Extravagant Grace

More to Be

2011-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful season of solitude with the Lord, time in the Word, hours in prayer, God has birth something beautiful in my life.

Hope to see you over there.

Welcome to the Legacy...

2011-01-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

...of Extravagant Grace -- a legacy of God's work and evidence of His grace.

May you find within this special place encouragement drawn from the Word and many grace-filled, life-changing lessons. Feel free to browse around, enjoy the free graphics, and be challenged by the many 31-day series on Biblical living.

God's extravagant grace does, indeed, include pruning. As a result, I will no longer be sharing here at Extravagant Grace. Instead, I will be devoting time to writing, speaking, mentoring, and most of all, my family and precious community of friends. You might also find me designing from time to time, too.

If you would like to stay in touch, please do feel free to email me at extragrace (at) gmail dot com. I am more than happy to add you to my email list, which I will use to occasionally share in the lessons the Lord impresses on my heart in the months to come, and to keep you informed of any ministry news!

I count it as a true gift and privilege to have served you through Extravagant Grace. May you go forth encouraged with the Good News of Jesus Christ and God's message of extravagant grace, love, forgiveness, hope, and transformation.

By His Power & Mighty Grace,

Becoming Titus 2: How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

2010-12-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

³Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Becoming a Titus 2 woman requires living intentionality, with humility, and full measure of perseverance. It is not an easy call, but can be a rewarding one, as we witness the impact our devotion to the Word has on others. In every breathing-living-God-given moment, we have the opportunity to shape lives for Christ, whether they be our children or our husband, a friend or a sibling, a stranger or a neighbor. Our example impacts everyone God has purposefully placed in our circle, whether we are 16 or 66, married or single, a mother or a spiritual aunt. Where we are in life doesn’t matter as much as how we live the life God has given us. Our circumstances shouldn’t dictate our testimony, but how we live should become our testimony, giving credence to the power of the Word for the glory of God!
The heart of the becoming a Titus 2 woman is found in the concluding point of the passage where we finally learn the reason behind the detailed principles for godly living. What we uncover is the profound truth that if each point is heeded, a single woman has the power to be a tremendously effective messenger of the Gospel.

Essentially, each little piece of instruction sets the stage for how we are to behave in our public and private lives, as well as how we ought to engage with others. The ultimate purpose of living this way is so that Word of God will not be maligned. In other words, the reason why “the older women ought to be reverent in the way they live, not slanders or addicted to much wine, and why they ought to teach what is good so they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands” is so that others may meet the living Christ in each one of us.

We are modern-day disciples, set on a course of discipling the next generation. Yes, we need to do this formally, through learning Scripture for ourselves and then teaching it to others, but we also need to practically reveal the Word through our actions. People learn not only by listening but also by witnessing the lesson at hand. It is one thing to reprimand your eldest daughter, “Don’t speak so harshly to your little sister. God instructs us in the Word to be kind to one another!” It is another thing altogether to model that behavior in conversations with not only her, but also with her father and other siblings, strangers and friends. We might be faithfully devoted to church attendance each week, and even sparkle leading a Sunday school class, but if we hurl degrading comments about the preacher on the way home and snip at the hubby for taking a wrong turn, we’re caught red-handed commiting sins of slander and disrepect. Our sin plus example errects a wall blocking the Word of God from others.

The truth is that many of us are caught in strongholds of sin excused daily with growns of “I’m tired. She should have know better. He could have listened. If only people would do what I said.” We malign the Word of God every time we sin, and our lame excuses deluded us into believing it is okay, without care for its effect on those around us.

When we fail to live up to the instruction of the Word -- which we will do often -- we have the opportunity to demonstrate the process of confession, repentance, forgiveness, and grace. A simple apology. A public prayer of confession. A physically different course of action. These lessons, by far, are the most critical to pass onto the next generation, for it displays the fullness of the Gospel: The absolute relevant truth that Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior, died on the cross to satisfy the debt of our sin -- sin that we strive to put to death by power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. As we walk in obedience to the Word out of love for our Father in Heaven, God will perform a mighty transformation in our lives wrapped with His extravagant grace. That grace is contagious, for its appearance is bathed in radiant hope. It begs a bystander to tastes its goodness found in the heart of Christ. As women of God, we have the distinct privilege of serving others with the fullness of the Gospel. Let’s do so by honestly evaluating how we live, intentionally pursing to live out the Word so that others may long for the joy of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ.

Becoming a Titus 2 woman is not just about living a satisfying God-honoring life. It is about being used by God to spread the Good News to a hurting word longing for a Savior! They know they are thirsty. They know they are hungry, looking for more than what this world has to offer. But they won’t listen to words alone, for words have inflicted wounds deep in their hearts. They will, however, be tempted to believe a transformed life that testifies of power greater than what they know without Christ.

We, Titus 2 women, have the honor of being light bearers. Let’s go forth, blazing with the power of God at work in each area of our lives, public, private, and passionately determined for Christ.

To enjoy the previous Becoming Titus 2 posts, click here.

Becoming Titus 2: What does it mean to be subject to our husbands?

2010-11-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

Studying Scripture is an experience that offers an unquantifiable reward. In the midst of in-depth study, we might find ourselves struck by a profound thought, all the while uncertain of the application. Our hearts and mind exclaim, “Yes, Lord!” to a Biblical truth that strikes to the core of our soul, but the minute we step away from the Scripture, we can hardly recall the text or the application point. It would be easy to presume that such a study of Scripture is a waste of time. What good is it if we can’t remember what we read only a moment ago? It is good, however, because the richness is in the long-term reward.
As Romans 12:2 explains, God is in the business of renewing our minds, and thereby transforming our lives. This renewal is directly influenced by our study of Scripture. Although the verses at hand may seem like miscellaneous threads of information, God is actively weaving them together, one stitch at a time. He is the one that creates a tapestry of life-transforming truth, which requires time -- sometimes a life-time -- to become visible.

In the midst of spiritual transformation, it feels like we are standing inches from the threads of a beautiful tapestry. All we might see is one dominating color representing a thread sewn in sorrow, or one vibrant strand weaved through blessing and joy. Only when we step back from the piece, we see how those very threads become the shadows, accents, and defining points of the whole tapestry. This broad view is a necessary vantage point in our spiritual lives. We must step back and look at all that God is accomplishing. By doing so, we put our present moment into perspective.

In just one month, we will be at the place of taking that broad view of all that we have learned while studying Titus 2 over the course of this year. We will take inventory of our thinking and see where God has transformed our lives through the renewing of our minds. But today, we have yet to tackle the last of two remaining questions concerning our Becoming Titus 2 call: “What does it mean to be subject to our husband?”

Let’s first look at a handful of translations:

NIV

and to be subject to their husbands

NCV

to yield to their husbands

Message

be good wives

Amplified

adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands

ESV and NLT

submissive to their own husbands

NKJV

obedient to their own husbands

These translations offer quite a bit to chew on, and instigate a bit of spiritual squirming. The tendency might be to pick the one translation we like the most, or the one that causes the least amount of discomfort, and cease our study right there. But that, my friends, would be thwarting the efforts of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives through the renewing of our minds. Instead, let’s work through these translations, discerning their collective meaning, in a humble effort to see the Lord accomplish His purposes within us. It starts with a quick inventory:

Do I yield to my husband, even when I stubbornly want my own way?
As a good wife, am I putting the needs of my husband in my list of priorities each day?
Do I adapt to my husband and respect him as head of our home?
Am I submissive to my beloved in the little things and big things?
Am I obedient to him in the ways that truly matter, not just the easy ones?

I hate these questions!

Do you?

They cut to the chase and force me to look closely at the attitude of my heart.

It ain’t so pretty, dear friends.

I know that I know that I know that I cannot answer these questions on my own, but rather need to yield to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. When I do so, I hear the truth: There are times that I don’t yield, don’t adapt, don’t give respect, and don’t submit to my husband. My rebellious spirit toward my husband is often as bad, if not worse, than it is with the Lord. The problem is not my husband, nor God. The common denominator is me. I’m usually the one with a super struggle of sin, tempting me to thwart God’s best for my life as I walk down the stubborn path of a know-it-all. God, in his mercy, has offered a fantastic solution to my sin, however. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for His extravagant grace poured for through Jesus Christ. I was once a sinner, but now as a child saved through faith by grace, can overcome my sin through Christ’s power at work in me. I can approach the throne of God in confession and repentance, because Christ’s blood paved a way to the God Who Forgives and Redeems.

Yes, my own sin is a serious obstacle in submitting to my husband. Of course, his sin complicates things as well. When my beloved doesn’t carry out his Ephesians 5 call, Satan tempts me to discount my own responsibility as a wife. There are certainly husbands who knowingly and unknowingly forsake the Biblical instructions for marriage, making it nearly impossible for a woman to fulfill her call as wife. For sisters in Christ facing this struggle, the challenge to respond to the Titus 2 call is exponentially difficult. In cases of abuse, or in a marriage with an unbelieving husband, it is certainly hard to discern the applications of this verse. What if his will is against God’s instructions in Scripture? What if he is forcing submission instead of receiving it? These are the real life struggles for many Christian women, and require real discernment and counsel on a case-by-case situation to know how to respond appropriately.

However, for all Christian wives, we can safely look to the Biblical mandate in Ephesians 5:21, which sets forth that we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Being subject to our husband is really an expectation given to us by the Lord, not our spouse. Answering to it, likewise, should be done unto the Lord, not to the man standing before us. If the stipulation for submission is based on a husband’s worthiness, it will never work. We will always be able to find a fault, and a valid reason for why he is not fit enough for our submission.

Consider this: If a husband is to lay down his life for a wife, as Christ has done for the church, would you like for him to refuse that mandate on account of your unworthiness? Would you like Christ to use the same sliding scale in terms of your worthiness of salvation? I don’t think so. We are more than happy to receive Christ’s blood shed for our sin, because we know we can never earn it. We should also put on a Christ-like attitude in our actions toward our husbands, choosing to yield, adapt, and submit, not because our husband has earned our respect, but rather because Christ already purchased their sin, and ours, with His blood, and by doing so, works in us and through us to submit to our husbands out of reverence to God.

The original Greek used in this portion of the verse makes it plain. The word subject comes from hypo, which means “under and tasso [meaning] to place in order; otherwise stated as to place in submission.” In other words, being subject to one’s husband is about taking the proper place God designed for our marital relationship. The Lord did not create woman to rule over man. He did not intend for us to call the shots, make the decisions, lay down our lives for our husbands. Could we? Sure. Should we? No. Why? Because God’s design places a man’s gifts and a woman’s gift in the best possible scenario -- in His order. When we mess with God’s plans, we bring harm to us and those around us.

For decades, we have been fed the world’s definition of womanhood. It has intoxicated our minds with lies to such a vast degree that we find the definition of Biblical womanhood repulsive. We must return to the essence of God’s call for women, for the sake of the next generation! Ask the Lord to uncover the roots of your thinking, buried down into your childhood, nurtured through your adolescence, and indoctrinated at the university and professional level. Dig deep and see where your thinking of womanhood is most influenced. Is it a Biblical perspective or today’s culturally advocated view of womanhood? Ask the Lord to transform your mind with His truth, and your life with the blessing that comes from living according to the Word in a world that finds it dated and inapplicable. Ask God for bold faith to become the woman He intended, especially in your role as wife now, or in the future. Pray for the ability to see His Word play out in your thinking, actions, and even through your words, and the patience to wait until He reveals the tapestry of His work manifesting itself in your life, as you become the woman He intended.

To enjoy the previous Becoming Titus 2 posts, click here.

The Grace of Pruning

2010-10-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

With my ear turned toward the Lord, and heart ready to receive His voice, I dove into the task of weeding my rose garden. Calling the garden "mine" is truly a misnomer. It actually belongs to the legacy of the family who built the house I now call home. I am simply the newest steward, attempting to devote time to this daunting task. Determined to make this morning duty worthwhile, I opened my heart to the Lord:

"Speak to me, Lord. It is just you and me here. Show me Lord what your will is. Give me your direction and understanding. Please pour forth your wisdom."

Working my way down to the soil, hunched over my not-so-cushy kneeling pad, I went after the rolling meadow of clover and onion sprouts. Muttering about the need to tend to this bed weekly, so that the task would not be so daunting, I begged God again to speak to my soul and allow this time to be communion with Him.

Silence.

Truly, my negligence of this rose bed is more than obvious.

Lord, did I even ask for a rose bed?

But my pride motivated me beyond resentment and into diligent work, pushing the dull ache of my back to the far reaches of my mind.

For what might the neighbors think of me?

Bent over and plucking away, God told me exactly.

It doesn't matter what they think. It matters what I think.

I know, Lord. I know.

My divided heart rose to a show-stopping display of emotions, and the Lord used it to uncover a barrage of truth -- truth that I've begged to hear from Him about again and again over the last few months. It was truth I've been too busy, too distracted, or too verbal during quiet time, to hear Him speak. But now, on my knees, literally, the Lord had my full attention and spoke loudly.

You're afraid to take a step of faith.

Listen to me.

The flower bed is like your life. The soil is what is going on in your soul and thoughts and heart and life. It is full of weeds and thorns. These rose bushes are the people and purposes I have for you. They need nutrients received through the soil -- you. You can't sustain all of this without being fed and connect to the source giver, Me. I need more of you.

Okay, Lord.

I grabbed a notepad and pen, which I just happened to have outside in order to jot down some patio furniture dimensions. I tossed it into soil nearby and got back to work.

Don't you know that we are different. See you weed because of what others might think of you. But I weed because my desire is to sustain the life I created. You are more concerned about appearances. I am concerned about the growth process, the fruit. You want this weeding process to be easy and comfortable. I want it accomplished, no matter the cost.

You weed -- serve, change, work, do -- because you want approval and blessing, not to bless others or serve those in need. This is not why I weed.

Yes, Lord. You are right!

Since, I know this truth, but often forget it, I decided to write down exactly what the Lord had to say to me. I really wanted it to stick! But as I sat down in the dirt, a thorn distracted my attention, poking me in my thigh! Typical! Back on my knees, and thorn removed, I listened further!

You're busy loosening this soil with just one tool. I use many: conversations, the Word, Truth, trials, circumstances, people, my creation.

Why do you resist my weeding?

I even use the rain to soften the soil and make it possible to remove the weeds. Yes, my daughter, that rain is your tears -- the ones you shed for yourself and even on behalf of others.

Okay, Lord. I see this. I see all that you are saying. But what do you want me to do about the matters I am most concerned and confused about?

I want you to focus on love. Love on those I have put in your life. Love with the love I have given you. And write. And speak. And teach. Use the gifts I have given you. Do not be afraid of them. Do not reject them.

You are afraid because you'll have to trust me with the time, the Word, the message, the process, the acceptance, and even the rejection. Fear is holding you back. You are stuck in the weeds. There are deep roots of insecurity wrapped around you. The irritability, sadness, fatigue you are frustrated by stem from resisting my call and refusing to trust me. You are in quiet and masked rebellions. You need to lay down what you think you ought to be doing, and do what I've called you to do.

Okay, Lord. But what?

You know what.

Like a little toddler, I wanted to stick my fingers in my ears. But I can't silence the voice of God. I've begged His attention. I've pleaded for His instruction. Now I must listen and respond.

It is time to lay down Extravagant Grace. This season is over. Now it is time to devote to writing and the projects you've already started...and the new ones to come. You need to finish what I've given in you. You know, those book proposals, Bible studies, planner and things. You need to stop running from the work to which I've called you.

I have not called you to be a blogger. It is a venue I used and the time is now over. I've called you to your family, friends, and the community right in front of you. It is time to be present with them, most of all.

Don't try to figure this out. Just do as I say.

But I don't want to!

Do you want to be like this bush in front of you, long, straggly, no flowers, no purpose?

No, Lord. I want to have flowers like that one over there.

Then let me prune.

Okay.

Don't you know that I have good things in store for you. Trust me, daughter, child. Trust me.

Yes, Lord. I lay it down.

God received my heart, as I was steadfast on seeking His will and wisdom about all matters of life. He spread His grace upon me, revealing the secrets thoughts of my divided heart whispered only in the silence of my mind.

