Things are officially in full swing for summer in my world!!  My last day of work for the summer is FRIDAY! 


Devotions will resume the following week!

i just love a child's mind

This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well?
(and he had such an assignment in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen!)

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But. . .you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

in case you have not seen God today...

"So do not fear, for I am with you..."  Isaiah 41:10



exodus 15:2

“The Lord is my strength and my song
    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him."

pastor's quote

My pastor shared many profound things in our worship service this morning.  However, one thing he said REALLY jumped out at me.

"We, as Christians are not to contain the Gospel, we are to proclaim it!

I want to be that person!  

in the garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

Words: Charles Austin Miles (1912)

For Mother's Day, my mom, sister and I went to the movies to see, The Lucky One.   There are several scenes where Zac Efron's character is playing this song on the piano.  It was so beautiful.


The melody has replayed in my head a hundred times since that day.  If you grew up in church, you have heard and probably sang this song.  It is such a soft, quiet song and the lyrics are so peaceful.


I thought I would share...

stress relief

 The following two pictures were taken as I was lying on my back on a blanket gazing up into the sky...talk about a stress reliever!

I could not wait to leave work today.  I had it in my mind that I was taking my son to "explore", as he likes to call it,  and take advantage of the beautiful weather.  And we did just that!


It was so relaxing to be in the middle of the woods playing in a creek while listening to the water trickle down over the rocks.  As I laid there on my back with my eyes closed, (while JP was eating his picnic dinner...I promise I didn't close them while he was playing in the water),  I began to thank God for His creation.  It is all around us and yet we take it for granted so often.  Or at least I do. 


It's ironic if you think about it.  As a society we go to such extreme measures to relieve our stress.  We take pills, we go to specialists, we read books, we do yoga, and so on.  I am not saying that there is anything wrong with those practices.  I've done them!  What I am telling you is that I cannot imagine anything working better (for me anyway) than sitting down in the middle of nature, closing your eyes and breathing in God's beauty.  It was very therapeutic. 


So thank you, God, for the opportunity you allowed me this afternoon to appreciate your gifts. 

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.'"  Psalm 46:10

i love this verse

Romans 5:2-5   "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."


No matter what chapter God is currently writing in your life, this verse should bring you GREAT comfort. 

quote for the day

you know you're a mom...

1. If toys or diaper wipes can be found in your purse on any given day.
2. When you hum or sing cartoon lyrics while you're at work.
3. Because you have dark circles under BOTH eyes!  (Thank goodness for eye makeup!)
4. If Friday night means frozen pizza and a G-rated movie.
5. Because you drag yourself out of bed before the sun rises and do not climb back into bed until everyone you love has fallen asleep.
6. If your house is not straightened up.  EVER!
7. When listening to your child's laugh literally warms your heart.
8. Because you can drive a stick shift, talk on the phone and pick up something that's dropped in the back floor board all at the same time.
9. Because you sacrifice your own wants/needs to satisfy the wants/needs of someone else.

And last, but not least, you know you're a mom...

    10. Because if given the opportunity, you would do it all again!

happy friday!!!

The end of a school year for teachers can be described as a violent tornado.   It sweeps you up into it's swirling funnel and doesn't spit you out until you walk off campus the final time.  Driving out of the parking lot on that last day is a wonderful feeling.


I cannot wait for this summer to begin!!  I only have 11 FULL days left.  Because things will be so crazy these next couple of weeks at work, I will not be posting my original devotions on the blog.  I will continue to post inspirational thoughts/pictures/quotes and Bible verses, so PLEASE KEEP CHECKING IN!   My mind is just sort of full these days. Once I am done with school, I will have so much more time on my hands and it will be much easier for me to concentrate on my writing.  Also be sure to skip over to my family blog each day.  I will continue to post there as well.


Here are a few of my goals for this summer:

• Complete the manuscript for my devotional book
• Help prepare JP for 1st grade by using workbooks/computer software, etc.
• Spend as much time in the sun and around the pool as possible
• Find my way back to Dollywood...at LEAST twice
• Clean my house...really clean my house
• Do 2 to 3 creative "outings" with JP a week (ie; Jones Gap, Downtown, Paris Mtn. etc)

How does that sound?!  I think it sounds pretty realistic.  Check back in Monday for another inspirational/encouraging post...


Have a great weekend!

what if

This is a picture of my cousin's baby girl, Lindi Rose.  She turned 1 year old in March.  My husband, son and I gave her a stuffed animal and a My 1st Princess Bible.  I was so fortunate to capture her reaction to the gift on my camera.


When I was uploading the photos to the computer after the party, this one caught my eye.  And then the Holy Spirit nudged me.


What if every Christian was THIS excited over God's Word.


Definitely something to think about.

I have had a rough time lately with stress.  I recently posted an article on my family blog about the subject.  Tonight I posted a few thoughts as well as a list of the blessings in my life.


Scoot on over to my Family Blog  to read the post.  I've said it before and I'll say it again... writing down your thoughts on paper is a powerful thing.  Especially when you are listing your blessings.


