Xmas: Offensive or Not?

Xmas is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. ... The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, which in English is "Christ". The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.

Something I reflected on a few years ago...
 
When you come to train tracks, the sign says: Railroad X-ing...X used to (and OFTEN still does!) stand for cross!  So if you CHOOSE to, you could look at it as an opportunity to take offense OR to remember X isn't taking the place of Christ, Christ took the place for us on the CROSS!
And it's an opportunity to tell those who use X for Christmas THANK YOU for reminding me that Jesus Christ took my place on the CROSS!

Just a thought...

Stop Procrastinating and Start DOING!

We should be well on our way to decluttering by now, right? Well, maybe there are some of us who made that list and became overwhelmed at all that needs to be done. How on earth did we accumulate so much STUFF?! I want to encourage you today, dear friend, that while the work seems a task too impossible to tackle, we can and will accomplish all that comes into our hearts to complete in our houses (2 Chronicles 7:11, NJKV).

If looking at the list makes you feel as though there is no point because you can't get it all done in one day, then set a timer for 20 minutes and do what you can. Set a goal to complete one or two things a day on the list. Listen, the stuff didn't accumulate in 20 minutes, 20 days or more than likely 20 months! It's going to take a little while to get through it. But you need to just keep moving forward because that is making progress and that is our overall goal!

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Starting the Week Off Right!

Good morning! How was your weekend? I hope your decluttering list wasn't too intimidating for you last week. Remember, just take one day at a time. This week we will begin with decluttering our first room! Are you excited? Scared? Wondering what lost things you might actually find? I know the feeling well. Just take one room, one area at a time!

As we prepare to declutter our homes, I want to share with you how I get ready to do all that needs to be done each day. Are you ready? It's my daily routine! My daily routine is not going to look like yours at all, so please keep that in mind. My routine does have some similar components to every successful person's routine, though! I get up after a good night's sleep, make breakfast, do my daily devotion, make the bed, exercise, and get dressed for the day. That's my routine in a nutshell. In reality, it looks more like this:

• Licked awake by hungry puppies (2...Chihuahuas who are 2 years old!)
• Let puppies outside while I get their breakfast ready
• Let puppies in to eat
• Load dishwasher
• Let puppies back outside after they eat
• Make my nutrient dense shake
• Let puppies back inside
• Turn off porch light before heading back upstairs
• Read devotions
• Do my workout for the day (sometimes twice a day!)
• Make my bed
• Shower
• Get dressed for the day
• Take care of business items (respond to emails, write blog posts, contact clients/customers, etc.)

All of this I do between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.! In the midst of all of that chaos at the start of the day, five things help me start the day off right: get a good night's sleep, eat breakfast, exercise, daily devotions, and getting dressed. It might seem pretty simple, but for some people, getting all five items done every day is quite the feat. If you will commit to doing those five things every day, I know you will be more productive, have more energy, and be more successful in your decluttering goals.

Start the week off right!


Lyn~

Hump Day Encouragement

How have the last 2 days gone for you? Were you able to make a list of everything in your house, car, and computer that needs to be decluttered? Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed at all that should be done? I understand completely!

I want to encourage you today by reminding you that you didn't come to have clutter in just one day, week, or even one month. So don't expect that you will overcome it in a short amount of time either! I know that can be easier to say and hear than to heed. I am the kind of person who sees all that has to be accomplished and will try to finish it--ALL in one day! But that just isn't practical nor is it healthy.

If your list is intimidating, here is a simple solution for tackling it: start with the room you spend the most time in. If you have to take something from that room to another, just set it down in that room and walk right back to the main room you are cleaning; otherwise, you'll get sidetracked and won't finish either room!

Lyn~

Decluttering: You Have to Start SOMEWHERE!

First, I have to apologize for not writing since JULY! I've had some things going on that distracted me from my blog, and, well, there's just no real excuse. I'm sorry I abandoned you for nearly 3 months! In that time, the Lord has really been dealing with me on some things (which I will share with you in the coming weeks!), and I am seeing the importance of connecting with you every week.

