Fabulous Mother's Day Giveaway!

Close your eyes for a moment and think of a few moments when life felt full. You know, those times when you felt as if you could simply stay forever–laughing, loving, enjoying God's goodness.

Who was with you in those moments? For many of us, mothers, sisters, daughters and friends were near. And it's likely that a table was close by too. We say so often that the kitchen is the hub of a home–the place where relationships are nurtured, hearts warmed, and bodies fed.  

Those moments matter so much because we live in a crazy, busy world. And taking time to return to full and abundant life–remembering we're created for being more than doing, for relationships more than work, for God and not ourselves–somehow puts everything else in perspective again.

The people who give us those moments are the ones who makes our lives richer, deeper, and more meaningful. And we love them for it. Jesus said He came to give us "life to the fullest" and so many times the family and friends are His hands, feet, and heart in doing so.

That's why DaySpring created the Life Collection just in time for Mother's Day. It's based on John 10:10, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full."

And the wonderful news is that DaySpring is letting me share it with you!

(By the way, I always wonder, "Should I blog about this?" because I'm not here to sell you stuff. And if you ever feel like I am, I hope you e-mail me and tell me to knock it off. But I consider you friends and friends don't let each other miss out on anything fabulous, right?)

This week's giveaway is two place settings from the Life Collection. Each place setting includes all four plates shown above. You'll have a set for you and a set to share! You can keep the four plates together or divide them up as four separate gifts. They can be used as decorations, set out on plate stands, or serve up your favorite food (chocolate, anyone?). I've seen the plates in person and they're absolutely gorgeous.

The plates are just part of the entire Life Collection. There are also amazing items like these...

 

 

You can check out the rest of the collection and use coupon code LIFE20 for 20% of your total order from DaySpring.com (and there's free shipping for orders over $50).  Please be sure to share the love by passing this along to your friends and family too!

To be entered to win the plates, just leave a comment by midnight on Saturday sharing who you would give the other set to and why. If you're a subscriber, remember to go to the site to leave a comment rather than replying to the e-mail.

The winner will be announced on Monday morning so we can ship them to you in time for Mother's Day!

Reflect one more time on those moments when life felt full...then go find a way to make another one this Mother's Day.

I need an intervention

Let's say, hypothetically, that someone wrote a profound and deeply spiritual blog post about getting up to spend time with Jesus at 5am and then slept until 7am this morning...

Okay, okay, it's true. I did.  

(And did I mention that I'm supposed to be at work by 8 and it takes me 35 minutes to get there? Yeah, it was one of those mornings.)

I debated about whether or not to share this because, you know, some of you might have a little bit of a delusional idea that I might have some part of my life together.

But in the end I decided that I just can't keep anything from you so there it is. I bet the Proverbs 31 woman would not blog about such a thing and then oversleep. But she had servant girls so it's really not a fair comparison.

Anyway, I'm not going to make excuses. Except I will say that my hubby left at 4am this morning. After he was gone I fell back asleep and the rest is history.

So even though I've already goofed it up, I'm committed. But I need help, serious help. So all of you morning people and converted night owls, leave me a comment and tell me what I need to do. Please.

(By the way, all of this sleep talk reminds me of a story. When I was a newlywed, my husband--the ultra morning person--used to tell me, "You can get up early. You'll be fine!" I insisted that my hair would fall out or some other tragedy would occur if I got up a moment before it was really necessary. One morning he left for work early. My alarm went off, I got a shower, and was eating breakfast when the phone rang. My hubby asked, "Hey, whatcha doing?" I told him I was about to head out the door. He started laughing and then confessed to changing all the clocks in our apartment to an hour later. "See," he said quite cheerily, "You can get up early." Oh, I love that man, but it's amazing he's still alive.)

So if you don't help me, I'll have to ask Mark for assistance and he's likely to take drastic measures again--like installing an eject button on my side of the bed. Let's not give him the opportunity.

At this moment I'm feeling thankful for grace. And thankful for all of you lovely readers who don't judge me. You're not judging, right?