And now I must obey, even though I don't have all the answers or complete understanding. I will quietly and peacefully walk away, leaving a legacy of God's faithfulness behind, testifying to His extravagant grace. Grace that has marked my life. Grace that is available to you.

May you receive His extravagant grace on your life.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Becoming Titus 2: What does it mean to be kind?

2010-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

Welcome to our Becoming Titus 2 discussion! I'm so glad to have you join in today and pray you be richly blessed. It has been a wonderful year of studying a very short portion of Scripture, and the Lord has been faithful to teach us a tremendous amount.

For today's discussion, we are focusing on one important principle captured in three short words, "to be kind." Moreover, we are asking a very specific question, as we seek to become Titus 2 women,

What does it mean to be kind?

Before we jump to our own conclusions, let's go straight to Scripture. If we compare translations, we'll see that the word "kind" is only one interpretation of the Greek used in this passage. The Amplified translation uses "good-natured (kindhearted)," while the NKJ uses "good." If we combine these three different interpretations together, we'll realize that all of them liken back to the definition of word kind:

1) of good constitution or nature
2) useful, salutary
3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy
4) excellent, distinguished
5) upright, honorable

Similarly, "to be kind," according to the original Greek, agathos, used in this passage is
means:

"good, benevolent, profitable, useful...when intending a contrast, underscores the beneficial properties of something and represents something as being advantageous to another, promoting his welfare. It often signifies inherent goodness and describes something as virtuous."*

Ahh.

So, in the call to be kind, the Lord is instructing us to be women of virtue for the benefit of those around us. What strikes me is that being kind is not about how I feel about myself or how I think I ought to behave. It is more over about the people that I affect through my words and actions. Yet, that doesn't excuse my thoughts, for thoughts often breed behavior!

Of course, when I think of the implications of my kind or unkind acts, the first people that come to my mind are my husband and children. They are the ones most likely to experience my most unkind moments. They are the ones I ought to be the kindest to, even though the stranger at the door might get my friendliest smile and most tender response. Hmm.

What do you think about that?

Do you squirm, like me, at the call to be kind or good...in constitution or nature, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, and honorable. Are you also intimidated?

My nature is none of these. As a matter of fact, I often feel just the opposite inside. A better description of my natural self would be angry, frustrated, irritated, annoyed, and selfish. Those are the feelings that often rise up, dictating my actions. Any hint of good or kind, or any of the other descriptions at work in me, is entirely because of God's extravagant grace working within my spirit, manifesting in my actions.

[As my daughters sits here listening and helping with this study, she's insisting that I am much kinder than I am giving myself credit for. My point, exactly! She doesn't realize how much of my nature rising up inside is the opposite of what she witnesses! Only because of the Holy Spirit at work within me, what comes out is indeed kind!]

We could answer this call to kindness with discouragement and a rebellious spirit, or we can allow it to shed light on who God intends us to become. In many ways, it explains the constant ebb and flow of our behavior. In Christ, the old self is very much at war with the new self. The kind side of us is really God at work. The wicked side is our sin. Praise the Lord there is a way to deal with that sin. Repentance! We can lay our unkindness at the foot of the cross, partnering with God in the death of our sin and the new life He overs. Through the walking in humility and acknowledging our ways before the Lord, He will accomplish the work in us, bringing kindness to reality in our spirits and pouring that forth on those around us for their benefit.

Do you struggle with being kind?

Can you identify the sin rising up within you, causing the unkindness we all despise?

Let's seek the Lord together and repent quickly!

Feel free to share your thoughts in a comment below or include a link to your post!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Enjoy our former discussion and come back next month to join in again!

Jan ~ Beliefs about Titus 2 in Today's Culture
Feb ~ What does it mean to be reverent?
Mar ~ What does it mean to slander and be addicted (to too much wine)?
Apr ~ How do we teach what is good?
May ~ How do we train the younger women? Who are the younger women?
Jun ~ How do we train the younger women to love their husbands?
Jul ~ How do we train the younger women to love their children?
Aug ~ How do we learn to be self-controlled and pure?
Sep ~ What does it mean to be busy at home?
Oct ~ What does it mean to be kind?
Nov ~ What does it mean to be subject to our husband?
Dec ~ How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

It's a Prayer Day!

2010-10-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

And a great day in history...

10-10-10

So don't miss this opportunity to mark it with the most valuable investment you can make. Devote 10 minutes to praying for the first 10 people the Lord brings on your heart right now.

By His Power and Grace,

How on earth can we be kind?

2010-10-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

It is time to find out. Join in next Tuesday for a Becoming Titus 2 discussion focused solely on what it means to be kind. Biblically kind, that is.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

24 Verses: 1 Thes 1:3 (October 1, 2010)

2010-10-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

A new verse for a new month...

What Scripture is on your heart this month? Will you memorize a particular verse?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Free Graphics!

2010-10-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Be encouraged and share the Word!

Find more FREE Scripture Graphics in
Wordfilled Wednesday posts and 24 Verses posts.

Because it Works...

2010-09-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

and because it is worthy to share with you! It may be a random collection of thoughts, but that way more than one of you will be truly blessed!

ONE in a million.
Are you looking for a motivating, encouraging, Biblically sound, spiritually rich read? Grab Priscilla Shirer's brand new book, "One in a Million"now! You can read it alone, propose it for your next book club discussion, or get the Bible Study going with your friends or church group. Priscilla uses humor, life stories, and creative analogies to bring the Scriptures alive, challenging us to journey to our promised land.

a SALVATION for kids and adults alike!
Starr Meade has produced a wonderful new book, "God's Mighty Acts in Salvation" to be used in a dozen different ways. She has put together 40 different lessons from the book of Galatians, perfect for a Sunday School time or family devotions. It would even work well into a homeschool Bible curriculum or devotional reading for an older child (10 and up).

Kicking the Kids Clutter
If your house is like mine, there is an endless supply of childrens' things, like toys, shoes, hair bands, clothes, books, bags, and so on, left throughout the house, and hardly ever returned to their proper place without a reminder from mom. So to battle this endless clutter and nagging cycle, I make one trip around the house at the end of the day, with a large laundry basket in hand, and collect every stray item. The house looks marvelous when it is all picked up! The bonus is that if the children the children must complete a chore in order to get an item back from the basket! I love a clutter free house, and especially delighted about the chores getting done! An extra perk is that I've noticed there is less and less to pick up each night, as the children don't want to lose their things to the infamous basket! Ah, so it is a training tool, too!

Hope you are blessed by this simple ideas and opportunities!

What works for you this Wednesday?

By Your Grace & Mighty Power,

*these books were graciously provided by the publisher for review purposes*

Welcome CCUM Ladies!

2010-09-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

What a blast we had last night, CCUM ladies and friends! It is always special when women get together for prayer and worship. God was faithful and generous to us, providing scrumptious food, a warm atmosphere, powerful music, and His message. It was a delight to be with each one of you!

As we embark on a new week ahead, I do pray you will reflect on all He had to teach us about unity. Remember, the path to unity is paved by humility, bathed in forgiveness, and clothed in love. Ephesians 4 provides our marching orders, my friends, as we journey to the cross together, being melted (remember those crayons) during those fiery trials. But through the "heat" He will join us together, enabling us to press on and creating a stunning testimony of His love!

Remember, too, that when we devote time to reading the Scriptures and obeying the Word, we will be renewed in our minds and given food for the journey ahead. God is always faithful to provide us with His hope, power, and strength to persevere in every situation -- even those marked by disunity. It is His desire to see His precious children dwell together in unity -- for that is how He designed the body, of which Christ is the head, to exist.

Let's start off this week in humility, seeking forgiveness, and sharing the love of Christ with everyone God has put in our lives.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Do you have any special thoughts or questions about
what you heard at the CCUM women's fellowship?

Feel free to email me at extragrace at gmail dot com.

Praisin' and Schoolin' and Prayin' and Speakin'

2010-09-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

Our month of praisin' is formally over, and it seems as though I dropped right out of bloggy land with it. No mam, just knee deep in schoolin', and loving the results so far! However, I'm definitely trying to figure out how to balance all my new responsibilities along with my old ones, causing me to do quite a bit of prayin', especially as I prepare to do some speakin' tomorrow night! It is on a completely new topic: Unity. And boy, have I learned a lot about what I used to call unity schmoonity.

But for today, I'm wondering how my fellow homeschoolers in bloggy land have made it looks so easy as pie all these years.

How on earth do you manage it all?

Would you mind sharing your daily schedules with me?

When do you fit in time to keep the house, grade the papers, and plan the lessons?

When do you find time to blog and enjoy friends and do Bible study?

What did you have to lay down in order to school your children?

Of course, I feel God's grace upon me, especially when I remember that I'm not exactly a typical homeschooling mom. I have three in school and one in college, which places demands on me in unique ways. Plus, living a boarding school presents all sort of unusual time constraints on things, especially in terms of my mentoring ministry. Toss into that mix a number of commitments to friends and family, never mind sleep, exercise, and a rushed manicure at home, and well there is not enough time in the day. I'm tired, friends!

I feel a deep sense that I am to lay something down, but cannot discern what it is? Should my standard of housekeeping flex in this season? Am I to put Extravagant Grace on the back burner? Is God asking me to say no more often than yes? Oh Lord, show the way!

Even if you are not a homeschooling mom, I'm sure you have all gone through a similar season of seeking the Lord for your priorities?

What truths have you heard from Him?

Were there particular Scriptures He gave you to heed?

What piece of advice would you share not only with me, but others listening in, too?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Praise the Lord, In this Moment, Celebration!

2010-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today is our final day in the Praise the Lord In This moment journey together! Of course, it doesn't mean we'll stop praising God! It simply means we've arrived at our goal of devoting time to developing a habit of praise. Now, it will hopefully be part of who we are, from inside our heart and proclaimed out through our mouths singing His praise!

Without a doubt, we've been changed, as we've learned to praise the Lord in the trials, in the little moments, in the big moments, and simply because He is worthy of our praise.

It is my hope and prayer that we have cultivated a lifestyle of praise that will continue on and on throughout our lifetime! May you go forward from today, commissioned to Praise the Lord In this Moment!

Praise the Lord for who He is!

And praise the Lord for the way He chooses to bless His girls...

Congratulations Winners!

Laurie is the winner of a Praise the Lord Scripture Art from eSpecially Inspired

Congrats to Brook for winning a $25 Gift Certificate to WallWorthy

Jamie won a $30 Gifts Certificate to Gussy (all baby blankets are exempt from giveaway credit and you must visit her shop and leave at least one comment with your favorite item)

Jennifer, you are blessed with the Salvation Bracelet from Shop of Laura

Congrats to Debbie for winning the "Praise and Give Thanks to the Lord" vinyl cling from ten23designs

Candace, you have won God's Word AthruZ CD from Abe & Liza Philip

Sharon Kirby...you have won Daily Light from Crossway Publishers

Julie Jabbers, may you be blessed with, The Bible's Promises for Life from Crossway Publishers

Grand Prizes Winners

Barbie, you have won the $50 Gift Certificate to The Vintage Pearl

Mel, you have won a wonderful $50 Gift Certificate to AriseShine Jewelry!

Please email me to claim your prize and receive further information!

Ladies, let's keep praising the Lord, in this moment, even as our journey of doing this intentionally together comes to a close. As our final praise challenge, take a moment to share with us below how this praising the Lord journey has blessed you!

Praising Him with You,

Praise the Lord: A perfect 30!

2010-09-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

I nearly fell off my uncomfortable desk chair (by the way, could you possibly recommend a really good ero-savvy, affordable and elegant looking chair for my kitchen desk to roll into my homeschooling dining room?), when I learned that Erin, the brilliantly creative designer of The Vintage Pearl had agreed to sponsor a giveaway prize for our month of praise.

In case you haven't noticed, The Vintage Pearl jewelry is absolutely lovely and completely personalized with inscriptions made to order. I beamed from ear to ear when I counted out each letter...

p-r-a-i-s-e--t-h-e--l-o-r-d--i-n--t-h-i-s--m-o-m-e-n-t = 30!

...which fits just perfectly on a pendent Erin designed especially for me, which looks like this one, but only one layer, and I get to share especially with you...

In case you haven't noticed, The Vintage Pearl is sponsoring one of our grand giveaway prizes, which will be drawn on my birthday, September 19th (party time!). The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate, which my friends, would be exactly enough get a Praise the Lord in This Moment pendent like mine. So cool! Of course, you could pick out something of your choosing!

So, head over to The Vintage Pearl and browse around. Visit Erin's blog and be sure to let her know I sent you over there! She is a gem! For extra giveaway opportunities, leave a comment about your favorite piece and let me know if you tweet it.

Praising Him with You,

Praise the Lord: In this Moment

2010-09-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Praising the Lord, in this moment. Isn't that the difference. In this moment. Isn't that what it is all about. In this moment.

See, we can all praise the Lord when things are really great, right? And some of us have become quite seasoned at praising the Lord in the trials, too. It is almost a red-flag sort of response; when a trial happens we fall down on the knees in prayer, praising God for who He is and what He can do!

But what about in this moment?

How are we doing when life is mundane, ordinary, necessary? How about when the umpteenth call comes from the potty for an extra-tender mommy care moment? What about when hubby is home late from work, again? Do I need to mention when the mail arrives, only with more bills than lovely notes of encouragement? (By the way, does anyone ever get lovely notes anymore?) These things are hard to call blessings, but they aren't trials. Regardless, these daily moments add to the wearisome of our days. But God has a fix for our wallowing moods. Praise. Praising Him. Praising now. Praise the Lord, in this moment.

So, let's do it.

Take on this Praise Challenge!
Share your praise to the Lord, not for yesterday, not for the big things, not in the trial, but for this moment, this day, this hour, this second. Maybe it is just one word. Maybe a whole post. But take a moment to praise the Lord, in this moment.

Lord, I praise you for the privilege of serving you by spreading the Good News of your love, forgiveness and extravagant grace, whether it be in the times of speaking and writing, or the simple moments of loving on my children and husband. Thank you for the opportunities you provide.

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

It is not too late to get in on more of the giveaways
and the simple act of praising the Lord!

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

Featured Sponsor

The Vintage Pearl

24 Verses: Psalm 133:1 (September 15, 2010)

2010-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

This month, I am focusing on a particular verse from Psalms as I prepare to speak on the topic of unity at an upcoming woman's fall tea. Unity isn't something I've spend much time considering, especially in terms of teaching about it, so I've been knee deep in the Scripture and prayer. Needless to say, I have much to learn! I do covet your prayers as I get into the Word and surrender to the Lord's lesson!

Would you like to help me out, as I continue to prepare this message, by answering these questions:

What do you think of or picture when you hear "unity"?
What do you think is the number one reason for disunity in the body of Christ?
If you learn one new thing about how to experience unity in your life, in what area would you want to be able to apply it first: in your marriage, with children or siblings or parents, in ministry, at work, in a leadership role?

Thanks so much for your input!

And while you are at it, please do share a verse the Lord is impressing on your heart!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Becoming Titus 2: What does it mean to be busy at home?

2010-09-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

Welcome to another Becoming Titus 2 discussion! If you have been following along, you already know full well that we are spending an entire year discussing three short verses from Titus 2. Each month, our discussion revolves around one small portion of this passage, seeking Biblical understanding with practical application! If you have been along for the ride, I'm sure it has marked your life!

What have you learned so far?

How has studying Titus 2 changed your perspective about what it means to be a Godly woman?

Do you see yourself becoming the woman God intended?

I do.

It is a miracle. A true work of God, in spite of my faults, weaknesses, and sin!

What I am learning is indeed impacting others. As God is changing my heart on the inside, my actions are beginning to reveal a new me. My daughter even sees it! A main portion of her homeschool curriculum is an in--depth study and application of Titus 2. She will be creating a Titus 2 Handbook, filled with all the lessons we cover in areas of discipleship, cooking, cleaning, finances, hospitality, organization, becoming a wife, staying pure, raising children. As I explained the components of the handbook to her, I pointed out that much of it is inspired by the Titus 2 woman. Since she wasn't familiar with the passage, we read it together. A smile spread across on her face as she exuberantly proclaimed, "Mom, that's totally you!"

Humbled! Totally humbled!

Shocked.

Could it be that God has been so dramatically working through me, using this passage to cast off the old self and birth a completely new one--a woman the reflects the character of a Titus 2 woman! Praise the Lord!