Today, I want to begin a series on clutter. Stop right now and look around your present area. Are there papers everywhere, dishes in the sink, clothes lying around waiting to be folded and put away (or WASHED!), are there toys piled up, is your bed unmade, or is that catch-all table somewhere under all that STUFF? It is in my house! What about this? Do you have dozens, hundreds, or THOUSANDS of unread emails? Does your car have empty fast food cups filling the floors?
If any of these sound like an area in your life, I have good news for you! You can start to declutter TODAY! We'll talk about just how to do that this week, but I wanted you to begin to think about the clutter that we have all just become comfortable with. We don't realize that it is taking over various areas of our lives...until someone drops in for a surprise visit, asks if you read that email, or a child needs that one shirt for a choir performance!

The first step in decluttering any area of our lives is to realize that we DO have clutter! Take inventory of the areas that need to be gone through. Start with the area you spend the most time in. Make a list of the things that need to be done in that area. If it's the kitchen, for example, your list might include: load dishwasher, empty dishwasher, clean microwave inside and out, throw out old fast food cup, put towels in drawer, throw old mail/junk mail out, wipe down coffee maker, wipe off counters, organize plastics cupboard (how many of us have DOZENS of Tupperware type containers with NO matching lids?!), etc. Don't do anything in that area yet. Then go through other areas of your house and take note of what needs to be done. Perhaps there are things that can be kept. Maybe a toy is broken and should be thrown out. Maybe you don't use that trendy copper pan and you can donate it. What if your unused items could be sold and bring you a little extra money?!

These are all starting points in the journey f decluttering your life. You may be trying to figure out why getting organized at home is so important. Well, Terri Savelle Foy says, "The way you do anything is the way you do EVERYTHING!" In other words, if there are areas of your life that are cluttered, there are likely areas of your spiritual life that are cluttered, too. Matthew 7:16 says, "By their fruits you will know them." In other words, what your home looks like, your car looks like (inside, not the type or value!), is what YOU look like! That's powerful, isn't it?

So this week, let's prepare to get started on decluttering our lives. Start by making that list, but don't start on it just yet. We'll get to that, don't worry! Before you know it, your home, life, and fruit will reflect your organization!

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Is Your Eye on the Prize?

If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that I love vision boards! They are, I believe, an integral component to us realizing our dreams and goals AND accomplishing them. Imagine for a moment, that I were setting out to take a road trip. For many of you, that's not difficult to imagine. I LOVE road trips! Okay, so I get in my van, gas tank is full, and I head out of the neighborhood. I then leave town, and eventually, I'm on the interstate, and I'm going. Do you see any issues with this? Let's see if we can find some...

First, while I have a full gas tank now, I can only go as far as that tank will take me, right? I mean, I didn't say I brought so much money for gas, so it's safe to say, I don't have anything more than the gas already in there. How far will that take me? From Colorado, probably to Goodland, Kansas; Chadron, Nebraska; Casper, Wyoming; or Trinidad, Colorado. Suppose I set out for California or even Kentucky. Will what I have now get me there? Of course not. We must plan for the trip, right? Think of the bridesmaids who were waiting for the groom to come and had their lamps full. They were ready and had enough for the "trip" as it were (Matthew 25:1-10, NLT). We must bring enough for the wait or the trip or we might miss it!

Next, though I do have a cell phone, I don't have a map on this fictitious trip. And worse than that, I don't actually have a clear idea of where I am going in the first place. Proverbs 3, 14, and 23 and Psalms tell us that we need to follow the path of the Lord:

Finally, no one knows my plans--not even ME! I cannot realistically jump into my van and drive away taking whatever may come. No, that would be irresponsible. And God doesn't want us to do that either. He wants to be the one to tell us where we are going, how we will be going, and most importantly, WHEN we will be going. This is why our vision boards are so very important to our lives.

