One Body--Many Blogs

I have to tell you, there are SO many incredible blogs out there. God has inspired so many people in special and personal ways to help change the world through the power of words. Whether bits of humor, touches of light sarcasm, or deep slices of life, the variety is awesome.

I know this is long, but read it carefully. Consider this well-worded passage from The Message translation on all the parts of the Body working together for His cause:

1 Corinthians 12:14-24 (The Message, emphasis mine)

I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

All of this to say, that as a blogger of God's Word, I've learned not to compare but to appreciate instead. All of us blogging together about whatever God lays on our hearts makes a difference. So, I've found some blogs that I wanted to recognize and pass my blog awards onto. Please forgive me for combining them, AND for trying to pick blogs that are unique in some way, shape or form. I've also purposefully chosen not to recognize blogs that I know have already received these awards (which I'm sure they'll thank me for.) If I've repeated anyone, I apologize, but here I go.

On behalf of the Arte y Pico blog award. and the Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 award, these are the ones God has laid on my heart to recognize:

1. A Spiritual Oasis ministers to me so much. Bill Williams has not only put together a beautiful blog to look at, but the content is outstanding. He has incredible book recommendations on the side, as well as easy access to order them. I highly recommend this blog for frequent thirst-quenching spiritually speaking.

2. Notes In The Key of Life was an incredible find for me. Though the titles of our blog are similar, the themes could not be more different. As someone who doesn't have the time to watch the news or keep up with current events, I love going over there to see what she has highlighted. As a matter of fact, I spent a great deal of time over there this morning bawling my head off over the Steven Curtis Chapman interview video she posted. A few weeks ago, I was laughing my head off at another post. Trust me, you will enjoy Cindy's posts as much as I do.

3. I AM (not) will not leave you disappointed. Natalie has an distinct "voice" in all of her posts that paints a picture of what she is describing to a tee. She says things like "I puffy heart you," and other phrases that put a smile on my face. She can reach to spiritual depth like I've never seen in one post, and then the next day take the most trivial thing and entertain me. Her subtitle alone tells you all about Natalie's heart: "He's God. I'm not. It works." Love it!

4. Josh Janoski's Just Joshin' blog is AMAzing. But don't let the title fool you. He's funny, he's witty, he has a creative way with words, but at the same time...deep, relevant, authentic. I cannot remember a single post that did not minister to my spirit in some way. God has only begun to do ministry through Josh. Many more great things are to come from this Godly man (who, by the way, is one of the biggest encouragers I've ever known--that ought'a tell you something about his heart). His series on the book of James is amazing and is going on right now.

5. I Will Take It, Lord, All I Have to Give Okay, STOP RIGHT HERE. REad that title again, outloud. I will take it, Lord, all I have to give... Wowzer. The title alone admonishes me, challenges me, causes me to worship. What a brave title, and the content of the posts lives up to it. And let me just tell you, I don't know Lori, but I would venture to say that she is a visual worshipper, because her blog has enough visual worship candy to keep me satisfied for hours. Beautiful scripture stamps, quotes, sayings--and without being too loud or busy. I was introduced to the sight through the At The Well Monday Meme we are both involved in and was immediately captivated. When you click over there, you will be too.

6. Meditations and Confessions of A Homemaker could almost be the name of a televesion series, couldn't it? Love it. Oh, and her subtitle: "Meeting Jesus in the most unlikely places: making meals, cleaning toilets, loving my husband and children." Gotta smile over that. Isn't that what it's like as a homemaker, though? Sheila, who prefers to be called "A Woman Found," (wow) has captured the secret of a maturing spiritual life--to minister with joy even in the ordinary tasks we are called to. If all of us did that, my friends, this world would be quite a different place. She has brought dignity back to the homemaker. Her posts are deep, thought-provoking and filled with God's truth. Her blog admonishes me to live out my faith to the fullest each day, and I'll betcha you'll feel the same way when you visit her blog.

7. My Heart's Dee-Light is just that: a true delight to visit. I have no idea if Dee has won any awards or not, (because she's not the type to want to mention it), but lemme just tell you, her heart is pure gold. I know this because she is a friend, but it is also evident on everything you see on her blog. The graphics, the colors, the music, and especially the content. Her words of wisdom are extremely well-written and poignant. It's like each word was chosen deliberately, either to teach, admonish, tickle or emphasize what she is trying to convey. One highlight on Dee's site is her talent for fiction writing. She is a regular contributor and a master writer at Faithwriters, and her work is brilliant in every aspect. I hope Dee's blog brings your heart as much delight as it has mine.


I could go on and on, because as you can see, my Blog List on the window to the right => is quite lengthy. That is because I truly believe what I wrote in the opening. All of us together are making a difference for the Kingdom. May the work of our hands be to His glory, to Him alone. Forever and ever, Lord. All to You. Amen.