When life presses in, we can reach out for love again

The crowd is thick--joyful, busy, full of life.

But she is alone, afraid, wondering if she should even be there. For years no one has touched her. The elbows jostling, arms bumping, and shoulders brushing feel welcome and uncomfortable.

Then she sees the one she has been waiting for during twelve long years of suffering. Perhaps she had been in the crowd many times. But today she slips through the people, tentatively at first, and then using her elbows, voice, and hands until she stands within a foot or so of him. Fear grips her, taunting thoughts run through her mind, but she has come too far to turn away now.

One trembling hand reaches out and touches the edge of His cloak. In an instant she feels the pain stop and then a sudden, inexplicable surge of joy. She knows she has found healing, hope, life--everything that has been missing for so long.

He turns and asks, "Who touched me?"

She hadn't expected this. Her plan had been to remain unnoticed. But Jesus asks, and trembling, she finally answers.

He looks at her with eyes of love, eyes that seem to really know, and says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace" (Luke 8:48). 

One of our pastors, Matt Newman, shared a great message from that story last night. As I listened I had this thought: So often I settle for staying in the crowd. It's not that Jesus is far away. I feel like I can see him and often even hear him. But life is busy. I'm having fun with my friends. I'm right in the middle of the action. In so many ways, I'm distracted.

Eventually I get tired, worn out, and frustrated with life. I long for something more. Last night I realized that's because I'm not taking those final steps to intentionally come close to Christ--close enough to touch him, receive his grace, and find what my heart needs each day.

So I just did something crazy. I signed up for the 5:16 club. It's a group of women who are committed to spending time with God each morning. You can read more about how it started here. You can choose whatever time you'd like but I picked 5:16.

As I'm typing this a part of me is already asking myself, "What were you thinking?" I'm not a morning person, as many of you know. The infamous story is that I once put chocolate on the alarm clock to bribe myself to get out of bed. I ate it and back to bed. Like I said, not a morning person.

But in spite of that, I know the answer to the question above. I was thinking that it's time to get out of the crowd and get close again. It's time to focus less on doing and more on being. It's time to reach out again and touch the one who has touched me.

In so many ways, for so many reasons, it's time to get up.

 

Would any of you like to join the 5:16 club with me? If so, leave a comment here and then sign up at the 5:16 site. If you do, I'll commit to praying for you each morning. And I would love for you to do the same for me--I'm definitely going to need it! Let's share this with other women too. I believe we can do this together by the grace of God and the power of very strong coffee!

I'm not cool

Update: My amazing (and compassionate) friend Mandy has thrown down the gauntlet by sharing her own uncool pics and inviting others to do the same. So visit The Life of Us: The Baker Family and get busy on your blog post. Then be sure to tell us about it. Queens of Uncoolness, unite!  

Congratulations to Cathy Davis for winning the book and carafe from Jeanne Winters!

My blogging has been a bit slow this week because of a zillion things. But rather than bore you with them I'll go straight to a revelation that has come to me anew.

Here it goes...

I'm not cool.

Now, really, I've known this my entire life. I've got lots of Junior High pictures to prove it. I wore white socks with loafers, for crying out loud. But I vaguely had this idea that one day I would grow up, look in the mirror, and finally say, "Oh, yes, Holley you have finally become cool."

Well, I tell you what, it ain't gonna happen.

You may be asking yourself what led to this conclusion. There are many, many examples this week but here are a few.

First, I got to talk to a person I admire (who shall remain nameless) on the phone this week. I answered the phone and they said, "Hello, Holley, this is amazing-person-you-admire." And I said, "Hello, amazing-person-I-admire, this is Holley. Oh, of course it is, because you called ME."

Yes, I really said that word for word.

Second, my pants. I have one really good pair of black pants. The hem has fallen out and I do not know how to sew. I also am not allowed to have a hot glue gun (see previous post on lack of craft skills). Rather than taking them to someone, I save every itty-bitty safety pin I get to hold them in place. Right now I'm up to FIVE. I was in an important meeting today (Love you, Hallmark people) and looked down to see one of the five had jumped ship. Some poor, innocent person will probably get stabbed in the hallway because of my crazy pants.