We must have a clear vision for what we are doing or we are really of little use to our local ministry or ourselves. How can we lead if we don't have direction?

Keep your eye on the prize that God gave you the vision for! You will accomplish it! How do I know? Because He said that everything we put our hands to would prosper!!

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

What Kind of Runner Are You?

Running has not been my "thing." I would probably have a t-shirt that says, "I don't run and if you see me running, you should probably run, too, because something is probably chasing me!" But as I was studying my Bible school book, "The Challenge," I realized something that will probably shock those who know me. I...AM a runner! 

I'll explain that in a minute, but first, I want to talk about the different kinds of runners. 
First, there are the traditional runners. They are the ones who wake up in the morning and go for a morning run and come home from work and run again. I am not that kind of runner! 
Next, there are those who run from situations, issues, problems, and trouble. They get so overwhelmed by all of it, that the only solution is to run and leave the problem behind. The trouble with this kind of runner is that the thing they are running from usually follows. This runner runs to excuses, but is never at fault. I am not that kind of a runner (though I used to be). 
Then, there is the person who runs toward danger only to help someone in need, like police and firefighters. They constantly think of the well-being of others ahead of themselves even to the point of putting themselves in danger if it means saving someone else. I like to think I am that kind of runner, but I've never been in a dangerous situation to know for sure. For now, I am not that kind of runner. 
At this point, you are probably thinking, "What kind of runner is she talking about if she isn't any of the ones she's mentioned so far?!" Well, there is one more I'd like to talk about. I am a vision runner! I am the kind of runner who gets a vision and runs toward it! I am running toward all that the Lord has shown me to do with a zeal! I see what He has planned for me, and I want it! I want it ALL! The trouble for me comes when I see all the things and want them all--right now! 

Everything He has planned for me and for you isn't necessarily going to come to fruition immediately, though, and certainly not necessarily at the same time. I often get so excited about the prospect of all I have vision for that my wild horses run, well, WILD! And the only way to deal with that is to rein them in...through prayer. When we get a vision for something, we have to be sure we are seeking the Lord in it all first! Then, and this is a tough pill to swallow, we have to be okay with Him leading us away from one of those things--for NOW! He doesn't give us a vision for something and then take it away. Remember, He is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that he should change his mind (Numbers 23:19). If He gave you a dream or vision, you can be sure He has a purpose for that! Our job is to be patient and do what He has shown us to do in due season.

What kind of runner are you? Are you running from problems or running toward the vision God has given you? Keep the vision in front of you, seek the Lord, and you'll find out in what direction you're running!


Have a great week!

Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

This week, I stepped outside of my comfort zones for so many things! I invited several folks to hear about a coaching opportunity, I asked for things knowing the answer might be NO, and I was creative in another way besides writing! But it certainly wasn't easy by any means. But I did each of those things! Some instantly and without any hesitation, but one I actually did a bit scared. 

My confession today is that I obeyed what the Lord told me to do, what He gave me a vision for. It wasn't exactly what I saw, but it's going to be amazing! You see, aside from my writing, I don't really consider myself to be all that creative. But several months ago, when our church decided on a Vacation Bible School curriculum, I got a vision for a great accent and background for the set: a giant barrel wave complete with surfboard! What I got was a somewhat smaller wave with a boogie board. But you know what? That's okay! I obeyed what I believed the Lord told me to do, and that is what matters. He wants our instant obedience, even if we do it scared. Because He wants us to trust Him and the plans He has for our lives! 

Here's a rough idea of what I'm working on. I'll post a finished photo on the Facebook page!

This weekend, I want you to survey what the Lord has asked of you, how you responded, and if you obeyed instantly. 

By the way, that thing I asked for ended in a YES!

Have a blessed weekend Super Moms!!


Lyn~

Where Are You Running?