I love you all and appreciate those of you who read and support my ramblings on this site! 


I am off to bed...

“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”  Barbara Johnson

I ran across this quote by Barbara Johnson today. I LOVE her books! Although she has gone home to be with her Lord, her humor continues to deliver joy to those of us who read her work.  Below are a few of my favorite books by Johnson. 

 This is an awesome tool that will help the every day Christian find their joy in a corrupt world.

 Obviously, this one is for WOMEN only!  Ha!  I don't know what to say about it except that EVERY woman needs to read it! 

I saved this one for last because it is my ALL TIME favorite!  Boomerang Joy is a book of devotionals.  I have probably read this one 10 times or more.  My copy is in such a delicate state...it is literally falling apart.  This book served as an anchor to me when I felt I was drowning in a sea of negative circumstances in my workplace.  I'm not even sure it's in print anymore.  It would be well worth your time to check it out!



i want to give you my heart

I talk so much about my five year old son, JP.  God has used him to teach me so much about Himself, and His unconditional love for me.  It is only natural that most of my writing material would come from his little life.

This morning, we were getting ready for church.  We attend an 11:15 service, so we rarely have to rush on Sunday morning, which is SO nice!  I was sitting on the couch watching television and eating a cinnamon bun when JP entered the room.  He crawled onto my lap and asked me to hold out my hand.  (Given his obsession with bugs, this made me a little nervous!)  I closed my eyes and unfolded my hand before him.  "Okay, mommy!  You can open your eyes now!"  JP anxiously exclaimed.  In the middle of my palm was a very tiny red heart.  "What is this, JP?"  I knew what it was, I just didn't understand why he was handing it to me. 

I melted in the wake of his declaration.  "Mommy, I wanted you to have my heart." 


I can only imagine how much sweeter these words sound when they fall onto the ears of our Heavenly Father...


Have you given Him your heart? 

back on monday

Hey there!!!


WOW.  This has been a difficult week for me.  I work in a very challenging environment.  To say I am grateful for the weekend would be quite an understatement!   I have literally come home every afternoon with one eye closed.  It is wearing me out physically and mentally.  I say that to tell you that I have not been able to write my devotions this week.  I promise to post a new one for Monday.


I hope that everyone is doing well.  I plan on resting as much as possible in an attempt to be refreshed for Monday.  At least I only have FIFTEEN more full days of school left before I am D.O.N.E for the summer!!


Praise Jesus.

one of my favorite excerpts fom max lucado

“When my daughter was a toddler, I used to take her to a park not far from our apartment. One day as she was playing in a sandbox, an ice-cream salesman approached us. I purchased her a treat, and when I turned to give it to her, I saw her mouth was full of sand. Where I had intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt.

Did I love her with dirt in her mouth? Absolutely. Was she any less of my daughter with dirt in her mouth? Of course not. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way. I loved her right where she was, but I refused to leave her there. I carried her over to the water fountain and washed out her mouth. Why? Because I love her.

God does the same for us. He holds us over the fountain. "Spit out the dirt, honey," our Father urges. "I've got something better for you." And so he cleanses us of filth; immorality, dishonesty, prejudice, bitterness, greed. We don't enjoy the cleansing; sometimes we even opt for the dirt over the ice cream. "I can eat dirt if I want to!" we pout and proclaim. Which is true—we can. But if we do, the loss is ours. God has a better offer.”      Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus


I love this piece!  If you have not read the book, Just Like Jesus,   you are truly missing out on a blessing.  I know I have had God sweep me up into His loving arms before and scoop the dirt out of my mouth.  Not always a pleasant thing.

But ALWAYS necessary in order for me to experience something sweeter!

good behavior

My son and I went to the grocery store this afternoon.  I have to admit, there was a time when I HATED having to carry him with me to the store.  Come on, moms!  You know what I'm talking about.  However, now that he's five years old, he is more of a help to me than anything.  He thinks that it's a big deal to help me put things in the buggy, and get things off the shelf.


While we were standing in line waiting for our turn to check out, I heard JP say, "thank you."  I turned quickly to look at him, because I could not imagine who he was speaking to.  A lady smiled at me and complimented his behavior.  She had given him a quarter to use in the machines by the door.  JP's face was still glowing when I asked him about his unexpected treasure!  He was so proud. 


After I paid for the groceries I walked him over to the little machine for him to claim his prize.  I took this time to talk to him about what took place.  I made sure he understood why he was given the quarter.  I reminded him of how important it is to be on our BEST behavior at all times.  We may not realize that we are being watched.  I also shared with him how God works that way at times.  He rewards our good behavior in His own way.  And often times when we least expect it.

As Christians, we can apply this same principle in our every day lives.  As God's children, we should be on our BEST behavior at all times!


Because Someone is always watching.

Hey guys!!

While blog scrolling, I ran across a beautiful post.  I thought that I would share it with you.


CLICK HERE.


I hope it speaks to you that way it did to me.  It's always nice to be reminded of the different ways God speaks to His children.