Also, I still sing to my dog. I can't help it. Tonight I was changing the lyrics to a Christmas song (Walking in a Winter Wonderland.) My voice is terrible, the words make no sense, and it's spring. But I do it anyway. Do you want to know why? Because I am not cool.

I usually try to have something really deep or worthwhile to say at this point (or at least I try). But it's Friday night, What Not to Wear is on, and my in-laws will be arriving any moment. So I'm just going to wrap all of this up by sharing two photos I should probably track down and burn that recently surfaced on facebook reminding me just how deep my uncoolness goes...

  

Oh, yes, those bangs (on the left). I'm most likely responsible for global warming.

 

And just in case you thought I lied about the loafers and white socks, there they are in all their glory. 

If you're wondering, "What's the purpose of this post?" then I'll tell you. I'm sacrificially helping you feel better about yourself because no matter how uncool you may think you are, I think I've got you beat. And if you try to argue with me, I want to see a picture of your loafers.

Simple, Creative Ways to Express Your Faith: Jeanne Winters Interview and Giveaway

Jeanne Winters is a wife, mom, artist, blogger, and author of Inspirational Home: Simple Ideas for Uplifting Décor and Craft. We share a passion for creativity (although she’s quite the crafty girl and I’m not allowed to have scissors). We also love finding new ways to share our faith and encourage others. I know many of you are the same way. So when Jeanne agreed to let me interview her for my blog, I was thrilled. 

 

To kick off our interview, do you have a simple and creative idea for us?

Yes! My sweet husband picked some wildflowers for me on his way home from work yesterday. :-) I popped them into an espresso cup to dress up a side table. Some leftover fuzzy purple ribbon and a sterling silver "Jesus" charm add the finishing touch!"

It’s fun to see how who we’re going to be shows up even when we’re little girls. Share a story with us about being creative from your childhood.

Hmmm, like the time I drew all over my sister's and my dressers? Definitely artistic expression, but unfortunately, it didn't end very well.  :-)

I was always drawing, coloring, and painting, though. Some of my earliest works were cartoon characters copied from an old collection of comic books passed down to us - Daisy Duck, Minnie Mouse, Archie's gang, etc. I moved on to portraits of my little friends, but I've never done people professionally. I love when I can get away from the computer and draw or paint "for real!"

For those of us who are intimidated when it comes to trying to make our homes beautiful (like me!), what insights can you give us to make it a little less scary?

I think you should first ask yourself if your home is a loving & safe haven for you and your family. If the answer is "yes," then relax! It's already a beautiful place to be!  :-) 

Anything beyond that - like improving the esthetics - is icing on the cake! Now, if you enjoy a little frosting ... read on. :-)

My advice is to think of decorating as making your home "Holley Beautiful" [or Holley & Mark Beautiful]. For example, do you think flea market chic is charming or do you cringe at the sight of peeling paint and distressed wood? Are you obsessed with mid-century modern or do you get a chill from the stark, perhaps un-cozy furniture? Start with knowing who you are and what works for your lifestyle. Are you outdoorsy, elegant, fun, casual, colorful, quiet, modern, social, etc? Your home should reflect that. Be true to yourself and people will see your beauty reflected in your home.

A very simple rule is to be conservative with the big ticket items, and have fun with the rest!  Scatter throughout with unique touches to give your rooms personality: The mementos from your childhood captured in a shadowbox, the vase from the art fair as your dining table centerpiece, the collection of family photos lining the staircase, the dishes from your grandmother on display in the hutch, etc. Surround yourself with beautiful memories and items of your heritage, your interests, your hobbies, your travels.

If you dare, share a beautiful anomaly with us.

The fact that the ideas I share are simple, inexpensive and easy to do is no marketing ploy—I love to design & create, but am sorely lacking in patience! ... not to mention time and money to do things any other way!  :-)

What are your dreams for the future?