Yet there is still much work to be done in my lifetime and yours (Philippians 1:6), so let's be disciplined in studying Scripture and applying it -- all of it -- for the sake of the next generation!

This month, we are asking the question, "What does it mean to be busy at home?" I bet at least half of you rolled your eyes. Most of us don't want to be busy at home! We'd rather be busy don't something else...something we've worked hard to obtain a skill in...something with better recognition...something with a paycheck as a reward each week...something that makes our college debt make sense...something that pampers our body...something that rejuvenates our soul. Something.

Our something has likely been either a source of comfort, security, or a God-given passion. To be honest, our somethings aren't necessarily bad things. A paycheck is helpful. Using our education is valuable. Practicing a skill is rewarding. But, if you are like me, your somethings get in the way of fulfilling one of the main things God has called each of us to -- caring of our home, including those abiding inside of it!

"To be busy at home" literally means to be, "a keeper at home, one who looks after domestic affairs with prudence and care" (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible). Notice, it doesn't say we must do so with Martha Stewart flair or the Fly Lady's passion. Rather, our keeping of the home is all about the prudence and care we put into it. Moreover, in the context of this passage, it is a call for us to take the responsibility of the home, and affairs within, seriously. This is not only an act of service, but an example to our children and our friends.

Are we willing to sacrifice our time, and sometimes our pleasures, to become a joyful Keeper of the Home? Will we make the decision to get the house in order, to manage the chores of laundry, cleaning, cooking, and finances, to make time for a the brokenhearted child, to prepare a good meal for our husband, to demonstrate our love and priorities by having a welcoming space for the home-dwellers God has put in our lives? And to do it with a good attitude that reflects a submission unto the Lord?

Our role as keeper of the home is a privilege, with a full variety of responsibilities. Keeping the home doesn't have to be a daunting task, or a dreaded title. We have the right to be a make the most of being Keeper of the Home, doing so with creativity and purpose! Instead of seeing our responsibilities as burdensome, we ought to think of them in terms of the fulfilling the call as a disciple of Christ, whereby we make a definite act of obeying the word by choosing to keep our homes for His glory alone!

Let's cast off the burden of this call today! Let's get creative and excited about keeping our homes! Share with us in a comment below on or more tips about things you enjoy about being a Keeper of Your Home! There are a variety of ways we can go about cooking, cleaning, budgeting our spending, investing into our children, making a haven for guests, and setting the tone for our family. It is our domain, for which we can bring our own flair, passions, and purposes! Tell us yours!

Here's one of mine: I've taken ownership of my home being the place where I can set the tone for our family, especially when my childrens' friends visit. Upon their arrival, I try to make a point of greeting them with a big welcome and smile. Then I explain two or three rules, like not jumping on furniture, keeping your hands to yourself, etc., followed by a quick pray for us to glorify God in our behavior together and to bless one another with kindness. For me, keeping of the home is as much about the hearts that dwell inside of it, guests and family alike, as it is about the chores!

What about you?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Be sure to join in previous discussions and mark your calendar for our upcoming topics. Feel free to join in anytime!

Jan ~ Beliefs about Titus 2 in Today's Culture
Feb ~ What does it mean to be reverent?
Mar ~ What does it mean to be slanderers and addicted (to too much wine)?
Apr ~ How do we teach what is good?
May ~ How do we train the younger women? Who are the younger women?
Jun ~ How do we train the younger women to love their husbands?
Jul ~ How do we train the younger women to love their children?
Aug ~ How do we learn to be self-controlled and pure?
Sep ~ What does it mean to be busy at home?
Oct ~ What does it mean to be kind?
Nov ~ What does it mean to be subject to our husband?
Dec ~ How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

Prayer Day: Do It Today!

2010-09-11T04:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our prayer day! Did you pray?

I had a sweet prayer time with a few sisters in Christ. No chit chat. No coffee and sweets. Just 30 minutes of prayer. It was a God-filling, God-moving time together! Find some friends, in real life, and steal away for a time of prayer. It is Biblical. It is powerful. It is necessary for the intentional life!

If you didn't pray yesterday, spend time today praying for the families affected by 9/11. Pray for peace to permeate our people and for God's will to be accomplished in all things!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Praise the Lord: Moving into the Short & Sweet

2010-09-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord, I'm now a homeschooling mom! Two days down and a whole year to go in this adventure with my first-born daughter. It looks promising based on her enthusiasm, even after seeing all that I have in store and expect of her.

What can you praise the Lord about today, as you consider the weeks and months ahead?

Of course, I am as overwhelmed as anyone would be only 36-hours into the whole homeschooling gig. It is a huge change in my life to go from managing a home, preschoolers, after school hours, and ministry things, to adding on a full-time teaching work-load. I'm wondering how all that I used to do will ever get done!

Needless to say, our time of praise is going to be short & sweet over the next few weeks. That doesn't mean there isn't good stuff in store as we lead up to our giveaway on the 19th!!! Even in my bleary-eyed state, I'll have another Becoming Titus 2 discussion ready for next Tuesday, and between now and than there will be a prayer day and a praise challenge in the mix! So stop often to see what we're all praising about at Extravagant Grace!

Psalm 66:8

Praise our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard!

Don't forget to congratulate Jenna for winning the AtoZ CD from Abe and Liza Phillip! Jenna, be sure to contact me at extragrace at gmail dot com with your snail mail information to forward to the Phillips!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Just stopping by for the first time?

It is not too late to get in on more of the giveaways
and the simple act of praising the Lord!

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

Praise the Lord: Knowing His Word

2010-09-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped to consider where we would be if without the Word of God? Pause for a moment to think about your life.

Some of you are like me and remember a time before we knew the Lord. My heart simply sinks as I recall how desperate I was for answers to life's greatest questions. Now I have those answers in Scripture. I have found my purpose, boundaries that keep me safe, instructions that explain problems, and ultimately, I have met a Sovereign God who I can trust has the answers I still can't find. Praise the Lord for knowing His Word!

Over the past decade and a half of learning Scripture, I have gained an understanding of who God is and how His way works, providing hope in difficult times and blessings in knowing Him. It isn't like I learned it all at once, but rather little bit built on another little bit. That is why I am a huge proponent of Scripture memory, not only for adults, but for our littlest ones. Let's get the Word into their heart, so that when life presents those big questions, they already have a storehouse full of answers.

Abe and Liza Phillip have made it so easy for us to share the Word and memorize it with our children. With simple verses set to song, God's Word AtoZ CD is easy to on the ears and fun to dance around with while cleaning up the house and doing simple chores. My kids love this CD! The Phillips have graciously provided one copy of their AtoZ CD in celebration of our praise month! Would you like to win this CD? Share a verse that you have memorized in a comment below. For another entry, visit their site and come back here and leave a second comment about which CD you'd like to own! One winner will be selected at random!

Just stopping by for the first time?

It is not too late to get in on more of the giveaways
and the simple act of praising the Lord!

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

Featured Sponsor

Praise the Lord: For His Blessings

2010-09-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

Have you had the time to visit our community of praisin' sisters? Be sure congratulate our recent weekly winners! It is not too late to get in on the giveaways happening through September 19th. Simply link up here to a post at your blog and comment on praise posts through the next two weeks!

Today, I want to offer a fun Praise Challenge.

Instead of focusing on needing to praise God in the tough times, I want us to reflect on the tremendous blessings the Lord has bestowed on us.

Let's express our thankfulness through praising the Lord for the things he HAS done for us! Feel free to share your praise in a comment below or link up to a post at your blog. I really want us to take the time to share in these blessings with each other, so there won't be another praise post until Monday. Instead, take the time to visit each other and praise the Lord together. Hey, we're becoming praisin' sisters. Let's enjoy that fellowship!

"I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done... according to his compassion and many kindnesses." Isaiah 63:7

I give you all honor and praise, Lord, for you have done great things...

saving me from myself
redeeming me from the pit
setting my life on a new course and providing purpose to my everyday
for my husband, a man who is like Christ with skin on
for my precious children, who have shown me forgiveness and all abounding love
for Megan, who has shown me what it means to press on
for my family of origin and my inlaws, who love us dearly
for my community of like-minded, passion-filled believers
for my friends who love me enough to accept me as I am and challenge me to become who you want me to be
for every house I've ever lived in and every material blessing I've ever had
for the pleasure of serving you by spreading the Good News here at Extravagant Grace and when I have the opportunity to speak. Really, Lord. Me?
for the shear joy of mentoring teenage girls, through whom You, Lord, have shown me firsthand how you take ashes and transform them into outrageous beauty
for the victory over sin, oh thank you God!
for this song, that reminds me again and again about who you are and the blessing that is ours because you have risen from the grave

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Just stopping by for the first time?

It is not too late to get in on more of the giveaways
and the simple act of praising the Lord!

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

Featured Sponsor

What blessings are you praising God for?

Praise the Lord: Time to Bless with Giveaways

2010-09-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Ladies, we've been praising the Lord in this moment for the past 10 days! Yippee yahoo! We are a third of our way to developing a habit! Let's press on!

I want to spur you on to praise the Lord more and more, regardless of our circumstances and regardless of the blessing, because I want your motivation to be out of obedience to the Word and a response to the love of your Heavenly Father.

But just like Abba gives us what we don't deserve and blesses us when we least expect it, I want to bless you in His name. So, today we get to giveaway some special prizes to some unsuspecting gals!

As I mentioned in this post, you become eligible for giveaway prizes throughout this month by linking up to your praise posts, signing the linky here, and leaving comments on praise posts throughout 31 days of praise. Well, look at this list of women who have been praising the Lord with us (I hope I didn't miss a comment or link from you...let me know if I did)! So, from this list, I've randomly selected three winners to receive the three special prizes below!

Debbie http://www.heartchoices.com/
Sharon Kirby http://sharonsharinggod.blogspot.com/
Melanie http://melscoffeebreak.blogspot.com/
Jamie Balmet http://jamibalmet.blogspot.com
Julie Jabbers http://juliehjabbers.blogspot.com/
Thoughts for the Day
Peggy http://mazmagi.blogspot.com/
Lisa Writes http://www.lisaspence.com/
Shelly http://mylifeadventurebyme.blogspot.com/
Barbie http://myfreshlybrewedlife.blogspot.com/
Brook http://snipssnailsandpuppydogstails.blogspot.com/
Mary http://barrettscountryliving.blogspot.com/
Stacy
Anna
Jennifer http://jennifer-ashesforbeauty.blogspot.com/
Jamie http://jamibalmet.blogspot.com
Nana’s Nuggets http://kaymiers.blogspot.com/
Stacy http://homeschooladventureland.blogspot.com/
Jennifer http://jennifer-unmeritedfavor.blogspot.com/
Shawnee
D&A http://missionalmamassoul.blogspot.com/
Traci http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/
MaNut to NoNut
Amy http://blessedtobeme.blogspot.com
Laurie http://montananana-nanashouse.blogspot.com/
Shelly http://mylifeadventurebyme.blogspot.com/
Deb http://hegavemeadream.blogspot.com/
Barbie http://myfreshlybrewedlife.blogspot.com/
Woman of God http://lafemmededieu.blogspot.com
Wendy http://www.wendygunn.net/

...Congratulations Weekly Winners...

Laurie http://montananana-nanashouse.blogspot.com/

Praise the Lord Scripture Art from eSpecially Inspired

Jamie http://jamibalmet.blogspot.com

$30 Gifts Certificate to Gussy

(all baby blankets are exempt from giveaway credit and you must visit her shop and leave at least one comment with your favorite item)

Debbie http://www.heartchoices.com/

Praise and Give Thanks to the Lord vinyl cling from ten23designs

Winners, contact me at extragrace at gmail dot com
to find out how to claim your prize!

Ladies, let's continue praising the Lord together. We're forming quite the community and embarking on a fantastic movement! Take the time today to thank Him for the blessings in your life. And if you have a moment, visit the links above and share a word of encouragement with a praisin' sis!

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

It is not too late to get in on more of the giveaways
and the simple act of praising the Lord!

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

eSpecially Fun, eSpecially Inspired

2010-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm on a brand new crafty endeavor, inspired by my sweet friend Esther, and propelled by the enthusiasm of my older daughters and their precious pack of friends. Look at what we made in less than two hours...

...with nothing less than a glue gun, some wire, old silk flowers and a few new ones (taken apart), a bag of gems, and lots of joyous giggles. We attached hair barrettes, hair bands, and pins. Now they are all over our community as the newest accessory...

Doesn't that dress up brandless bag?

Simply adorable in my daughter's hair!

This one is a perfect late summer, early fall accent on any bag, blouse, or barrette! And it will be added to the giveaways for this month of praise!

What do you think of these creations?

If they were available at eSpecially Inspired, would you purchase one (or more)? Would you like to request your colors?

How much do you think would be a reasonable price?

Thanks for sharing in this adventure! I look forward to your comments!

24 Verses: Psalm 7:17 (September 1, 2010) & WFW

2010-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

It would fitting for this month of praise that my Scripture memory verse be one about praising the Lord. It is also special that it falls on Wordfilled Wednesday, a meme that is still close to my heart from the days I began it, before I passed it on to Amy who has been such a great steward of this weekly discipline of meditating on God's word! I am reminded again by the Lord to not grow weary of taking the time to write about His Word, design it as a way to have those Scripture truths all around me and my loved ones, and to have it in my heart so that I can pray it up!

What I love about this verse from Psalm 7 is that the praise comes from knowing who God is and reflecting on His character -- righteousness. No matter what my circumstances appear to be, His righteousness as Sovereign God never changes. Praise the Lord! This is a truth I need to meditate on often, which is why I made it for us to enjoy here and also to hang in my home! You can get one here, too.

What verse do you feel the Lord drawing you to meditate on for this month of praise? Share it with us in a comment below! Leave a link to your post, too!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about our month of praising the Lord here!

Be sure to visit one of our wonderful sponsors!

Praise the Lord: In the Mess

2010-08-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

My passion to praise the Lord was temporarily locked up by the burdens I've been hiding within my heart. Living with a "Savior Complex," mounting in size and intensity over the past week, I've spent every waking hour trying to spare those around me from the stress and burdens of their lives.

Last night, I ran out of steam and let the burden that was not mine to carry slide off my shoulders in a slobbery tear-fest with my husband. No matter how hard I try, how passionate I am, how focused I live, I can not change other people or their circumstances, nor can I remove the painful situations that spatter my life.

Praise the Lord! He is the Savior of the world. Not me!

No matter how much I attempt to make my little world perfect, there will still be the ugly moments and messy corners to contend with. It is like my house. I have no idea how it happened, but it looks like I lived here my whole life even though we moved in only two months ago, in the midst of construction no less. To a visitor, the house looks unpacked, decorated, and well-lived in. But wait until you see our garage! What a pit! Filled with things that need to be moved out and taken to the trash, projects that need to be finished, and general chaos crying out for organization. It is a mess, my friends. A HUGE mess. It is too big to tackle by myself, but I have to wait for my husband to have the time to do it with me.

See this mess in my garage and the process of waiting for it to be cleaned up is like my life. As long as I don't look at it, I think I'm doing fine. But the minute I have to walk through it, my heart is all stirred up and irritation sets in. Likewise, I can be a happy and praised-filled woman until I spend four hours with my lost extended family. Walking into their lives, witnessing their pain, experiencing their foul language, and tasting their bitterness, leaves me burdened and heavy-hearted.

A resounding Praise the Lord won't fix this mess, but it will fix my heart.

Praising God takes my focus off of the circumstances and puts it on the Lord. It moves me from the position of failing-never-to-succeed-savior to the place of servant worshiping a God who can, in His timing, accomplish all things for His glory and our benefit. This shift from sorrow to praise takes determination. It begins with acknowledging the burden in the first place (the tear-fest), which leads to 'fessing up my desire to fix things in my own power and strength. It often requires time -- and in this case in the form of a good night of sleep, which birthed a fresh perspective in the morning. Finally, through the discipline of quiet time with the Lord, I was fed by the Word, refueled by the truth, and freed up to share my heart with the Lord, leading to a time of praise, simple because God is sovereign and able!

Praising the Lord in the mess came about because of humility partnered with the daily disciplines of the Christian walk, not a change of circumstances.