I have never been a runner. My best friend and I joke that I don't run and if you see me running, you should run, too, because something is probably chasing me! But all joking aside, I started thinking about how in the past, when circumstances were closing in on me, I began to run. I ran from the situation, ran from the responsibilities, and worse...I ran from God. But that is the opposite of what He wants us to do. Let's look at David, when he was just a boy...

Let me paint the picture of David and Goliath for you. See, no one would face Goliath. He was huge and even mighty men in Saul's armies were afraid to take him on. But David had faith in the Lord. Here's what David did when Goliath finally agreed to fight him. Goliath wasn't sure David was serious, at first, because he was just a boy. But then David did something none of the other men had done!

When was the last time you ran TOWARD your situations and circumstances? I can't say when that was for me. But I pray that I would face challenges and trials just as David did, by running toward them with faith that the Lord would fight my battles for me! 

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

We Are Blessed and We Should Expect Favor!

For far too long, I convinced myself that I wasn't worthy. Of course none of us is worthy of the price Jesus paid on our behalf for our sins, but I want to talk about being worthy of His blessings and favor. Have you ever seen someone suddenly come into a sum of money and think, "I wish that could happen for me." And in the back of your mind, you have a conversation that includes recounting all your past failures, sins, and disappointments, so you begin to think that those things can't happen because of your past? I've definitely been there, thought that!

But here's the amazing thing. Jesus not only paid for our sins, He gifted us the ability to walk in favor and His blessings throughout our lives! We hardly ever think about that, do we? It's usually a pray for favor and a prayer for blessings that we seek, not fully realizing that we have the Blessing of the Lord and the Favor of the Lord right here, right now!

Deuteronomy 33:23 tells us long before Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law that:

We have the favor AND the blessing of the Lord already! Isn't that wonderful?! So, when that parking place close to the door of the grocery store opens up or we're granted something that seems impossible, take note! That is the blessing and favor of the Lord operating in your life!


Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Pressing On Toward the Goal

With the busyness of our daily lives, it's so very easy to lose focus of our dreams, goals, and visions. This week, I had many struggles and challenges that pulled me away from focusing on my goals. I was frustrated with myself that I had allowed myself to be distracted. I was upset that plans throughout the week had changed. I was losing motivation toward completing those things I had begun. I had chosen to allow myself to be further distracted by all those negative emotions and feelings!

But praise the Lord His mercies are new every morning! It's like getting a do-over day when we feel like we've messed things up. But no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what others may tell us about our dreams and goals, we have to stay focused. If you believe that you can and will achieve your dreams, goals, and visions, don't let anyone talk you out of that. Keep moving toward those goals and purpose every day to do at least one thing that will propel you toward your goal. 

All in all, remember this:

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

I have made a decision. It affects not only me but my family, my friends, my co-workers, and my readers. I have made a decision that I needed to make. That will change the course of my life. And today, I am sharing that decision with you.

On Thursday evening, renowned evangelist, Dr. Jerry Savelle, and his motorcycle club, Chariots of Light, came to our church. The message was nothing less than powerful and encouraging, truthful and empowering. At the end of the service, Brother Jerry asked for people to come forward who had been battling quitting, quitting anything in our lives, so I went forward for prayer. As Brother Jerry began to pray, he spoke these words over me:

(C) Super Mom the Illusion

I have decided that I am not going to quit anymore! Not going to quit writing, not going to quit working out, not going to quit eating more healthier, not going to quit seeking Him first! I will stand. I will not quit. I will not compromise, and I will win!

This word isn't only for me! If you've been struggling with quitting lately, take ahold of those words Brother Jerry said and claim them for yourself and your life, too! Decide for yourself--TODAY--that you will no longer quit! I pray the Lord would bring you clarity to know if that is something you need to work on, and that you would be willing to take ahold of all He has for you if you just persevere a little while longer!


Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~

Hump Day Encouragement

This week, I felt stretched very thin. Between the magazine I edit, the youth organization I work with, church, my ministry, my family, and my personal coaching, I felt that I was failing so many people in so many ways. Sound familiar to you?

What I decided I had to do was find balance between those things that are a part of my calling and those things that I simply feel like I have to do but that aren't part of my calling. We need to understand that while we are responsible for what we are called to do, we are also responsible for those things that we choose to do that pull us away from that. It's the same with our visions. If we constantly allow things to distract us from completing them, there won't be any time left for our goals.

Today, I want you to give yourself permission to say 'No' to those things that pull you away from your calling or your vision. Begin to plan your day, your week, with God's plan for you in mind. I want you to allow yourself to step down from a position that you feel you have to fulfill because no one else is. I want you to be free to pursue all that the Lord has for you this year in your calling, in your vision, and for His Kingdom!

Have a blessed week!

Lyn~

Listen Up, Soul!!

This week, I struggled. I struggled with patience, with getting angry, with lack of motivation, with being cheerful, with celebrating, and with finishing. I was feeling like such a low person. Why would God want to use a complaining, unmotivated, quitter like me?! I was really bummed about where I was, and what was worse was that I didn't know how to get out of that attitude!

Then I was reminded of David. He went through the same thing! Yes, these feelings I was having, this lack of motivation, bad attitude, and the rest had all been experienced by David thousands of years ago! 

When David was faced with these feelings, what did he do? He talked to his soul! So tell your soul, "Listen up! We're going to praise the Lord!" Your soul will respond, and until then, walk in the knowledge that God is transforming your attitude even now!


Have a great week!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

If you're like me, there are certain events and activities in which you have chosen to give of your time and talents. Sometimes it is for something you are passionate about. Other times, it is for an event or activity or ongoing meeting that you feel as though you have to do, often because there is no one else to do it, so you feel it is your duty to take up that burden.

I'm so guilty of that! I love doing things for my church family, that's not ever an issue for me. I feel that it's part of my calling to work with my pastors and others on things for the Kingdom, like renovating a decades old building into a bright, welcoming, modern gathering place for God's people. But other things pull at me for my time and talent. I enjoy working for the youth organization in which I volunteer. However, I often find myself wondering if this is a part of God's plan for my life right now or if it's just something I'm doing to do for me. 

My heart has certainly not been in working in the organization the past few months. I have let deadlines slide, put off attending meetings, and somewhat withdrew myself from most of the activities of the organization. But I must confess that the Lord has been dealing with me on this. You see, He put me there for a reason. And even if I put myself in the organization, He is still going to use my work there for His benefit! The Scripture says, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Colossians 3:23).

If you're feeling as though your heart just isn't in your work, I want to encourage you to do it for the Lord rather than for men. See if you don't notice a change in your attitude! The joy of the Lord is your strength!


Have a great weekend!


Lyn~

Hump Day Encouragement

I've been meditating on what the Lord has for me this year. In fact, you have probably noticed that vision boards have been strongly emphasized this past month. That is because I want to make sure you know how important it is to get a vision, a goal, or a dream, and work toward that! Proverbs 29:18 says where there is no vision, the people perish. Another translation says they wander and yet another says the people run wild. 

(C) Morguefile.com 2017

Creating a vision board is a great way to rein in your wild horses so you no longer run wild. And if you have yet to create one for this year, refer back to my previous vision board posts with ideas on how to make them. You will want to keep your completed vision board somewhere that you can easily look at it daily. A good way to do that, if you're on the go often like I am, is to take a picture of your vision board and set it as your cell phone or tablet wallpaper! Then you're sure to see it several times a day!

(C) Super Mom the Illusion 2013

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

What Do You Have A Vision For?

Recently, a youth friend of mine realized her lifelong dream: to become a cast member at Disney World! She dreamed of being in that role for all of her teenage years and even began her own business of Princess characters who would make mall appearances, attend local parades, and serve as the main attraction at young girls' birthday parties! It was something she kept before her eyes literally everyday. She never deviated from that goal and knew one day, in God's perfect timing, she would have the dream she took hold of so many years before.