When I think about the future, my children come to mind first - for them to be healthy and joyful and tight with mommy & daddy - then I pray I'm able to continue to bless others through my arts & crafts without taking anything away from them! I have many more products, paintings and ideas on the horizon!

 

If you’d like more great ideas from Jeanne, be sure to buy a copy of her book Inspirational Home: Simple Ideas for Uplifting Décor and Craft. Please also take time to visit her delightful site and blog. And look for her new gift line in Hallmark stores now!

This week I'm giving away a copy of Jeanne's book...

AND just in time for summer sipping or displaying flowers, this gorgeous "Living Water" (John 7:38) carafe she designed for DaySpring...

  

To enter, leave a comment sharing one simple idea for creatively expressing your faith by midnight on Thursday. Or if you’re like me, you can tell us about a crafty friend of yours and what she does. And if you’ve got a blog post or link to share be sure to let us know so we can visit!

Thank you, Jeanne, for sharing your heart and ideas with us.

Let's all pass along this post to others so we can help our new friend creatively encourage even more women!

God Thinks You're Beautiful

Just flip through a few television channels and it’s easy to see that our culture is obsessed with beauty. Stars get plastic surgery before they grace the red carpet. Makeover shows transform lives and faces. Miss America crowns one girl the fairest of them all. From the time we are young girls we wonder how we fit into all of this fuss about beauty.

I clearly remember changing outfits at least ten times the evening before the first day of school in fourth grade. I would put one on, parade in front of my parents, and then rush back to my room to stare in the mirror. None of them seemed quite right. I was a wallflower who got few compliments.

The next morning I woke up to find a note beside my bed. It said, “The outfit looks great and so do you. Love, Dad.” I don’t even think he knew which outfit I ended up choosing. It didn’t matter. I belonged to him and that made me beautiful in his eyes no matter what I was wearing.

Our Heavenly Father feels the same way about us. He created us and regardless of what the world may try to tell us, He thinks we’re beautiful. I attended a conference taught by writer and women’s ministry leader Bekah Mulvaney. She talked about women’s search for acceptance and how she is learning to embrace God’s view of her.

Then she said something I'll never forget, “When I look in the mirror I see my imperfections. When God looks at me He probably thinks I’m adorable! After all, he made this nose, these eyes, and my heart.”

The biblical book of Song of Solomon is thought by most scholars to be a picture of Christ and His relationship with us. Over and over the lover he says words to his beloved like, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me” (Song of Solomon 2:10).

Angela Thomas explores this more in depth through her book, Do You Think I’m Beautiful? The Question Every Woman Asks. She also shares how we can respond to our desire for beauty. She says:

“If the question, ‘Do you think I’m beautiful?’ came attached to my soul, then maybe the answer wasn’t ever meant to fully come from this world. Maybe the purpose of the question is to take me by the hand and walk me into the presence of the Creator. My soul cries out and asks me the questions meant to lead me to God. Maybe all that really matters is what He thinks of me.”

Whether we obsess about it or ignore it, we’re made to know we’re beautiful. That truth can ultimately only come from God. He’s waiting to speak to our hearts the words we’ve always longed to hear…

You are beautiful.

 

Risk is Right: 10 Courageous Quotes I Love

I've collected quotes about risk, courage, and doing the impossible for the last couple of years. Here are a few of my favorites...

 

Impossible is one of God's favorite words.

—Max Lucado

 

Jesus calls us to a life of daring adventure.
—Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck

 

Nothing happens overnight or without a fight.
—Henry Cloud and John Townsend

 

Faith sees the invisible,
believes the unbelievable,
and receives the impossible.
—Corrie Ten Boom

 

You can’t go with God and stay where you are.
—Henry Blackaby

 

The decision to grow always involves
a choice between risk and comfort.
—John Ortberg

 

Success is taking the next step of obedience.
—Dean Kerns

 

I have found that there are three stages
in every great work of God;
first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.
—Hudson Taylor

 

Courage is love in action. 
—Why Good Things Happen to Good People

 

Risk is right.

—John Piper

 

What's one of your favorite quotes?

Tired? You don't have to carry the weight of the world anymore.