How are your daily disciplines of prayer, reading the Word, and listening to the Lord speak in your time with Him, going these days...especially in your mess?

Do you feel led to get back to the basics in order to Praise the Lord in this moment?

Psalm 52:9

I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Check out this wonderful sponsor ~ Wall Worthy!

Praise the Lord: Today

2010-08-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Let's keep today's day of intentionally giving thanks and praise the Lord, in THIS moment, super simple but incredibly powerful. Take today's Praise Challenge by doing this...

Search PRAISE on Biblegateway.com, and share the one that strikes you first or encourages your heart in this moment.

Here's mine:

Psalm 56:10
I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God.

oh yes I am, yes I am!!!
Share a link to a favorite praise song!

Here's mine:

Link up in a post at your blog and/or leave a comment below!

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Praise the Lord: First Winner is...

2010-08-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Our first of winner from the Weekly Giveaways is...

Congratulations!

Our first winner gets to pick her prize from this great selection in the weekly giveaway list!

More giveaways coming soon!

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Praise the Lord: Scripture into Praise Prayers

2010-08-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever used Scripture to pray? I can't think of a more powerful way to use the Word and to praise the Lord in this moment!

Meditate on these few Scriptures, selected from that chapter on praise in "Praying God's Will for My Daughter." There's a son's version, too!

Psalm 104:33

I pray that my daughter/son will sing praises to You as long as she/he lives.

Psalm 51:15

O Lord, I pray that my daughter/son will open her/his lips,
and her/his mouth will declare your praise.

2 Samuel 22:47

I pray that my daughter/son will proclaim, "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

Psalm 34:1

I pray that my daughter/son will bless you LORD, at all times and that Your praise shall continually be in her/his mouth.

Do you use Scripture to pray for yourself and your loved ones? Is this a method you feel you should incorporate into your prayer and praise life?

Praising Him with You,

Just stopping by for the first time?

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Praise the Lord: During and After the Trial

2010-08-27T00:01:00.001-07:00

When I began this movement to Praise the Lord, God led me straight to 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.

I'm not the least bit surprised, and I am sure you will see why. While this verse stands alone and can be a life-verse -- recalling the ways God has been our strength, how he has written the words that fill the song in our heart, the point in which He became what saved us -- for many of us, it stops there. The reference to "my father's God" doesn't always fit. It doesn't fit for me. Does it fit for you?

But Scripture is meant for more than word-for-word application. It is a story, an entire masterpiece designed to communicate a message greater than one verse. The Word is a gift from the Lord, created for our benefit to provide understanding about who God is and the way He works. "My father's God" is irrelevant to me, and maybe you, but in context, it drive us deeper into the word to uncover, "Whose father?"

This song is proclaimed by the Israelites and Moses following one of God's greatest acts of strength and saving power. In chapter 14, the Israelites were being led by Moses out of Egypt, chased down by a heart-hardened pharaoh and His army, and they were terrified.

Exodus 14

¹⁰ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. ¹¹ They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

When were you last terrified? Have you felt alone, abandoned by God in the recent days? Listen to the words of Moses,

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Through reading this entire chapter, we glean so much about praising the Lord! The Israelites didn't praise God in the midst of their journey. As a matter of fact, they struggled, doubted, feared, and complained. Yet, God was nevertheless faithful. He brought them through the fear and delivered them to safe ground, even providing instructions during the trial: Do not be afraid. Stand firm. See. Be still.

Does this apply to our current circumstances? Quite possibly! Seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you what He would have you do. Cry out to Him. Listen to Him.

We know this for sure: The character of God does not change. Yes, there was only one parting of the Red Sea throughout all of Scripture. But God is just as powerful and faithful, and still just as hungry for us to put our trust in Him!

31And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Will you turn to the Lord in this moment, even if you are in a trial, and praise God that His faithfulness, strength, and power is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow?

Psalm 42:5 The Message

Fix my eyes on God—
      soon I'll be praising again.
   He puts a smile on my face.
      He's my God.

If it is after your trial and journey through the wilderness, will you praise Him today?

He is my God, and I will praise him...

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Don't forget about the giveaways!
I'll be drawing a weekly random winner at the end of today from the linky list on this post! Your link must be to a post about joining the movement to Praise God in This Moment!

Praise the Lord: Fantastic Giveaway Prizes!

2010-08-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Isn't this intentional living to Give Thanks and Praise the Lord, IN THIS MOMENT, incredibly helpful! I find the daily focus, even if it is only when I am writing theses posts and looking up Scripture verses to be tremendously beneficial to my soul. It is the process of eating the Word and finding nourishment from the Bread of Life, Jesus Himself.

I hope and pray that the time you spend at Extravagant Grace to be equally as filling. Even more, I pray you devote at least another five to ten minutes toward speaking with the Lord, listening to Him, and meditating on the Word. God is the filler of your soul. He is the one who deserves your praise and devotion. May this place of grace-filled extravagance simply be the encouragement to get with Him!

Praise the Lord for who He is!

And praise the Lord for the way He chooses to blessed His girls. Let me tell you, these generosity sponsors are giving as unto the Lord. Praise God for that! Be sure to visit each of their sites to show your support!

How can you enter the giveaways?
Every time you leave a comment on a praise post or link up to a praise challenge, you will be entered in Praise the Lord in This Moment giveaways, happening throughout the month. A few winners will be drawn a random each week, with the grand prize winners announced on September 19th!

Random Weekly Prizes Drawn from These Sponsors

Laurie is the winner of this Praise the Lord Scripture Art from eSpecially Inspired

Congrats to Brook for winning a $25 Gift Certificate to WallWorthy

Jamie has won a $30 Gifts Certificate to Gussy (all baby blankets are exempt from giveaway credit and you must visit her shop and leave at least one comment with your favorite item)

Salvation Bracelet from Shop of Laura

Congrats to Debbie for winning the
"Praise and Give Thanks to the Lord" vinyl cling from ten23designs

God's Word AthruZ CD from Abe & Liza Philip

Daily Light from Crossway Publishers

The Bible's Promises for Life from Crossway Publishers

Grand Prizes Drawn September 19th

$50 Gift Certificate to The Vintage Pearl

$50 Gift Certificate to AriseShine Jewelry!

Isn't this fantastic! Don't forget to visit the sponsors and come back to this post to share your favorite items! If you'd like to sponsor a gift, either to your own store, or toward another, be sure to contact me at extragrace at gmail dot com.

Let's Praise the Lord together, in this moment!

Introducing eSpecially Inspired

2010-08-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am so excited!

Can you see me jumping up and down giddy and smiling?

It is all about a brand new Etsy store created with my daughters! What started with an idea transformed into eSpecially Inspired ~ Capturing Beauty in Photographs and God's Word in Art! What a blessing to have this venue for those special bursts of inspiration captured in photography and Scripture art.

Come on by and pick out a favorite. One might just become a prize in this month of praise giveaways. Leave a comment to tell me which one you like the best! By the way that sponsor list is really growing. Wait until you see what I have in store. Hint. Hint. Hint.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Praise the Lord: In Practice

2010-08-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Before we get too far into this praising the Lord movement, we need to face reality. Praising God when things are not good (by our earthly definition) is a challenge. It can also be downright hurtful, if we launch into a praise while our sister or brother in Christ is in the middle of a trial. What is intended to glorify God may, instead, come across as insensitive.

As believers, we ought to agree that Romans 8:28 is indeed truth, but during the darkest of days, we may not have the ability to comprehend such a perspective. God, in His mercy and timing, will reveal His purposes to us. It is not the call of a believer to convince a grieving widow, an ill spouse, or a disappointed friend that this bad in their life is actually good. While it may be true, our purpose in that moment is to show the love of Christ simply by getting in the trenches alongside them, often silent but tender acts of service.

Why do I share this? Because I don't want us to be so compelled to praise God publicly that we become insensitive gongs. Yet, I want our hearts purposed in praise to be the one thing that keeps our minds in check.

Let me explain how I hope this will translate in my life. One of my dearests friends and her husband are in the midst of a battle with cancer. It is an ugly truth from the get-go. None of us want to face this reality -- not her, nor her husband, or their children or our community or his parents. We all wish it would just go away, and having been praying for a miracle, along with God's complete and total will to be accomplished in light of our petitions.

While we wait on God, we need to walk through each day, facing its normal routines while guarding our thoughts to keep from going to the ugly places. The act of praising the Lord is one way I am keeping my mind and heart focused on God instead of the circumstances. I'm opening my ears to hear His voice, eyes to see Him at work, and heart to respond according in every situation -- whether it be this ugly cancer or any ordinary moment in my day. Does this mean when I see my friend I am going to run up to her shouting "Praise the Lord!"? Likely not. But when I see an answer to our prayers for my friend and her husband, will I declared praise for His provision and faithfulness, His mercy and grace? Absolutely!

Praising the Lord is an act worship God and way of living in this moment. It requires discipline and sensitivity. Without love and humility, our praise will be like a clanging symbol. Within God's love, it will be an act of worship and testimony.

Will you praise the Lord today?

Do share a verse that describes your heart of praise.

Praising Him,

Just stopping by for the first time?

Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Praise the Lord: The Facts

2010-08-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped to think about what it means to Praise the Lord? If this is what we plan on doing for the next month, we need to have at least some sort of concept of how to commence this praise movement! So here are some facts...

Praising is a Biblical Action
In the NIV there are over 350 entries using the word "praise," with 151 of those declaring "Praise the Lord." In Scripture, you will find people praising the Lord for both who He is and also what He has accomplished. Verses delcare the Lord's praise for His...

strength and salvation (Exodus 15:2)
greatness (Deuteronomy 32:3)
counsel (Psalm 16:7)
mercy (Psalm 28:6)
holy name (Psalm 30:4)
word (Psalm 56:4)
love (Psalm 106:1)
faithfulness (Psalm 117:2)
worthiness (Psalm 145:3)
compassion & comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3)
spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)
grace (Ephesians 1:6)
righteousness through Jesus (Philippians 1:11)
new life through Jesus (1 Peter 1:3)
accomplished for us (1 Peter 2:9)
in all things (1 Peter 4:11)

Praising by Definition
According to dictionary.com, praise is both a noun and a verb. It is

the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation
the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship
the state of being approved or admired

This means we can praise the Lord in song and in word. We can declare the Lord's praises publicly and privately. We can share praise of the Lord and also respond to others testimonies by praising the Lord. It is the act of saying, "Praise the Lord" as well as responding with Scripture truths -- such as "God is good! Faithful! Worthy of our Praise!"

Praising the Lord is Not

We can live praise-filled lives just as much as we can live praiseless lives. In other words, our mission to the praise the Lord is not about being

a praiser without purpose -- this is about praising God alone!
being the one who outpraises everyone else
seeking self-praise
conjuring up a praise when there is none apparent
insensitively praising when another is truly hurting -- timing is everything!

nor is it about

condemning oneself in order to elevate God
depreciating anyone or any circumstances in order to offer a praise of the Lord
coming up with a praise to fulfill a man-made requirement or earn some holy status

Taking the Praise Challenge
One of the ways we are going to walk through our 31-days of praise is through Praise Challenges. This will be a little activity the will get our ears in tune, eyes open, and heart mailable to what the Lord would like to teach us about praise.

Praise Challenge 1: Take a Praise Inventory

For the next 24 hours, make a mental (or written note) of how many times you either declare "praise the Lord" or respond to someone else with "praise the Lord." In contrast, note how many times you grumble or complain AND how many times you "checked-out" when someone else was speaking. Post about it at your blog (or leave a comment below if you don't have a blog), then link back up to this post. Completing this Praise Challenge will count as an entry into the giveaways!

Praise the Lord, for He is Good,

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Learn more about Praising the Lord here!

Praise the Lord: A Movement and Giveaways!!!

2010-08-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

It is time to launch a movement of praising the Lord in this moment! As I wrote about here, I am convicted that we are too busy, tired, and overwhelmed to hear the voice of God, see His hand at work, and respond from our heart. The Lord tells us that He has made our ears to hear and eyes to see (Proverbs 20:12). It is time to be intentional (you know how I feel about that!) and live with open ears, alert eyes, and soft hearts.

Will you make a 31-day commitment to intentionally give thanks and PRAISE the LORD in this moment?

Over the next month, Extravagant Grace is going to be the place where we launch a movement to "give thanks and praise the Lord in this moment!" It is said it takes 31-days to form a habit, so let's get going. We're going to discover anew what the Lord says about praising Him and giving thanks. We're going to open our ears to hear his voice, and open our eyes to see His work. We going to let Him soften our hearts to respond to His love and grace and mercy, and pass that on to others. And we're going to testify to God's power and sovereign hand in every situation.

Join in this movement to Praise the Lord in this moment!

Make a commitment to live in this moment Praising the Lord, then sign the McLinky below and include a link to a post about this movement at your blog.
Visit Extravagant Grace daily and leave a comment each time you visit, sharing your words of praise.
Participate in the Praise Challenges by posting them at your blog and linking up here.
Spread the word by posting and including this button at your blog...

Don't Miss the Giveaways!

Every time you leave a comment on a praise post or link up to a praise challenge -- including the linky below -- you will be entered in the Praise the Lord giveaways happening throughout the month. Winners will be drawn on my birthday, September 19th! There is no better gift you could give me than joining in this month of praise!

If you would like to sponsor a giveaway or share a testimony to be featured this month, do contact me by email at extragrace at gmail dot com!

I'm looking forward to this time of praising the Lord together! Make a commitment...

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

A Movement to Praise the Lord in this Moment

2010-08-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

When was the last time you heard an honest-to-goodness testimony of a life changed by God?

Have you recently heard a story about God's miraculous power that caused goosebumps to rise upon your arm racing to the back of your neck?

How about witnessing a work of the Lord that forces you to break-down the box you last nailed God into, in a wasted attempt to seal shut your own disappointment with your Heavenly Father?

What about a simple testimony, simply revealing a change of heart in someone else, when the Word became real, trumping circumstances and deceptions from the Enemy?

Literally. Take a moment to think about it. Can you recall at least one testimony describing God's power at work, in the little things, especially?

My hunch is that most of us average, Jesus-loving gals can't think of one.

Why?

Because.

Because our spiritual ears are all plugged up with the noise of this life!

Because our spiritual eyes are too weary to notice the hand of God working unless it has big screen charisma!

Because our hearts have been hardened by the wounds of life and sin wrongly stored up, preventing us from responding to the work of God all around us!

The problem of not seeing, hearing, and responding is not new! Throughout Scripture, there is record of God's people having this problem. The Israelites refused to listen to Isaiah, and the Jewish people refused Paul. God then sent is disciple to the Gentiles, using Paul to spread the Gospel. It wasn't an easy job, but Paul was about God's business, for over two years!

Acts 28
²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
²⁶" 'Go to this people and say,
   "You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
      you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
²⁷For this people's heart has become calloused;
      they hardly hear with their ears,
      and they have closed their eyes.
   Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
      hear with their ears,
      understand with their hearts
   and turn, and I would heal them.'

²⁸"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"
³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is still longing for His people to respond.

My friends, I think we are like the people who don't hear, see, or respond, because we miss God working in the little moments. Our big-screen culture and fast-paced lives has numbed us out and desensitized us. What do you think?

Do we hear the Lord?
Do we see His work?
Does our heart respond to the Truth and understand?

How many times have we listened to a friend share a personal God-working-in-me story at Bible study group or over a cup of coffee, and walked away completely unaffected? Worse yet, did our mind wandering down our "to do" list while disguising our distraction with a head-tilted, glazed over look, nodding "uh-huh...uh-huh...hmm..."?

Guilty.

We are all guilty of not hearing nor seeing God work through and in the mundane albeit miraculous moments of our lives. We are too tired, too busy, and too distracted to see the small, still, gentle, quiet, and personal touches of the Lord, uniquely designed by Him to show His powerful love, grace, mercy, and strength. It is affected our faith and weakening our resolve to live godly lives. Divinely appointed moments, meant to encourage and build our faith, vanish into thin air and history of time.

Friends, it is time we stop looking for the big-scale performances of God, and pause instead to witness the daily mighty power of His hand at work...in this moment!

It is time to listen to respond to the Lord's work, in us and others, with hearts filled thankfulness and lips that give Him praise!