You know, that teenage friend is no different than you or I when it comes to dreaming. Maybe you feel like you're too old or young to have big, bold dreams. Maybe you feel as though you've already accomplished everything you set out to do in life. Maybe you don't know what or how to dream! It all begins with asking the Lord what He has for you in your life. Be patient. Diligently seek Him to find out what call He has placed on your life. Pray and ask for a passion if you don't have one right now. Ask God to bring back to your remembrance that thing you loved to do in your childhood or youth. Your dream has likely been with you your whole life, but for one reason or another, it was pushed to the back burner and perhaps even forgotten.

You've heard me tell the story before of how my twin sister and I used to play two things when we were little: School, where she was the teacher and I was the student, and television news where I was the news anchor and she was the weather girl. This past weekend at my vision board party, we were talking about this very thing and realized that not only did we play teacher and now she is a teacher, and we played television news and now I am a magazine editor, but I was her student and am a lifelong student, while she teaches science and weather in her STEM program at school! Isn't it awesome how God brings these things into our lives for a purpose?

Many people say, "One day I'll do this or that." But unless you have a plan and a vision for that thing, I can assure you, you will never accomplish it. You have to see it in your mind first before you'll ever do it.

I want to encourage you to read back on my Vision Board posts this week, and decide that TODAY is going to be your Day One and not your one day. What do you want to accomplish and leave for the next generation? What legacy do you want to leave? How do you want to be remembered? All these things lie in the doing of your dreams and goals!


Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Hump Day Encouragement

You may have realized that today's post is NOT titled "Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement"! We're moving toward more encouraging messages for everyone! So today, we're going to start with educating ourselves in general.

The God who created this whole universe, every plant, every flower, every insect, every animal, bird, and sea creature, mountains, clouds, rain, grassy plains, towering redwoods, rocks, lakes, rivers, and oceans, is not surprised by anything that happens in this world. He sees the beginning from the end. He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him. And even so...

You are valuable! You are loved! You were created with a purpose! You have been made for such a time as this! 

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Positive Words for Positive Results!

Lately, I've been struggling with staying positive. Watching my words and what I say has become less about making sure I'm not saying anything in unbelief or against the Word of God and more about speaking positive words over my life, my children, my finances, and relationships.

When we watch our words and what we're saying, it's not enough to keep our mouths shut to avoid speaking negatively. No! We must replace that negative speech with positive words and confessions found in the Scriptures. Here are some to get you started:

Think about this. What if we stopped talking about how much things will cost or how we can't afford this or that thing? What if we stopped saying how little our bank accounts have? What if we didn't speak to others about our aches and pains? What if we replaced the things we are saying with Scripture and aligned it with what God says.

"God, who gives life to the dead and call those things which do not exist as though they did..." -Romans 4:17.

So remember, it's not enough to NOT speak negatively. We must replace those negative things with positive things! And these things that we are positively confessing, can eventually be things that end up on our vision boards! 

What are you saying and believing for?

Friday 'Fess Up

This week, I am planning for our church Women's Ministry Vision Board Party! I am excited for what the Lord has for me and my sisters in the Lord in the next 12-18 months. But a friend of mine reminded me of something very important to remember when thinking of things to accomplish and place on our vision boards. She said that we need to consider how those things we want to do will benefit the Kingdom of God. What legacy do we want to leave our children and grandchildren? How do we want what we plan to achieve to be used by God to further His Kingdom? 

Many of us will celebrate over the holiday weekend. Some will celebrate graduations, some will celebrate those military men ad women who paid the ultimate price, some will celebrate family getting together, and some will celebrate the lives of those who have passed away. Each celebration brings with it a legacy that was left for the next generation. Consider this weekend how you want your goals and dreams to impact the Kingdom of God!