Driving to work I wonder as spring trees whiz by...

Why am I here?

How do I fulfill my purpose?

What can I do to make a difference?

These questions feel as weighty as the boulders lining the rocky shelves beside me. I reach up with one hand, rub my shoulders, and glance up at the endless, blue sky.

Lord, why are these questions so heavy?

It seems my heart hears a whisper in response...

Because they are God-sized.

I picture a little girl then, red dress, scuffed shoes, leaning down to lift a rock at the edge of the backyard. Straining, striving, finally sitting down, head on her knees. Daddy silently sees, understands, comes to pick up the burden and his daughter.

She smiles wide, leans into him, remembers...

Being cherished

Receiving grace

Living in love

These are the truths her shoulders, and her heart, were created to carry.

And, as I pull into the parking lot, light as air, it seems I've left a million pounds along the road.

Thanks to all of you who left comments on my last post--You can do all things...but you don't have to do it all. If you haven't already, I hope you'll read through what everyone shared. I was so encouraged and I think you will be too. I used the random number generator and Crystal is the winner of the bangle bracelet! 

You can do all things...but you don't have to do it all

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

 

Since 1941 the comic character Wonder Woman has captured our imaginations. She uses her beauty, strength, and superpowers to bring justice to the world. Created by William Moulton Marston with the help of his wife, Wonder Woman was intended to represent all that women could be in a time when they still did not have much power or influence in society. Rather than relying on brute force, Wonder Woman used “love” and her “lasso of truth” to get things done.

 

Today women sometimes joke about feeling as if we need to be “Wonder Woman” in our daily lives. We often juggle a career, kids, marriage, friendship, and church activities. We start the day exhausted and end it the same way. Yet we push ahead, feeling sure we are also called to be a superhero who saves the world. We pay the price with our bodies, hearts, and minds.

 

We often also harbor a secret—one we share with few people in our lives. The secret is that despite our Herculean efforts, our endless giving, and our selfless devotions…it never feels like enough. There is always another load of laundry to do, another hurting heart to comfort, another Bible study to attend. We silently wonder, “If this is the abundant life then why am I so tired?”

 

I’ll admit that I’ve often struggled with this question. As a motivated, goal-oriented woman I can wear myself out in a hurry. Wonder Woman knows her mission and that’s all she does. She also knows both her powers and her limitations. I look at the verse above and tend to say, “I can do everything…so that’s what I’d better do.” But I’m learning God never calls me to do it all.

 

My mission isn’t to save the world; Jesus has already done that for me.  My mission also isn’t to be like my neighbors or the woman I admire at church. In The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and Life Laurie Beth Jones says, “You are either living your mission or you are living someone else’s.”

 

The world tells us to do it all; Jesus tells us to do what’s essential. Just because we can do all things through Him doesn’t mean we have to or should.

 

And I think He wants to lovingly remind all of our hearts today that in His eyes we’re already Wonder Women—even if the laundry doesn’t get done.

 

 

Ladies, I'm feeling a bit stressed. That's why I posted this devo--I need it! I'd love for you to leave a comment sharing one thing that helps when you feel like you have to be "Wonder Woman." If you do so by midnight on Wednesday I'll show my appreciation by entering you in a giveaway for this beautiful sterling silver bangle bracelet from DaySpring with Philippians 4:13 engraved on it.

 

An Easter Prayer

LORD,

Thank You for the gift of HOPE

You gave us on Easter morning.

Because of You we know

that no problem is too difficult

and even death does not have power over us.

Thank You for the gift of JOY

You gave us when You were resurrected.

Because of you we know

that no matter how challenging life may be,

in the end we will rejoice again.

Thank You for the gift of LOVE

You gave us when You laid down Your life.

Because of You we know

that there is no sin too great to separate us

and we are incredibly valuable to You.

Thank You for the gift of LIFE

You gave us when you left the tomb.

Because of Easter we know

this world is just the beginning

and we will spend forever in heaven with You.

We celebrate You, JESUS,

with hearts full of praise and gratitude

for who You are and all You’ve done for us!

Amen.