Psalm 86:12

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

As we develop the habit by giving thanks and praising to the Lord, God will open our ears, eyes, and hearts to His presence and power. The "guilty" response will be replaced with words of compassion and encouragement. The temptation to doubt God's sovereignty will be trumped by remembering His faithfulness in the moment that has just passed.
I know this is a hard challenge for many, especially in the midst of trials and disappointments. It demands our focus, strength, and perseverance to seek the Lord in the uglies, believing He is truly at work. Trust me, I am knee deep in a half-dozen various trials, and I am continually tempted to despair with thoughts that cause me to doubt God's love and sovereignty. But this is why I am all the more fired up about Praising the Lord in This Moment! What better thing could we do in the midst of a trial than focus on who God is, searching Him out in the bleakest of moments and declaring His praise for all to hear!

Will you become a woman who
HEARS, SEES, and RESPONDS to the Lord?

Will you become a woman who gives thanks and praises the Lord in this moment?

I hope you say yes.

Pray about it. Think about it.

Come back this week!

I some special things in store...

hint

I have a prayer to our voices praise the Lord together...

a movement to give thanks and praise to the Lord, in this moment

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Giveaway Sponsors, don't miss this opportunity!!

2010-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Life's hard. But there is still reasons to give praise and thanks. Especially to the Lord.

Praise. A theme I'm thinking of much.

A theme that will kick-off this fall.

Praise. In the midst of the storm. Praising the Lord, for who He is.

Praise. With a movement to live in the moment.

And giveaways.

Inspired by some wonderful products I've already been blessed by.

If you would like to sponsor a giveaway for my upcoming month of praise, either in the form of a product or gift certificate, please be sure to contact me ASAP!

I would entertain sponsorships from:

Bloggers willing to sponsor a gift certificate to their favorite company or the gift of a product, including shipping costs. In return, your name and url will be listed with prize.
Companies and/or ministries willing to sponsor a product or gift certificate, including shipping costs. In return, I will include your url. If you'd like to offer the product for review, I will be happy to do that this month as well.

Of course, products and services need to be consistent with the mission and beliefs of Extravagant Grace, as well as be family friendly.

If you are interested, please email me directly at extragrace at gmail dot com.

Be sure to follow or subscribe to Extravagant Grace so you don't miss this month of celebration!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Should we really have house rules?

2010-08-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I stumbled upon a blog by Gregg Harris, dad of well known twins boys who began the Rebelution, and their author and pastor brother, Josh. I was impressed with Gregg's 21 Rules for this House, and tempted to implement it in my own home. This list seemed like the perfect antidote to my rambunctious, loud, and unintentionally inconsiderate family.

Then reality set in. A list of rules would never illicit the change I craved. Real change doesn't come from behavior modification. For a time, it might seem effective. But eventually, old habits reemerge. Rules don't change people. Rule might convict people, but in and of themselves, will not cause people to behavior any differently over the long term. People change when their heart is changed. And God is the changer of hearts. Not me. Not my lists. Not my pleading. Not my persuading. And not a list of house rules.

HOWEVER

God is a God of order. He provided rules from the beginning of time. He told Adam and Eve where they could go, and not go. He gave His people the 10 commandments. And He gave us His Word, offering every instruction for living and believing and thinking and being.

God is the founder of rules, plain and simple. As a mother, I am rightly and purposefully fit to communicate those rules -- those Biblical truths -- to my children. God as entrusted me to teach them the way of the Lord, enabling the opening of their spiritual eyes and practical application throughout their childhood. It is a tender combination of behavior modification partnered with heart changing conviction. My job is to set the standard and instruct in the right behavior. The Lord's responsibility is to bring about the conviction and change the heart.

THEREFORE

I shouldn't be surprised that the Lord provide an opportunity to equip me in my parenting while opening a fertile training ground for my children. In an impromptu moment during Sunday lunch, the Lord reminded me of the 21 House Rules. I casually mentioned the list to my family, quickly inserting that I had no intention of implementing these rules in our home, even if they were fab. The kids, and my hubby, were intrigued, insisting I share the Harris list. All the children (ages 5-11), were engaged as we considered the implication of each rule. The end result? As a family, not just the mother, we made our own 21 House Rules list, perfectly reflecting our family style and values. Here's what we came up with:

The best thing about this list is not that rules will change us, but that they instruct us and remind us to behave properly and lead us to repentance sooner rather than later. Hanging prominently in our kitchen, we are all encouraged to take inventory of our heart when our behavior is less than par. They are OUR house rules, agreed upon, supported by, and guiding young and old alike.

Do you have house rules? What are they? How have they benefited your family?

Feel free to borrow our house rules! We're happy to share!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

A Divinely Appointed Gift

2010-08-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while an unexpected, unimaginable gift comes our way. God, in His perfect plan, orchestrates a connection simply because He loves His children.

Without a doubt, I am certain that Rebecca and I truly believe that our connection could only have been established through the Lord for the sake of encouraging one another. In turn, we are thrilled to pass on that blessing to you in the coming month!

Rebecca initially contacted me about how to use the graphics available here at Extravagant Grace. Now that was...

All the graphics at Extravagant Grace are FREE for your personal use! A gift from the Lord to me to pass on to you!

As the emails continued with Rebecca, I learned that she has a beautiful line of Scripture jewelry at AriseShineJewelry.com I am a HUGE fan of jewelry with a purpose, using it to remind me of the truths of God. It not only encourages me throughout my day but also enables me to begin conversations with others, in which I can share the Word and hopefully the Gospel. It is an opportunity to testify to His extravagant grace, something I am always eager to encourage you to do. With that in mind, sweet Rebecca agreed to an exciting partnership. She provided me with a beautiful charm bracelet, filled with reminders of my personal testimony and it turn, I am thrilled to promote her wonderful business. Look at the way this beauty arrived, wrapped in a grosgrain bow and tissue paper...

I personally selected the beautiful and unique charms -- reminding me of God's faithfulness -- which are interspersed by colored beads illustrating the Salvation story.

Black bead: Sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23)
Red bead: Jesus shed his blood on the cross to pay for our sins. (Romans 5:8)
White bead: The blood of Christ washes us pure and white as snow when we accept Him as Lord. (1 John 1:7)
Blue bead: Water baptism is an outward sign of our faith (Romans 10:9-11)
Green bead: Our faith grows [like a plant from a seed] as we pray and read the Bible (2 Peter 3:18)
Gold bead: We will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord (Revelation 21:1-3)

This testimony bracelet could not have come at a better time, as our family faces the fire of another trial. Thank you, Jesus, for using Rebecca to send me your love and a reminder of the way you work -- perfect, all the time!

What charms would you pick for your charm bracelet? How about to give as a gift to your daughters or mother or sisters this coming Christmas? I already know which ones I'd like to add, like this one and this one!

Together, we are also going to have a fantastic giveaway, but you'll have to come back next week to find out all about it! But if you visit...

...and leave a comment sharing what piece you like the best, I'll give you a bonus entry if you participate in the upcoming giveaway!
By His Grace & Mighty Power,

A beREAL Woman Praising the Lord!

2010-08-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy this powerful and transparent testimony of my dear, dear friend, Andrea. She is lover of Jesus, devoted to the Word, and true example of beReal woman!

What a blessing to get the flu!

What could possibly be a blessing about getting the flu? You know - the dreaded flu? The one we rush our children and ourselves to the doctor every year for a shot so our chances of getting it are smaller? The one that aches your entire body with fever and pain that you can’t see straight? The one that wipes you out for almost an entire week that you don’t even remember what it was like to feel normal? Yes, yes, and yes. That’s the one.

Well, I’m sitting here out of “quarantine” now but not yet 100%. And, I’m praising the Lord. I won’t lie, though. I wasn’t quite praising Him in the beginning of this illness. All I kept saying was, “Who gets the flu in the middle of August?” “I have too much to do!” “The kids can’t stay home all day. They’ll go crazy and drive me crazy, too!” “Why? Why? Why?”

I need to back up a bit and tell you that we are a missionary family state side. I have been stressed over our finances lately – not sure how we will be paying our bills this month. My husband has been extremely busy ministering to people AND overseeing our new building project. He has not been able to take any time off this year except one day in April. He basically works 5-7 days a week, give or take a day. And now with the building project almost to completion, it’s busier than ever.

During the summer, I’ve been in bible study with eLisa and some other friends, reading Lysa Terkeurst’s, Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl. One of her points (oh, there were so many good ones) was to not ask God, "Why? but What? What do I do with all of this?" So, I decided to pray, which led to repentance. Then I asked the Lord what He wanted me to learn and how He wanted me to grow.

I am reminded of Psalm 103 verses 1 through 5 this week and you will clearly see God’s fulfillment of them.

Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things  so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

So, here are the blessings:

My husband took off three days this week and spent them doing everything I would have done. He cooked, cleaned, washed the kids, took care of the dog, emptied the dishwasher, took the kids out for adventures (hiking, biking, picnicking, playing, etc.), and took care of me. He had a great time and so did the kids.

My happy family was a blessing in itself, but I personally got some benefits. I have been whining that I haven’t had any peace and quiet. But the house was empty and quiet so I was able to rest. I have been complaining I have no time to read a book. Through all the medications, aches and pain, God gave me a clear mind to read not one, but two books! I have been able to pray for others, read my bible study homework, and do my daily bible readings.

Through all of this, God’s benefits exceeded what I would have even thought was possible. My conclusions are that my husband is the best husband and dad, and I don’t need to be in control of everything (it’s ok to delegate and it’s ok if it’s not done like I would have done it), and I don’t need to worry about our finances because God will provide what we need when we need it.

Praise you Lord for Your wisdom and Your Love, but mostly for who You are!

Feel free to leave a comment for my sweet friend, non-blogger who ought to be a blogger friend, Andrea! I am sure she will be blessed by you as much as you are blessed by her transparency. And if you have a beReal story you'd like to share a Extravagant Grace, just drop me a line (extragrace at gmail dot com) and we'll see what we can do. Learn more about being real here!

24Verses: Psalm 48:9-11 (August 15, 2010)

2010-08-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

It was another difficult-to-pick-a-verse experience. The Lord is impressing so many portions of Scripture on me, and they all similar in their emphasis but from very different perspectives...

Matt Maher's lyrics to Christ is Risen echo in my mind, "O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? O church, come stand in the light. Our God is not dead. He's alive! He's Alive!"

Lysa TerKeurst's, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl" keeps driving home the fact that God loves me and that I am chosen by Him.

The message in church today, ringing loudly of the same theme from Deutoronomy 7:9-11 followed by a beautiful song about belonging to the Lord.

But when it came to choosing a verse, it was the one that stunned me in my quiet time. I've been very slowly reading through the Psalms in my Parrallel NIV/Message Bible. Psalm 48 stopped me, calling me back again and again.

Is my life a train of Hallelujahs?

If not, ought it become that!

Why? Because God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do! Conquer death. Give us victory of hell. Choose us when we are unfaithful. And allow us to belong to Him, sinners, saved by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.

What is your Scripture memory verse? What is the Lord teaching you this precious day?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Are You A Homeschooler?

2010-08-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

I'm about to embark on my first year of homeschooling, and would love your input!!!

Our curriculum is in hand and lesson plans are in the making. I have a vision for the year, a purpose statement written, and even a theme with a particular verse, that my daughter is delighted with...

I will only be homeschooling my oldest daughter for her sixth grade year. The concept is to offer her a very specific year of Titus 2 training along with providing her with a stimulating selection of academics that will further develop her critical thinking skills and push her to the next level academically. She is eager for the opportunity ahead and I am thrilled to have this special year with her.

Knowing that I am rookie home educating, however, I want your thoughts and advice! Reading about homeschooling for nearly a decade, and witnessing the ups and downs of homeschool reality in my friend's lives, isn't the same as doing it on your own.

So, what advice would you offer me?

What are your thoughts on a daily schedule?
How do you structure your lesson planning? When do you do it?
What keeps your Spirit in check?
How do you feel about homeschooling groups?
What's the one thing you wish you did differently in the past?
What's your goal for homeschooling your children?
Do you have a favorite resource book and why?
Where do you head on the web for encouragement or instruction?
Any other thoughts?

If you have the time -- busy homescholing mom -- I'd love for you to take a minute to share your thoughts. If you feel comfortable, feel free to leave a comment or if you'd like to keep it private, go ahead an send an email to extragrace at gmail dot com! Please be sure to leave your blog address or email, so I can reply to you, as well.

Thanks!!!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Don't Forget to Pray!

2010-08-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our prayer day, coinciding with our Titus 2 discussion! How about spending time today to pray for yourself as well as all the women in your life:

Pray for yourself to grow in understanding what it means to be self-controlled and pure, as instructed in Titus 2.
Pray for your daughters to know the Lord and see their calling to fulfill a Titus 2 life.
Pray for your mother to know His love and experience the joy of His salvation.
Pray for your sisters, in blood and spirit, to yield their lives to His power and truth.
Pray for the women in your community, church, and social circles to open their hearts to His healing power and let down their guard with one another, drawing together in unity for the glory of God!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Becoming Titus 2: How Do We Learn to Be Self-Controlled & Pure?

2010-08-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

How are you doing in your Becoming Titus 2 journey? To be honest, I feel like I'm a bit alone in this, so feel free to let me know you are out there, even if you aren't posting about it at your blog. Just leave a comment and share your thoughts or simply give a shout out. God has made us one for another, so encourage us by sharing if you long to become a Titus 2 woman.

For me, this Becoming Titus 2 journey has had a significant impact on my life. I find it has become the guiding influence on my role as mother, wife, and mentor. No longer are the people in my life simple co-existing humans. No! My husband is the man I am to love, and by example, equip my own daughters to love their future husbands. My children are not simply be taken care of, but rather to be trained up in the ways of the Lord and equipped to go out into the world to share the Gospel by word and example.

Thinking in a Titus 2 mindset gives purpose to the everyday tasks of life as well as the focus of every relationship. It is a rich passage, deep with meaning and application!

Today, we look at one small portion, which has tremendous impact on all Christian women. If we are going to counter the culture and live godly lives, this small snippet of Scripture may very well carry the deepest challenge over all the other instructions in this passage.

What exactly does the Lord mean when He calls us to be self-controlled and pure?

Let's find out from the Word!

Self-control, or sophron, means exactly what most of us would assume: "[to be] discreet, sober, temperate, of sound mind; self-disciplined in one's freedom; self-restrained in all passions and desires." It also means, in this context, "to teach to be discreet." Yes, the Titus 2 role is not only about being, but it is about teaching!

Pure, or hagnos, means "chaste, uncontaminated, having integrity. Expresses freedom from defilements or impurities; morally chastes, sexually pure, virginal; figuartively: of spiritual purity, unseduced by false doctrines (as in 2 Corinthians 11:2)." In addition, it also means, "literally: of the sexual fidelity of wives (Titus 2:5, coupled with sophron [self-control]), level-headed, having a sense of restrains, it means the absence of flirtatiousness and sensual demeanor).

Being self-controlled and pure has tremendous implications.

We are to be discreet, sober, temperate, of sound mind.

If this is true, are we discreet in our words, dress, behavior? Are we having a little too much fun during a happy hour, pushing the limits and compromising our sober state? Are we responding emotionally to every challenge, need, and behavior, or is our reaction temperate? Moreover, are we of sound mind, thinking in a level-headed, non-emotional way? Maybe this is a challenge to deal with our heart issues to enable us to function with a sound mind rather than out of the wounds within our soul.

self-disciplined in one's freedom

In other words, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. How are we using our freedom? In how we spend our time, money, efforts thoughts? Are we applying self-discipline to our schedules, spending, and relationships?

self-restrained in all passions and desires

Oh, this is a biggy. We live in a culture that thrives on instant gratification. Have we become more indoctrinated by this philosophy than by the truth of Scripture? Take a moment to look at your life. Are you ever self-restrained? Do you need to become self-restrained in your passions and desires...for food, home accents, hobby tools, blog time, people, and your secret lust. Friend, counter the culture. Restrain yourself! Exert some self-control!

chaste, uncontaminated, having integrity

What goes in will come out! What is filling your mind? What do watch on TV? Listen to on the radio? Read for pleasure? A godly woman must filter what she fills her mind with. Become a woman of integrity by living a uncontaminated life. It doesn't mean you have to close yourself off from the world, but you don't have to let it into your heart, mind, or home!