May My Lifesong Keep Singing to Him

I've come off an extremely busy two weeks, with barely time to breathe. Most of the people who read this blog know me as someone who loves to write for Jesus. But these past weeks, God has called me to use another set of gifts. For the past eighteen years (longer really), the Lord has used me to lead children in worship and production. I've been so dedicated to it, that most people think that I am paid to do it (which is not the case). When it's time for a production or a special event, it consumes every ounce of me, so that's why I haven't been able to blog or comment much. As a mama of three and a wife, I can only do so much at once with my time, so the writing had to be put on hold. And oh, how I missed it! ;)

In the course of these days, I've neglected to acknowledge some special honors I've been given in this incredible world of blogging. It is not for a lack of appreciation; rather, a lack of time. So I want to--no, I neeeeeed to--take some time to tell these 4 ladies how much their honor means to me, probably even more today when I'm feeling the ministry crash than it would've during the days of my busyness.

1. Kim, at Homesteader's Heart honored me with the Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 blog award. Thank you so much, Kim. If you haven't visited her blog, you are missing great humor, incredible insight on getting organized, and magnificent originality and authenticity.

2. Then Kristen from Exemplify also passed the Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 award on to me too. Wowzer. Truly humbled to receive this from such a gifted writer and Godly lady. Thank you, Kristen.

3. Sweet Tracy, after her incredible Fruit of the Spirit series, who has now started a series on Choosing Life then chose to bless my life with the Arte y Pico blog award. Thanks, sister.

4. Then out of the blue, in my junk folder yesterday (or maybe the day before, I can't remember), I found a precious email from a lady I have never met before telling me that God had laid on her heart to highlight my blog on her Wednesday Wisdom post. As I've looked around "Peculiar's" site (yes, she calls herself Peculiar, which has already endeared me to her), I have enjoyed her unique voice and incredible wisdom and teaching. Can't wait to know her better. Thank you, Peculiar, for taking the time to not only send me a note, but also to honor me publicly. You have humbled me more than you will ever know.

Last but not least, I want to thank Christian Women Online for choosing LauraLee's Lifesong for blog of the month in July. It has helped me to get to know many other incredible bloggers that I may not have met otherwise, not to mention, encouraged me beyond measure to continue to pursue my writing goals. I truly cannot thank you enough.

I pray from the depths of my heart that my Lifesong--the one my Lord and Maker has given for me to write, sing, speak and act upon--will continue to put HIs melody into the heart of others. That is my goal. While these honors could have a tendency to make me feel big in my own eyes, I pray just the opposite: that Jesus Christ would be the only One you see. In my next post, I will pass some blogs on that have ministered to me lately. May all of our Lifesongs combined be a choir of praise for Him.

Blurred Vision/At the Well Monday

Natalie at I Am (Not) is the hostess of "At the Well" this week.

Here's her challenging question:

Do you have a family vision? If not, what would you like it to be?

I truly encourage you to go over to her place and read about this subject. She challenges married couples, singles and empty nesters alike. Incredibly insightful post, Natalie, and one that has challenged me yet again. These women at the well certainly are stretching me.

Now my husband has been trying to set some family goals for quite awhile now. The way he is wired is dependent upon it. He has done such a good job of it too, which has kept me--this left-brained, all-over-the-map, flitty creative type--probably out of serious emotional trouble. Because of the way I'm wired, I have a difficult time getting behind the goals he sets, but I pray and I try.

As a result of this mix, Brian almost fell off the loveseat last night when I asked him this question: "Honey, what would you say our family vision is?"

Then it was my turn to fall off my side of the loveseat when he answered: "Blurred."

It brought about an incredible discussion about the lack of intentionality on our part to think about where we want to "end up" as a family, instead of just where we want to "be" as a family. Even though there are no guarantees that we will end up the way we plan, it will help us keep our focus on a daily basis, hopefully motivating us to stay the course.

In the zoom out, big picture lens, our family vision is the greatest commandment of all:

Mark 12:29-31 ( (NIV)

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love 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."

Though these verses direct the decisions we make, Brian and I seem to think our challenge comes with the zoom in, and that is the one we will begin to turn our attention toward...because both of us are kind of tired of the blur. We need to set a tighter vision to help us have some discipline and focus with the larger one. Hopefully, by doing so, we'll all see the Lord's path for us a little more clearly along the way.

Proverbs 16:1-9 (The Message)

Everything with a Place and a Purpose

Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
God probes for what is good.

Put God in charge of your work,
then what you've planned will take place.

God made everything with a place and purpose;
even the wicked are included—but for judgment.

God can't stomach arrogance or pretense;
believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.

Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-God deflects evil.

When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.

Far better to be right and poor
than to be wrong and rich.

We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.

SONday!

Button courtesy of Kristen from A Heart Stirred Designs.