate, I see the pros and cons clearly. And with our economy and unemployment at record lows, Christian women are entering the debate and struggling with what the right thing to do is.

Is working outside of the home God-honoring? It depends.

There are many women of the Bible who held jobs outside of the home. The Proverbs 31 woman sold real estate, Lydia was a successful business owner selling scarlet in Ephesus, while Priscilla worked for her husband's tent making business. All were used by God. Your motivation and hearts desire is what does or doesn't make your choice to work God honoring.

To do your will is not God honoring. To do His will is. And if that means providing essential needs for your family then it will bring glory to God. What doesn't bring glory to God is taking yourself from the ministry the Lord has called you to. As a mom, your husband and children are your ministry, your calling. Whatever takes you from them must be God honoring.

Here are a few things that are not God honoring.

*Taking yourself away from your family to work for wants and not needs. (Working to afford your weekly pedicure or gym membership.)

*Working to have a car as nice as your neighbors.

*Reminding your husband you couldn't make financial end meets without your income.

*Using work outside of the home as your reason not to work inside the home.

Call me old-fashioned but I do believe a woman's first and most important calling is her husband and children. If she is working, then her family should be helpful to take a few housekeeping burdens off her plate. But ultimately, this is still mom's responsibility. Mom is the heart of the home, after all.

After being a stay at home mom for almost ten years now, once again I am at the crossroads of working full-time. The necessities being medical benefits, dental benefits and college for my four children. Seeking the Lord for His will and not mine is key.

If “to work or not to work” is the question...”to do God's will and bring him glory and honor“ would have to be the answer.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1Corinthians 10:31

While I'm Waiting

Wait. It's the spiritual exercise most followers of Jesus dread most. But from it comes the fruit of patience. Waiting builds a faith muscle of tremendous hope and perseverance for what lies ahead. Waiting on the Lord is never in vain.

Has the Lord ever whispered to your heart, wait on me? Have your petitions and pleas been met by the quiet presence of a perfect God, reminding you once again that He is in control?

When God handed me four children to raise up He had to of been chuckling to himself. Patience was never my greatest strength. As a mommy I needed it in abundance and I needed to teach it to my own little ones. Not easy to do when I get antsy at a red light after fifteen seconds. From the mundane wait for a frozen burrito in the microwave, to the excruciating wait of a phone call with test results, the chasm is wide but patience is needed just the same.

Lately the Lord has been telling me to wait on Him. "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Wherever you are on your journey today, have faith my sisters. Believe in the One who holds the world in His hands. Our waiting is for His perfect plan, His perfect timing. And not a minute sooner.

Just like this song says, I will worship while I'm waiting. I will serve you while I'm waiting.

Let that be the same for us.

Marriage Advice - Are you listening Dennis Rainey?

I often wonder how some couples do it without God. Two selfish people, both trying to lead the pack. Flesh at its best or should I say worst? A perfect recipe for disaster.

"Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she repects her husband." Ephesians 5:33

Love and respect.

Sounds easy enough.

Yes, love and respect are two God given commands to keep our marriages healthy and God honoring. But, I do think the Lord may have missed one key element. To stay married until death do us part it should be love, respect AND...GPS.





We just got back from driving to Texas and oh what a wonderful time we had. Not one argument about stopping for directions. Not one.

These technical contraptions should be sold at ALL marriage conferences and given as gifts at all wedding showers.

Our time away was chock full of LOVE and RESPECT. How could the Lord have missed this one?!?

I'm Curious...

Where are you from? I know you girls are from all over the country and even the world, but where from exactly? Do you love it there?

AND, if you could live anywhere else where would it be?

We live here.



But, we love it here.




I'm a girl who lives for food so California has In n' Out Burger and Nation's Burgers you can't find anywhere else. But, how can you beat Cracker Barrel and Chuy's, home cooked biscuits and genuine down to earth people?

I'm just sayin...

VBS Anyone?

Vacation Bible School has got to be hands down - the highlight of my recent summers...my kids too! Who doesn't LOVE to make a craft to take home, eat yummy treats, and have fun?



When I play my cards right my kids are in quite a few church sponsored VBS productions. Why wouldn't parents want their kids out of their hair for three hours each day?





Last week our church had their annual VBS Summerblast. And it was just that. We ALL had a blast. Paul and David and I led small groups while our littlest enjoyed the water slides, handmade bracelets and Bible stories. We had a car load of friends we brought along too.

...and I just have to share the most precious part of the week for me. These three beautiful young ladies in my group asked Jesus into their hearts.




...now this is what VBS is all about.


And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

Happy 4th of July From Our Family to Yours!

“The real democratic idea is, not that every man shall be on a level with every other, but that every one shall have liberty, without hindrance, to be what God made him” Henry Ward Beecher


Wishing you all a day filled with barbecued hot dogs, homemade ice cream and fireworks! This picture is one of my favorites of my kids when they were little.

Praying for our country today in a spirit of gratefulness and thankfulness. And sending up special prayers for those who are celebrating on foreign soil. Being an American is a blessed gift I did NOTHING to deserve. Just another reason to appreciate God's gift of grace in my life.

Remember friends, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12

Busted Out of the Slammer!

Spent most of my morning today busting our beagle out of doggy-jail. One of our four darlings apparently left our side gate open. Angel soon made her daring escape. Her wild day of fun ended when she was picked up by the local fuzz.

We weren't home to receive her one phone call so she spent the whole night behind bars. In a way I'm glad. It gave her some time to think about her crime and the shame she has caused our family.

She was charged with being out past curfew without proper identification. My children convinced us to pay $150.00 to bail her out. They believe she's worth it.

I'm still not too sure.

Blessed...Blogs of the Month!

Yep, it's that time again. If you haven't already noticed the left side of my blog - it's time you did. This is the part of my blog-real-estate that I use for my monthly blogging hall of fame. (Below the pictures of my kids. Cmon' cut me some slack, I'm a proud mama!)

Pay attention to the left side of Blessed...it's here I highlight seven blogs each month. You will discover blogs that inspire, encourage, make you laugh and sometimes even make you cry, right over there at your finger tips. Take the time to peruse their sites and get to know some of these precious people.

I look forward to having all of you there soon. But, if you're impatient like me and just can't wait, then hop on over to my BlogFrog thingamajiggy on the right side there and check out my blogroll. Make sure to add your name to the list. That way, people don't have to wait, they can visit you today.

Now, take your cursor and make a sharp left turn and check out my Blessed...blogs of the month list. I hope you have your comfy shoes on - pop on over and pay a visit to all of these Blessed... blogs. And make sure to tell them Joanne sent ya!

***And to those of you chosen this month, your words have blessed my heart. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that has been changed.***