Expresses freedom from defilements or impurities

Freedom! The filtering out of defilements and impurities is an act of a free woman who is not enslaved by her passions and desires; not held captive by the things of this world. Become enslaved only to the Lord Jesus Christ and held captive by His love for you!

sexually pure, virginal

For many of us, we entered our marriages sexually impure, forsaking our virginity in an impulsive, rebellious, or ignorant moment. But God is forgiving, gracious, loving, and redemptive. We can be godly women with sexually purity within our marriages, when we have been forgiven by the Lord for our sin and seek daily to keep ourselves sexually pure now.

What does this mean, as a wife? It means setting yourself apart as a gift for your husband to open daily. You, his precious bride, prepared to unite with your groom, expressing delight for the precious gift of marriage and the ability to demonstrate your love in this most intimate way. Make time to be rested and ready for this union. Make it a priority, as would a new bride eager for her groom.

spiritual purity, unseduced by false doctrines

False doctrines abound, and most don't even know it. I think that most women are hopefully looking for the "Christian" theology in every talk-show and new best-seller. But a hint of a God-message doesn't equal sound theology. Be discerning my sister. If it isn't the whole of Scripture being preached, it isn't the truth of Scripture. Turn of the TV, walk away from the flashy new book cover promising healing and health and prosperity. Invest your time and dollars in a pretty Bible, and read the Word to keep your spirit pure!

having the sexual fidelity of a wife

One man. One woman. Simple. That is how God intended it from the beginning of time. He never said that we could pick another spouse when we become bored, dissatisfied, frustrated, or hurt.

God calls married, godly women to live as faithful wives. Therefore, put off any idea that someone else would fill the husband shoes any better than yours. Quit the emotional affair with your best friend's husband. Get rid of the old beau on your facebook account. Stop it. Just quit it! Be sexually and emotional pure in your marriage, without compromise!

level-headed, having a sense of restraint

Because we didn't get this right the first time, the Lord communicates it again. Restrain yourself, my friend. God gave us freedom, but we must restrain ourselves!

the absence of flirtatiousness and sensual demeanor

Ah, the great debate of females, using this argument, "But if she is going to act and dress that way, I must do also in order to be the one my husband notices." Listen, if your man is satisfied with you as his wife -- if you are expressing your love and respect for him sexually, emotionally, and in your behavior and attitude, in general -- he won't want another package. If he does, he needs to get help, ASAP! All you accomplish by acting flirtatious with other men, and dressing or acting in a sensual way in public, is to cause other men -- married, single, young, old -- to stumble. You are not showing any respect for your brothers in Christ, or the sisters they are married to. Flirt with your husband, in a private and intimate way. Be sensual in his presence, but not in public.

~~~~

Isn't this a richly packed portion of Scripture!!! Likely, it has challenged your understanding of what it means to be self-controlled and pure! I pray that if it has rubbed you the wrong way, that you would take time to seek the Lord for further understanding. Please, sister, consider that your thinking has been influenced more by the culture than by the Word. God is clear on our behavior. You are the one, however, that has the freedom to act on it!

Remember the reason for this instruction in Titus in the first place, "so that no one will malign the Word of God." The Lord wants His Gospel shared. We, as women, carry it from person to person in what we say and do. May we live God's way, even if it is the harder way, for His glory!

Be sure to soak in our previous discussions and come on back for future ones!

Jan ~ Beliefs about Titus 2 in Today's Culture
Feb ~ What does it mean to be reverent?
Mar ~ What does it mean to be slanderers and addicted (to too much wine)?
Apr ~ How do we teach what is good?
May ~ How do we train the younger women? Who are the younger women?
Jun ~ How do we train the younger women to love their husbands?
Jul ~ How do we train the younger women to love their children?
Aug ~ How do we learn to be self-controlled and pure?
Sep ~ What does it mean to be busy at home?
Oct ~ What does it mean to be kind?
Nov ~ What does it mean to be subject to our husband?
Dec ~ How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

Be sure to leave a comment and a link to your post! We all want to hear your thoughts, too!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Bible Study Options!

2010-08-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

I've had a number of women approach me recently seeking suggestions for good Bible Study material as they prepare for their women's ministry offerings this coming fall.

I know how hard it is to determine a good study from simply glancing at the cover and promotional materials. It is especially challenging to find a study that ministers to women in all walks of life. So my standard is such:

1. Must be Biblically sound.
2. Must be approachable.

I can promise that these following studies are rich, relevant, and easily completed. Don't feel discouraged if women drop out. They always do! Just keep on encouraging and offering, and allow the Lord to accomplish His work in each gal's heart!

Specifically for Women in Leadership
perfect for a women's ministry team to read together!

Leading Women to the Heart of God, Lysa TerKeurst
A Woman's Guide to Servant Leadership: A Biblical Study of Becoming a Christlike Leader, Rhonda H. Kelley
Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women, by Susan Hunt

Devotionals & Books
these can be used as a weekly Bible study by doing 5 days a week or 1-2 chapters a week

31 Days of Prayer: Moving God's Mighty Hand (31 Days Series), by Ruth MyersDevotionals
31 days of Praise, by Ruth Myers
The Satisfied Heart, by Ruth Myers
Just Like Jesus Devotional, by Max Lucado
Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God, by Kay Arthur
Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days, by Kay Arthur
Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed: Experiencing God in Extraordinary Ways, by Lysa TerKeurst
Get Out of That Pit: Straight Talk about God's Deliverance by Beth Moore
Amazed by Grace, by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life: Finding God's Refreshing Priorities for You, by Lysa TerKeurst and Sharon Jaynes
A Spa for the Soul: Rejuvenate Your Inner Life, by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith: Trusting God Takes You to Amazing Places, by Lysa TerKeurst
Disciplines Of The Beautiful Woman, by Anne Ortlund
Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women, by Susan Hunt
Pathway To Purpose For Women, by Katie Brazelton
Praying for Purpose for Women: A Prayer Experience That Will Change Your Life Forever (Pathway to Purpose), by Katie Brazelton
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, John and Stasi Eldredge
The Love Exchange: An Adventure in Prayer, by Margaret Therkelsen
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways, Lysa TerKeurst
Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl, by Lysa TerKeurst (using this workbook)

20-Minutes a Day of Homework Bible Studies

Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing His Will, by Henry Blackaby
The Workbook of Living Prayer, by Maxie Dunnam
Becoming A Woman Of Excellence (Becoming a Woman), by Cynthia Heald
The Workbook on Spiritual Disciplines (Maxie Dunnam Workbook Series), by Maxie Dunnam
Live Deeply: A Study in the Parables of Jesus (Fresh Life Series), by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose
He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear the Voice of God
Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David
Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman
Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent, Member Book
Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy

I've only recommended studies I've personally completed. Each one has pros and cons, but overall, my heart was transformed by the Biblical truths and teaching points included.

I pray for the Lord to give you discernment and peace as you select a study for your Bible Study group.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

24 Verses: 16th can't be found...

2010-08-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

It is that time again to share our Scripture memory verses. I've been asking the Lord which verse He'd like me to dwell on for the next two weeks and I can't nail it down. There are so many, especially after a wonderful week listening to great teaching and spending time in the Word at a restful and beautiful camp and conference center. Rather than forcing one down and rushing through the task without much meaning, I am going to pass on creating a verse this time, but I will share with you the many that are on my heart...

Romans 15:13

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Thirsty
¹ "Come, all you who are thirsty,
       come to the waters;
       and you who have no money,
       come, buy and eat!
       Come, buy wine and milk
       without money and without cost.

⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
       call on him while he is near.

⁸ "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,"
       declares the LORD.
⁹ "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
       and be led forth in peace;
       the mountains and hills
       will burst into song before you,
       and all the trees of the field
       will clap their hands.

John 14:21
²¹Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

What verses has the Lord been speaking to you?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Moving as Santification: Part 3

2010-07-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

At this point in your moving as sanctification journey, you've sought the Lord for His perspective and took time out to get organized. Now moving day is upon you and it is time to walk victoriously, not drag, yourself from here to over there...

Tip 3: Make the Move Smooth

There are some last minute things you can do to make your move happen smoothly, in addition to having been determined, disciplined, and organized all along. However, if you are that last minute type, you can still make the best of it now. Consider this a "make it smooth" moving checklist:

3 Days Before

Take down pictures and hardware. If you haven't already done this, now is the time to take down pictures, mirrors, and any hardware and package it up. If you are responsible to spackle, do it today, too.
Deal with outside. Collect the yard decorations and furniture. Take down the swing set. Mow the lawn, water the plants, including any you might move.
Don't forget the pets. If you haven't already figured it out, make a plan for what to do with your pets on moving day and the days following.

2 Days Before

Confirm with the mover and/or truck rental company. Verify size of truck and directions, if they are coming to you, as well as time frame. Also, check on any hidden fees. Don't forget to have payment on hand as well as cash for a tip, usually 20% of the fee to be split amongst the moving guys.
Send a friendly email to those friends that offered to pitch in to help. Chances are that their busy lives might cause a forgetful moment not in your favor.
Pack up the kitchen, including all dishware, cookware, and food. Use paper goods and non-prep type meals (frozen, microwaveable, salads, and sandwiches) for next week.

1 Day Before

Pack up the bathrooms, entirely. Use your overnight and vacation toiletries for the next few days. If you have more than one bathroom, restrict use to just one and clean the other ones. Close them off with caution tape or a note, so they stay that well throughout the move.
Walk through inventory. Go through your entire home, from top to bottom, opening cupboards and draws to make sure everything is packed and clearly labeled.
Get prepared for tomorrow. Be sure to have some ice cold drinks, snacks, and meals ready to go for tomorrow. Also have a broom, dust pan, vacuum, dust cloth, towel, and spray handy. You'll be needing these things to clean off furniture as well as behind and underneath and in those hidden corners.

Moving Day

Get going early. Get up and dressed earlier than you think, so that the last minute things don't get pushed off. Don't forsake your time with the Lord. Take these few minutes to settle yourself and lay it all in the Lord's hands!
Give directions! Position yourself to give directions to your movers (even if they are your friends), so that all the right things go in, and grouped with items going to the same location in your new home.
Be hospitable! Offer cold water (usually they like water best) to your movers! If friends are helping, make time for lunch, breaks, and/or dinner.
Make arrangements to meet the truck! You need to be on the other side of things to direct movers where everything needs to go. This is critical, if you hope to unpack with some measure of ease!

Ready to roll into the next phase!
Well, the truck is loaded and off it goes. The house likely looks like a disaster ready to be cleaned. If you have the flexibility of time and energy, do it now. Grab a friend and finish the job well. There will be plenty to do on the other end of things.

Settling in to your new home is exciting and also overwhelming at times. Just remember, your earthly home is temporary, so try not to fret about it all getting done. Take one moment at a time, unpacking bit by bit while still finding time for enjoying life and treasuring the opportunity to share God's love with others.

As for me, almost four weeks after our sixth moving day in fourteen years of marriage, I can honestly say this was the most peaceful although most difficult move yet. Why? Because the strain of relocating a family of seven into a house in the midst of construction isn't exactly easy. But the choice to take it one moment at a time, without picking a fight with my beloved in order to release the tension, made what could have been a regretful experience a sweet story of God's provision, testifying of His ability to bring peace to any situation.

There are still boxes to be unpacked and more to broken down. Pictures to be hung. Curtains to be ironed and find their place in this new abode. It will happen, eventually. But you know what, it can wait. Our friends and family love us, no matter how much we've accomplished. The best part is they are willing to come over for food, fellowship, and fun, in the midst of this chaos. Their company and taking the time for normal life is refueling!

So, don't forget to live in the midst of your move! Choosing to do so will be truly sanctifying!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Moving as Santification: Part 2

2010-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well, you've just found out you'll be moving. Now it is time to get organized because some how, some way, you'll need to get from here to there. Yes, you might feel like burying your head in the sand, but save that for a sunny day at the beach and instead, face the inevitable of this relocation today.

Tip 2: Get Organized
The logistics of moving a home, whether it involves a family brood or a single soul, requires dedication and determination, along with discipline and organization. Therefore, I recommend grabbing a notebook, pen, calendar, and calculator. Set aside a time when you can guard yourself from interruptions and be well-rested. If you are married, make this a joint effort if possible, or at least schedule a time to discuss your thoughts following your planning session.

Start off in prayer. Ask the Lord for His will to be accomplished, for His timing, His resources, and His perspective on the whole experience. Let the Lord know your concerns and use this time to lay it before Him.
Make a Schedule: Calculate out how many days you have between now and your moving date. Then determine how many days it will take to the following:

purge...now is the time to get rid of those things you haven't touched in years

pack...everything will need to be boxed and bagged, whether you are moving across town or across the state. The great deception in moving is that a local stop is easy, but really it is not, because of your goods eventually need to get from one home to another. Often times, a local move ends up be longer and more draining because things aren't boxed up or labeled clearly.

So, my BIG BIG BIG tip about moving is to BOX everything and label with contents as well as destination. If you are super AR about this, you can color code using markers or stickers and then color code the rooms of your new home by hanging a sign for the movers (even your friends) to know where things are going as they graciously unload your loot. You can get boxes for free from the liquor store and super markets, or purchases boxes from your local hardware or shipping store. Big boxes may seem better in the long run, and stack more efficiently in a truck, but if you are doing it yourself, remember to not load down a big box so that you can't carry it.

clean...you need to leave things better than you found it -- think spring cleaning in addition to daily cleaning

Therefore, in my planning session, I slotted days and hours for purging, packing, and cleaning each room leading up to the moving date. For example, we knew it would take a weekend to clean out the basement and make a dumpster/donation run, so we did that two months before our move. The next thing I tackled was the storage bins of clothes for the kiddos. Over three evenings, many weeks before the move, I went through, purged, sorted, and stacked the containers back in the storage area. Come moving day, our hand-me-downs we're ready to roll.
Make a Budget: It costs money to move, more than just the fees for a truck to hiring a company. Often there are additional expenses, such as cleaning the carpets, buying hardware and window treatments, and finding furniture for the new home. Plus, in the weary weeks of the move, eating out becomes an easy way to satisfy a hungry body. Each of the expenses add up, so make a budget and plan ahead what you'll spend your money on now. Jot it down in your notebook and stick to it! Be inspired to make wise and thrifty decisions. Prepare some frozen meals the month before to heat up quick during the week before your move. Search the thrift stores for those hardware and furniture needs. Get the best rate on a truck or moving company by shopping around before booking. In the long run, you'll be glad you spent less, not more than you expected!
Get forwarding. You will need to change your address, not only with the Post Office but also with friends, family, and as well as businesses, banks, credit card companies, and schools. Use this time to make a comprehensive list as well as schedule a time to stop by the Post Office.
Set things up. Depending on whether you are buying or renting, you'll have to set up your utilities and services at your new home as well as finding doctors, schools, etc. Schedule a time to make the necessary calls to set up life in your new home.

Well, these three organizational tips should get you heading in the right directional. Tomorrow, I'll share some super practical tips for making moving day a peaceful and efficient experience!

Come back for Tip 3: Making the Move

Moving as Sanctification: Part 1

2010-07-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm convinced that moving is God's sanctifying work on an unsuspecting soul. No other task of a home-keeper quite unearths such ranges of emotions, convictions, fears, anxieties, dreams, and promises. Certainly, motherhood shares equal impact, as does the role of being a help-mate. But those sanctifying stresses tend to ebb and flow on life, reaching certain highs and lows over time and space.

Moving, however, is a concentrated, full horsepower force on the heart, mind, spirit, and body. It is one of those life experiences that will either leave a lasting memory of heartache or become a heart marked by God transforming power as He develops one's character through trial and trust.

If you are longing to live out your next move as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:2), instead of journey of embarrassing moments and frustrating mishaps, I offer these moving tips. Whether you are moving around the block or across town, out of state or overseas, these suggestions will make the experience feel a bit more enjoyable and leave a taste a whole lot sweeter.

Tip 1: Keep Perspective
Remind yourself daily that this world is your temporary home (1 Peter 2:11). No matter where you live and what you own, it is not a part of your identity nor should it be the source of your joy. As a follower of Christ, you belong to God, not to this world. Nor are you meant to live for your things, but rather to live for the Lord, declaring His praises and sharing His testimony (1 Peter 2:9). If you find yourself clinging to your home, your material possessions, or where you live, remind yourself to cling to the Lord instead. Steal a moment to sit quietly with the Lord and get a focused, godly perspective before conquering your next task.

Stay tune for Tip 2: Get Organized!

And if you have a moving story, a fantastic tip, or a word of encouragement about relocating, be sure to send me an email at extragrace at gmail dot com. Just maybe, I'll be able to include your thoughts and feature you here at EG!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Winner of Sweet Music for the Soul Giveaway

2010-07-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Heather in Michigan for winning the Sweet Music for the Soul Giveaway! Please contact me via email with your snail mail address!

Healing Words

2010-07-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

The fact of the matter is that none of us have had it easy. We might be in an easier season, but the easy life is a myth. We can't work harder, pray longer, fight more civilly to get to a better place or smooth ride on the easy train.

My dear friend use to say that my life seemed to be without suffering in the present day because I already faced my trials early in life. At the time, I really did believe her and allowed it to comfort me, while I stood alongside of her during her wicked trial. Enough time has passed since that season, however, to realize that life is series of suffering moments, resting renewal, and sanctifying experiences.

If we are not in the midst of trial, we've likely been through one recently or will be about to head into one. And if we concentrate on this truth alone, we might become significantly depressed, never mind forsaking the opportunity to learn through the experience, to have our character developed, and to become one who comforts others as we have been comforted.

God allows bad things to happen to good people and bad people (if there is such a thing--aren't we all bad, all sinners?), alike. The question isn't "why" do these things happen, for already know that answer: It is God's sovereign will. Rather, the question we ought to ask is, "How will I respond when the bad things do happen?" There are many responses.

Some are not so good...

doubt God

reject God

pout

pitch an ugly fit

pick a fight

spend money

binge on ice cream

run away

escape into my hobby

disengage from life

distance myself from others

refusal to forgive

grow in bitterness

While other responses will position you right in the center of God's will...

honestly admit the pain

turn your questions to the Lord

open your heart to purification

confess your sin

admit your fears

choose to worship God, in word and deed, in worship and prayer

stay disciplined in reading the Word

do not forsake the fellowship of Christians

maintain regular attendance at church

invest in others, especially those struggling in similar ways

do the last thing God has called you to

forgive others

seek forgiveness

serve where you are needed

put off the desires for this world

let God have the final say

flee temptation

acknowledge your weakness

get help from a trusted, Christian counselor

fast and pray

As I told my daughter last night, God doesn't call us to the easy life. It is a hard life, filled with trial and suffering. Just read 1 Peter. But in that life -- where we are called to follow the Suffering Servant -- we will find satisfaction for the soul. God will provide unbelievable strength partnered with the ability to persevere until our temporary life passes away and we meet Jesus face to face in eternity.

If we live the hard life journey as a follower of Christ, every "not easy" moment is an opportunity to glorify God and reveal the heart of Jesus to a needy world. Christian and non-Christian alike suffer. But the believer has a hope for which the unbeliever is desperate to uncover. We are the living book that reveals the healing Words of Christ. Now that is an opportunity for ministry, as a result of any suffering we experience.

Are you suffering? What have you learned in the process? How are you choosing to become Healing Words to others?

I'd love to share your story here at Extravagant Grace as a Be Real feature, so be sure to check this out and contact me personally, if you are interested.

Do you simply need to be encouraged in your suffering road? Two brand new books accomplish this task:

To Those Who Suffer: Understanding God's Purpose and Pathway Through Pain, by Sean Nolan
Nolan explains that when we suffer, we often view the situation through the human sin-stained perspective. This results in us immediately coming to the conclusion that this situation is extremely painful and, therefore, it must be wrong and not part of God’s will for our lives. However, from God’s perspective, He has allowed this suffering in our lives for a purpose, and, because God is absolutely good, His purpose for allowing the suffering in our lives must be a good one.

What we often overlook is that God’s goal for our lives is very different from ours. Nolan states that it is imperative that we understand God’s purpose for allowing mankind to encounter suffering. If we do not understand that God has done the right thing through allowing suffering into the world and our lives then we cannot expect to understand why God chooses to use suffering to conform us into the image of His Son, as opposed to a more pleasant method.

God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved, by Beth Redman

Evangelist and author Beth Redman shares her heart through poignant, vulnerable stories from her own life when she experienced the rejection of her father. Using scripture and tender assurances of God’s love, God Knows My Name reminds readers that God created them and loves them deeply despite their flaws and failures. Redman wants readers to know with certainty that God’s love is not the whimsical, uncertain love that is often shown to us by our earthly family and friends, but a deep, unfailing love that allows us to find our sense of worth in Him despite what others think about us. This encouraging book lets readers know that they are not alone in their struggles and that they are significant to God because He has chosen them for His glory.

Both of these books are rich in encouragement and understanding of the sufferings of life. In each, you will find deep thoughts, practical application, and perspectives that will likely change yours, sharpen your thinking, and move you to act differently. I highly recommend both as a worthwhile to add to your library. While you are waiting for them to arrive, I'd also encourage you to take time to read my testimony, which is a real life journey of a woman who has suffered, but as also come to know the Great Comforter and the privilege of comforting others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

*The books recommended were graciously provided by the publishers for review purposes.*

24 Verses: Proverbs 12:18 (July 15, 2010)

2010-07-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

As part of my mission to live intentionally in 2010, I am continuing to focus on becoming a woman of the Word. It takes time and determination to stick with it, and I nearly passed for this go around. Yet, when I read this verse this morning in my Bible study homework this morning, "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl," by Lysa TerKeurst, which reminded me of a conversation with friend last night about the impact of our words, especially on our kids...well, it seems like God wants me to meditate on this verse.

Let's become women of the Word together, as we live intentionally before the Lord this year! What's your verse for this month?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Sweet Music for the Soul Giveaway

2010-07-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

Fresh music for the soul.

Sweet words carrying healing balm.

Emerging singer/songwriter Audrey Assad brings life to the world of Christian music, ministering to the heart with transparency and tender truth. The House You're Building, released today, will certainly inspire you with Assad's amazing voice and beautiful lyrics.

Over the past year Audrey has done over 100 shows in North America with well-known artists like Chris Tomlin and Tenth Avenue North. Her songwriting skills and vocals have also recently been featured in Matt Maher's new album and Chris Tomlin's Christmas album.

It is worth your time to take note of Audrey Assad, and I will make it a special blessing for you with a wonderful giveaway. Audrey has hand drawn lyrics for each song on her album, which have been put together in a really cool bound book to give listeners an insight into the story behind each of her songs. The giveaway features the lyric book and her debut release along with a personalized bag.

Leave a comment for each entry opportunity!

Listen to Audrey's music at her facebook or myspace page. Be sure to like her, too! Then leave comment with mention of your favorite song on her new album.
Post about this giveaway on your blog.
Subscribe to Extravagant Grace.
Follow Extravagant Grace here or on Twitter.
Join the Extravagant Grace Blog Frog Community!

Giveaway is open until Saturday, July 17th!

Enjoy!

*This giveaway is generously sponsored by EMI CMG Label Group!

Becoming Titus 2: How do we train the younger women to love their children?

2010-07-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

As you know, in my mission to live intentionally in 2010, I have focused on studying a very short but powerful passage, Titus 2:3-5. I think the greatest blessing has been the accountability of looking at the same verses every month, and focusing on just a little portion. The weeks in between study have been like mortar between each brick, creating a solid wall of understanding and life application.

This month, I hope you will join me, even if it is for the first time, as we pause to look at how to train up younger women to love their children.

^"Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children..."

Somewhere between here and there of time I became the older woman, supposedly filled with wisdom on how to love our husbands and children. While I don't feel older or wiser, I can see that by the passing of time and experience, I have grown in such a way that I am beginning to grasp how to love our children, even if the application of it falls short. I also can see that how I mother has an impact on those around me, as there are now as many younger moms in my community of friends as there are older. I'm in the middle of the pack, and while I have so, so, so much to learn, I have certainly learned a thing or two over the past decade of mothering my own little brood as well as spiritually mothering teenagers.

Here's my top five life-learned, heart-wrenched, spirit-convicted thoughts about how to make the time and purpose of our motherhood all about loving our children. As I strive to live out these principles, in my pursuit of Becoming a Titus 2 woman, I prayer that God will use me to impacting the next generation of mothers.

1. Slow down.
Love requires intentionally and time. If we are too hurried to get to the next thing and to determined to accomplish "this" thing (the this being anything other than mothering), we won't be able to love with a sincere touch, a gentle word, a encouraging smile, and a simple act of service. We must slow down to make time to love practically.

2. Receive God's love.
It is impossible to love, in the way God is calling us to in this verse, without receiving His love. Love comes from God (1 John 4:7). He is love and His love flowing through causes us to overflow with love to those around us, especially our children. Many of us, however, have blocked the channel of God's love with unforgiveness, bitterness, and sin stored up in our hearts. We must take an inventory to see what is filling us up and overflowing onto those around us. Is it our shame, guilt, frustrations, low-self esteem, pride, anxiety, fear, bitterness? Or are walking in right fellowship with God, having received His forgiveness through Jesus Christ and received a full cleansing of our souls as we believe His Word for our identity and calling?
3. Rest in His presence.
It is essential to spend time with the Lord and in His Word, if our relationship with God is going to grow and sustain us. We cannot love when we are depleted. Even if our heart is right in fellowship with the Lord, we must be nurtured by time with Him. Literally, we need to rest in the arms of our Father, in devotional time as well as physical time. Moms need naps and early bedtimes to keep their energy level full enough to meet the physical and emotional needs of their children. A well-rested mom, satisfied by the love and tender care of her Lord, will be equipped to nurture that end of the day boo-boo, listen to that one more heartache of in her maturing daughter, and respond to the sibling conflict over the space, toy, time, and daily needs of life. A mother who is rested in the presence of God is equipped to love the children in her life.

4. Let go of the next moment and cherish this one.
Part of the reason we can't slow down, receive God's love, and rest in His presence is that we are too busy rushing to the next moment. For some of us, it is simply getting the next box unpacked, picking up the groceries for the pot-luck that evening, or checking off the long list of spring cleaning chores. For others, it is a career goal or ministry achievement in the form of one more speaking engagement, another follower, a new title, a wider recognition. And for some, who seem super dedicated to their family and home, it is about perfecting the material thing or even seeking a better way to get their child to excel further in their sport, instrument, or academics -- so much so that it is no longer about loving the child or keeping the home, but has become an idol.

All of us, if we are honest before the Lord, would uncover some way we are holding onto the next moment, achievement, and goal instead of living in the here and now. The result is we are too busy and too focused to slow down and love the one right before us. That tender little heart is being shaped by our very actions even more than our words.

If we are to fulfill the call to love our children -- and to train those around us to do the same -- we must let go of the next moment and live in this one. It means stopping to look into the eye of the child petition for our attention and love. To cuddle with a child whose love language is touch, and let the laundry wait until tomorrow. To put a smile on, instead of grumbling, about the chocolate ice cream running down the face of a delighted toddler, soon to stain the front of her shirt. One day, that ice cream will be ably consumed and we will, indeed, miss the tiny, chocolate stained shirts.

5. Walk humbly and receive His grace quickly.
These principles are impossible to achieve perfectly. Some days, we'll block God's love. Other days, we won't rest. Some moments, we'll rush through and others we'll pause at just the right moment. So, since we are imperfect sinners saved by grace, the best thing we can do as we strive to love our children and impart God's love on their tender souls, is to be humble before them and the Lord, while also being quick to receive God's extravagant grace and extend that to our children. It means putting off condemnation, right there in the middle of the mess we have made. Then, swallowing pride in order to confess, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" It may not be a pretty scene at first, but God will color it with His love, most certainly.

What ways do you believe women should live out this portion of Titus 2?

I pray you will join me in this open discussion, so that together we would grow together in the Word as we become Titus 2 women. Please do leave a comment with your thoughts and/or a link to your Titus 2 post. There is no time frame for sharing, so feel free to do so at any time. I look forward to hearing from you!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Be sure to join in previous discussions and mark your calendar for our upcoming topics. Feel free to join in anytime!

Jan ~ Beliefs about Titus 2 in Today's Culture
Feb ~ What does it mean to be reverent?
Mar ~ What does it mean to be slanderers and addicted (to too much wine)?
Apr ~ How do we teach what is good?
May ~ How do we train the younger women? Who are the younger women?
Jun ~ How do we train the younger women to love their husbands?
Jul ~ How do we train the younger women to love their children?
Aug ~ How do we learn to be self-controlled and pure?
Sep ~ What does it mean to be busy at home?
Oct ~ What does it mean to be kind?
Nov ~ What does it mean to be subject to our husband?
Dec ~ How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

Prayer in the Midst of Moving...

2010-07-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today is a day I committed to prayer in my determination to live intentionally, and that doesn't stop for time-gobblers like moving. I kept my time simple, lifting one very specific concern up to the Lord. I hope you will take the time to do the same. God wants to hear from us!

24 Verses: Ephesians 5:17 (July 1, 2010)

2010-07-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

We're in the midst of moving this week, so I thought I'd miss the opportunity to post my next verse. However, my husband sent me to our room, counting me down for the count this evening! I am resting in my newly (used) recliner, with a terribly sore foot while sipping a cup of honey and lemon tea to counter the onset of a cold or something. I am also filling in my motherly duties, as I rest in ear shot of our four children, who are packed into one bedroom.

When we opted for moving this week, the house was almost completed painted (by mostly moi, thus the sore arch in my foot) and repair work nearly finished. It looked like a perfect time to make the transition across the street, even if I wasn't fully packed. But then plans changed. The repair work commenced again, when the original fix for the problem proved inadequate. I almost sobbed. I felt the anger begin to boil. But no. Not this time. Not me.

Instead, I decided to live under the control of the Holy Spirit.

And I did.

I gripped a few times, but realized I felt worse after gripping than I did if I just kept my mouth shut. What a novelty!

So, instead of a perfectly organized move into a perfectly prepared house, I have stuff strewn across two houses, boxes piled up, furniture and children crammed into rooms, two (and possibly more) construction zones, and a body that is failing to keep up to par.

But, my sisters in Christ, my soul is well. My spirit is steadfast on Thee. My heart is as rest.

The anxiousness of past moves is not nearby this time. And the blessings abound. Marital bliss tastes much sweeter then marital strife, siblings are bonding as they all bunk together, boxes have to wait because there is not place for them to go, and I have to work at the pace of a normal human rather than super woman! Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord!!!

I am learning to live by the spirit as I am filled by Him!!!

How about you? What lesson is the Lord teaching you? What Scripture will you be meditating on this next month?

Matters of Life...all in one post!

2010-06-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

However, I have three completely unrelated matters of life that I must mention now, while it is fresh on my mind.

Many Thanks! Your words of encouragement to this post spurred me on to really cling to the Lord all throughout the day yesterday. I was so close to spiraling into the pit of lies! Yuck! Thanks for being used by God to keep me planted on solid ground. Isn't that such a blessing of this blog community? I hope you feel it, too!

The Message Rocks! Over the past few months I have been reading through the Psalms in my Parallel Message / NIV Study Bible.   This has been a fantastic experience, as a number of times the Scripture happens to be either too familiar or too abstract, but when I read the Message translation, it either enhances the understanding or strikes me completely anew! Most of all, the Message was written with a desire to enable the reader to turn the Scriptures into prayer! This has certainly worked for me!

For example, this morning I was reading Psalm 22. The NIV Translation was rich:

²⁷ All the ends of the earth
       will remember and turn to the LORD,
       and all the families of the nations
       will bow down before him,
²⁸ for dominion belongs to the LORD
       and he rules over the nations.
²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
       all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
       those who cannot keep themselves alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve him;
       future generations will be told about the Lord.
³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness
       to a people yet unborn—
       for he has done it.

But when I read it in the Message, it really became a personal prayer:

^27-28 From the four corners of the earth
      people are coming to their senses,
      are running back to God.
   Long-lost families
      are falling on their faces before him.
   God has taken charge;
      from now on he has the last word.

²⁹ All the power-mongers are before him
      —worshiping!
   All the poor and powerless, too
      —worshiping!
   Along with those who never got it together
      —worshiping!

^30-31 Our children and their children
      will get in on this
   As the word is passed along
      from parent to child.
   Babies not yet conceived
      will hear the good news—
      that God does what he says.

...forcing me to both pause and praise God more intentionally! Day after day of reading these translations side-by-side has been such a blessed experience! I pray you will take the time to read an unfamiliar translation each day, too. Grab yourself a parallel Bible or take advantage of Biblegateway!

Moving Expertise Available! Do you think it would be worth running a short series filled with tips about moving? I'm in the midst of my sixth move in fourteen years, so I have a bit of experience when it comes to packing up house and moving home. I'd love to share a few tips that have worked well for me, but I'm just not sure there is a need for this type of information. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know!

And now off to packing some more boxes!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

It was a no good, very bad day.

2010-06-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Will today be better?

Because yesterday was awful.

It started with a sleepless night, which ended with early rising. Not such a bad way to start off, as I grabbed some sweet time with the Lord and snuck out of the house before 7:00 am to head across the street. It was a perfect time to slap another coat of paint on the house we're moving into. But as I walked in through the basement, I saw my dread. Water on the floor from a leak that we thought had been resolved.

Deep breath. "That's okay, Lord. I'll trust you with this."

Instead of running home and waking my husband in a fit of furry, I let it go. Truly, a miracle and sign of much growth. I gave it to the Lord and didn't let the peace disappear.

Satan was just starting to mess with me. It think I must have ticked him off with my response.

So I went on to painting, hobbling through the house gathering the supplies and tenderly moving up and down the ladder to reach the top of the wall. See, last week, I rolled my ankle on the precarious steps that approach the back door. No big deal, except that all the up and down on the ladder, as I've painted the dining room, kitchen, den, bedroom, and living room, must have caused the strain to worsen. It will go away, but only if I rest.

That's okay. Deep breath. I'll press on in the Lord's strength.

Before 9:00 am, I managed to finish the room I was painting, grab a shower, drive my oldest to work, and hobble through the super market to pick up groceries for dinner. As the morning wore on, I was growing wear, forgetting to pace myself and depend on the Lord.

But a woman has to do what a woman has to do, right?

1:00 pm. Vet's office. My sweet cat, Georgia, has not been herself and showed signs this past week that her time has come. I sobbed and sobbed. She was the cat I loved, and then didn't love. Showed affection for, and got annoyed by. Begged to bring her home, and later on, wished she would go when her hair and my allergies reached an all-time war.

I cried for the times I didn't love her as I should have. I cried for the ways the days turned into months and years and now 16 have passed. I cried for the pain of death and the fresh reality of life's temporariness.

And than, just like that, I stopped crying, as I drove to Wal-Mart to buy one of those hair removal things, since my shirt was covered in the last signs of Georgia. I drowned my sorrows in a McDonald's chocolate milk shake before heading for my previously scheduled hair cut. How bizarre.

All in a woman's day. Right?

So I took a deep breath. I numbed out. I didn't turn to the Lord. I went on to the second half of the day. Fixing dinner. Girls to basketball practice. Anticipation of a date with my husband later on, where I could just relax and talk it all out with him.

Smash!

The sound of glassed being blown apart as I drove through the gravel parking.

Hissss.

The sound of a flat tired.

Errrrggggg!

The sound of angry woman whose no good, very bad day got worse. Date canceled. I hobble home with my hurt foot. Literally, the reason I drove to practice instead of walking was because the foot hurt so bad. And now, here I was walking home.

Ridiculous. Satan was really camping out on me today, desperately trying to steal my joy.

Deep breath. Oh, Lord, wasn't this day bad enough?

Putting my cat to sleep and a flat tire all in one day? Come on, Lord! But leave it to my girls to see God's hand. The flat tire was in walking distance of home, and my husband was available to go fix it. And the truth of the matter, I really need to get to bed and get some sleep, not hobble around town on a date.

Yes, it was a no good, very bad day. But the Lord is never no good and very bad. He permitted each difficult moment, but remained faithful to carry me through each circumstance. He never let me go from the palm of His hand, even though I felt abandoned at times. The old me, with my old theology, would reckon to think I must be in trouble with God. No, that's not true. God is simply letting me be pressed into the woman He desires and using all the circumstances of this fallen world to do His work, while He holds me tight to His chest and secure in His grip.

Deep breath. Thank you, Lord, that you have changed my thinking, grown me in understanding your love, in spite of my circumstances, and have poured out new mercies every morning.

Friends. Make the most of every opportunity today to love those God has put in your lives -- your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, and even pets. Life is short. Time passes quickly. Live in the moment, love the Lord with your whole heart, and don't let Satan rob your joy by believing his lies. Believe God. Trust Him. And let Him do what He pleases with your heart through your circumstances.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Becoming His Light Show

2010-06-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wish I was more like a dimmer switch than your ordinary on-off switch. Even more so, I wish I was like a single dimmer switch instead of a triple switch.

Do you wish you could gradually adjust your life instead of flying from one extreme to another?

Right from the beginning of our marriage, my husband picked up on the fact that everything is all on or all off in my life. He teases me about it constantly, usually bring out a humble pie sort of laugh and roll of my eyes. I don't hover the middle. I sprint to the extremes in everything from temperature, to food, to exercise, to ministry, to how many times I click the stinking mouse button hoping to get this computer to move at my speed instead of simply high speed.

Or do you wish you could concentrate all your energy on one thing instead of multi-tasking many things?

There are days I wish I could be a single switch. I would love to just be a mom. Or just be a designer. Or just be a writer. Or just be a speaker. Or just minister to teenage girls. Or just be a wife. Or just.

There are so many things the Lord has enabled me to do, and called me to do, and given me the passion to pursue.

I suspect the same is true for you.

But how do we know what it is that one thing we are to do now, wholeheartedly? Yes, I know the typically response is "the next thing in front of you...", but what if there are dozens of things in front of you? How can we find the balance in the midst of all these great opportunities so that we could do one thing well, yet still enjoy the many things God has wired us to accomplish?

How do we find the secret to a balanced, satisfied, joy-filled life?

I'm convinced, however, that God has designed us exactly "as is" (which is not such a great thing in terms of buying furniture, as we have been doing quite a bit of lately with the move nearly upon us, but works out just fine in terms of being human!). Nor is it God's intention to change those idocincries that come with our particular combination of God-given gifts and passions. If we are a triple switch, it is because that is how God has wired us. Some are single switches. Some are doubles. Some are triples. And others may even be quadruple switches. The strengths and the weakness of each combination form the whole person, and have a holy purpose.

The secret is allowing God to be in control!

It means accepting myself as a triple switch -- a woman with gifts and purposes to be used for God's glory -- who can be upgraded to a triple dimmer switch through the process of surrendering to the refining work of the Lord. It means letting Him be in the control, thereby giving God the rightful authority in my life to turn on and off each switch gracefully -- in His timing, for His needs, with His plan in mind.

When we interfere, we short-circuit His plans and purposes. Choosing to be in that place of listening to His voice only, instead of our emotions, is such a challenge. It requires discipline, patience, often repentance, and always trusting that God knows best. It demands being in the Word, humble in prayer, connected with the body of Christ for the sake of accountability and encouragement. It isn't and neat an orderly process, but one that forms a beautiful light show, from Heaven's viewpoint, as the Lord control all the masters switches (and sometimes twitches) of His children, who are the light of this world.

What is God turning on and off in your life right now?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

24 Verses: Philippians 4:13 (June 15th)

2010-06-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to pick this as my Scripture memory verse for the rest of this month. It is one I know so well, having memorized it back when I was pregnant with the twins (who are about to be five next month!) and chanting it on the delivery table. However, some well known verses -- even the simplest of verses like Philippians 4:13 -- need time meditation and reflection, especially in context.

After listening to some fabulous teaching this past weekend during a spirit-filled family conference at my church, this particular verse has all new meaning. Our speaker expanded on the meaning through translating the Greek and putting it in context, so I've included his words along with the Scripture in this passage. I love the meaning: Yes, the impossible is possible but only when it is Christ at work in us and through us.

I couldn't decide which version I liked best, so here they all are for you to enjoy.

What verse will you be meditating on and memorizing these next two weeks?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Are we praying?

2010-06-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

We missed a prayer day! Oops! The 10th came and went last week, overseen by the details of my impending move and an approaching business trip for my husband.

God, we stood you up! Sorry!

Thank you for being so forgiving, gracious, and abounding in love -- loving us in spite or who we are and what we do and don't do well!

Thank you for meeting us right here, right now. For waiting on us. For being faithful, even when we are distracted and preoccupied with the things of this world.

Thank you, Lord, for your love that never ceases.

Join me, friends, in meeting with the Lord today. I know it is hard. I struggle to make the time, and make it sincere. But let's challenge one another to go speak with the Lord privately and pour out our hearts to Him. Then come back hear and share the praise that inevitably will rise by being with our Lord.

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Summer Reads!

2010-06-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

Do you like to have a good book on hand to lighten your heart and encourage your soul during the summer months? How about something little to pack in your suitcase and bring to the beach or lake house?

Here are a few interesting and worthy new books, perfect for summertime reading. I've had a chance to dive into the first few chapters, so now each one is competing for my attention. Which one looks most interesting to you?

From the Publishers...

Author Fred Lybrand takes an in-depth look into relationships and dating, plus a little common sense for the real day-to-day world, in his latest book, Glaen. Lybrand has chosen a unique and effective way to present his knowledge of human relationships and romance by creating a storyline that allows readers to walk alongside believable characters as they discover and explore an exciting and more effective way to relate to those with whom they will share life’s most intimate relationships.

The life changing principles found in Glaen are the gems Lybrand wants readers to take from the story and experience in their own lives and relationships. This book will serve as a great teaching tool for parents to use with their children as well as for church leaders guiding couples who are seeking a more satisfying marriage relationship.

Lydia Brownback offers an alternative as she continues her On-the-Go Devotional Series with Purity: A Godly Woman's Adornment. The Christian community often thinks of purity only as it relates to modesty and sexuality. Lydia suggests that modesty and sexual purity are fruits of a more authentic, deeper purity. "Impurity at its core is idolatry," explains Brownback. "Purity is having a heart for the Lord that isn't watered down or polluted by lesser things."

A woman may struggle with little success to master outward displays of impurity if she doesn't see that the impurity is rooted deep in her own heart. Rather than simply give a list of do's and don'ts, Brownback considers what it means to be perceptive, discerning, Christ-centered, and cross-centered as she builds on the truth of biblical beauty and exposes the cultural lies of impurity as superficial beauty.

In Joy: A Godly Woman's Adornment, Lydia Brownback reminds readers that joy is not circumstantial, but is available to anyone indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is why gloominess is a cop-out. Our circumstantial moodiness and tantrums dishonor the God who has made authentic and perpetual joy available to his daughters in Christ. It is where our security is guaranteed, our provision is sure. Brownback provides forty-two short devotionals look to Scripture for words of encouragement, correction, wisdom, and guidance to help women adorn themselves with joy.

What are you reading right now? What's waiting in line, ready to jump into your suitcase?

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

*These books were graciously provided for review by the publishers.

Becoming Titus 2: Time to Teach a Bit about Love!

2010-06-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

Welcome! I am so glad to have you join in this month's Becoming Titus 2 discussion! I don't know about you, but this slow-paced reflection and study of such a short portion of Scripture is having a powerful impact on my life. With each morsel of His Word, I am tasting the sweetness of becoming a woman whose heart is settled on the Titus 2 call. The cares of this world and the pressure to perform are slowly fading away as I embrace God's design for a woman to focus her life on living reverently, to be wary of my addictions, to teach God's goodness, and to train up the next generation of women. But it doesn't stop there! The Lord longs to see His girls fulfill the roll of mentor, mother (which I believe is possible regardless of whether we birth our own children, formally adopt, or spiritual adopt), disciple and discipler, and as we explore this month...lover of our husbands.

ShOcKiNg!

Yes, God has called us to love our husbands and children. For now, we're just focusing on the first part: to love our husbands and to teach the younger women to love theirs. So my friends, the great question before is us this:

Do you love your husband?

How does your life testify of your love for your husband?

More-over, are you being intentionally about loving your husband in such a way that you are positively, Biblically training your daughters (and the other women in your life) to love their husbands (present or future)?

The Message translation says that the younger women will know how to love their husbands simply by looking at us,

"By looking at them, the younger women

will know how to love their husbands..."

Cringe. Gulp. Turn a shade of red.

Chances are, most of us have had plenty of times where our words and actions have not demonstrated love toward our spouse. We're human. We fail and sin. Yet even so, we must strive for who we are to be in Christ -- over-comers able to love, because we are loved, and called to love, because we are His. The Scriptures make it plain in so many ways:

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
Mark 12:30-31Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

Paul gives us step by step instructions in 1 Corinthians 13 for how to practice love, which in the Message is pretty plain:

   Love never gives up.
   Love cares more for others than for self.
   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
   Love doesn't strut,
   Doesn't have a swelled head,
   Doesn't force itself on others,
   Isn't always "me first,"
   Doesn't fly off the handle,
   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
   Doesn't revel when others grovel,
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
   Puts up with anything,
   Trusts God always,
   Always looks for the best,
   Never looks back,
   But keeps going to the end.

In our pursuit of Becoming Titus 2 women, we need to hold ourselves accountable to loving our husbands -- not because they have earned it nor deserve it -- but because God calls us to do so for the benefit of the young women we are training and to glorify Him in the process. Therefore, we must look at every aspect of our interactions with our husbands, the words we speak to him and about him, and even our thought life. It comes down to this,

Am I loving my husband in my thoughts, words, and actions as I would if he were Jesus?

It is hard. But in Christ, by His strength, it is possible...and it is a journey. Here's a bit about what I've learned and been practicing here, and another transforming moment here. By God's extravagant grace, I'm practicing daily acts of loving and respecting my husband, while also teaching my daughters by example. It is in the little things and big actions:

Like hopping up to kiss my husband hello when he walks through the door.
Caring for the home...and the dirty laundry...and the paper work...and...and...without complaining as a way of being a quiet source of peace instead of the dripping faucet Proverbs describes.
Listening to my husband's opinion, and responding with gentle, respectful words, especially in front of the children.
Expressing appreciation for how hard he works at his job and at home, providing for us financially and physically, while making time to also listen to our endless stringing words of emotions.
Determining that this commitment is for life, as opposed to whim or feeling, and therefore be willing to say "I'm sorry..." as the first step toward reconcilation in those tough times...and even doing so in front of the children.
And simply silly, but meaningful things like wearing this little shirt that lights up his face...

I love my husband and respect him,...

What about your journey?

Are you learning to love (and respect) your husband? Tell us how!

How are you training up the young women around you by your example? Share some practical ideas!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Enjoy our previous discussions and mark your calendars for those ahead!

Jan ~ Beliefs about Titus 2 in Today's Culture
Feb ~ What does it mean to be reverent?
Mar ~ What does it mean to be slanderers and addicted (to too much wine)?
Apr ~ How do we teach what is good?
May ~ How do we train the younger women? Who are the younger women?
Jun ~ How do we train the younger women to love their husbands?
Jul ~ How do we train the younger women to love their children?
Aug ~ How do we learn to be self-controlled and pure?
Sep ~ What does it mean to be busy at home?
Oct ~ What does it mean to be kind?
Nov ~ What does it mean to be subject to our husband?
Dec ~ How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

Becoming Titus 2: Let's Talk about Love and Husbands!

2010-06-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

My friends, it is time for another Titus 2 discussion. This month we're considering how to train up the next generation to love their husbands. I'm sure that more than a few of you have some lessons in love, romance, and the secret to have a healthy marriage. So get those minds in gear to share your words of wisdom and practical application to the call to teach how to love our husbands. We'll meet back here next Tuesday to link up your posts. Feel free to pick out some of your favorites from the past that pertain to loving those men of ours!

By His Grace & Mighty Power,

Extravagant Grace

More to Be

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Becoming Titus 2: How does becoming a Titus 2 woman cause the Word of God to not be maligned?

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Becoming Titus 2: Time to Teach a Bit about Love!

Mark 12:30-31Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Becoming Titus 2: Let's Talk about Love and Husbands!

Mark 12:30-31Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."