Have a blessed and memorable holiday weekend!


Lyn~

Preparing to Make Your Vision Board

This week, I want you to pray about what the Lord has for you for the next 12-18 months. If you’ve been thinking of writing a book, do it. If you’ve been thinking of writing a song or making a CD, do it. If you’ve been thinking of starting that business, losing weight, stepping out in a ministry, going back to college, working with media production, working with children, and so many more things, why not start now? Often the things that are on your heart and mind are there because the Lord has given you that dream!

Here are some ideas to get your thought process going!

List:

1    1. Countries You would like to visit
2. Things you’d like to collect
3.    Activities you’d like to try
4.    Beaches you’d like to visit
5.    Monuments you’d like to see
6.    Books you’d like to read
7.    Plays you want to see
8.    Classes you’d like to take
9.    Museums you’d like to visit
10. Parades you’d like to see or even be in
11. Languages you’d like to learn
12. States you’d like to visit
13. Special events you’d like to witness
14. Celebrities you’d like to meet
15. Organizations you want to support
16. Creative dates (like a romantic carriage ride in Downtown)
17. Adventures you’d like to go on
18. Creative projects you’d like to complete
19. Personal or family growth you’d like to see
20. Charitable or volunteer activities you’d like to participate in

I hope these ideas help you create a working list to pull from. In the next week, you'll choose up to 10 things (and at least 3!) you want to put on your vision board to accomplish in the next 12-18 months!

Have a blessed week!!


Lyn~

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Friday 'Fess Up

This week, we had some challenges. Financial issues, personality conflicts, offense, and pride tried to come into our lives. We looked at the issues first. Then, we turned to the Word of God. You see, as we begin moving toward those things the Lord has for us, Satan tries to corrupt and steal them away from us.

Many of you know of my passion for vision boards. As a part of women's ministry in my church, I'm hosting a vision board party. Well, as soon as those plans were decided on and announced, my family was immediately attacked. It's in these times that it is important for us to stand on the Word and to confess His promises to us!

So we confess:

It matters what you do when trials come your way or when you are being attacked by the enemy. As Christians, we stand on the Word of God and fight in the spiritual realm with the Word of God. It is then that He is able to dispatch His angels and fight on our behalf. We just have to put the Word--His Word--into action!


Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

Helping Your Homeschool Students Find Their Calling

I will never forget the moment when my oldest son came in to talk to me, tears in his eyes. “Mom, I’m scared. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do when I finish high school.”

It was a genuine concern he had and one I’m sure a lot of other high school students share. One moment they are happily learning and enjoying the homeschooling life. The next, it is time to decide whether or not to attend college, join the military, or begin an apprenticeship.

There are so many options available to our children when they finish. And, of course, we want to help guide and direct them, not add to their confusion.

This is when we need to take some time out of our schooling day and pray for our children. That is what we have done with each of our children, and our four oldest children are well on the way to pursuing their dreams. It is such a wonderful thing to see!

We want to pray that the Lord would show them what He created them to be and do for the Kingdom. Ask Him to give them dreams and visions. Pray that they would be filled with passion for that dream and vision. Pray that they would have favor with the people they are around daily, that will guide them toward their dreams and visions. And most importantly, we want to be intentional in our prayers and make time to show our children that their futures are of value to us, too.

Whether your children are nearing the end of their homeschooling journey or simply feel a tugging toward a specific profession in life, it is not too early or too late to begin praying with your children for their futures!

Joel Osteen said, “The calling on your life is irrevocable. Your shortcomings, your failures cannot undo the plan that was ordained for you.” Our children have been predestined for great things. Let’s pray with them now for the irrevocable call of the Lord!

Have a great week!

Lyn~

Permission to Dream

One thing I really enjoy is touring homes for sale or model homes. It's something my sister and I have done for years, and we really enjoy it. We also enjoy window shopping clothes, shoes, furniture, travel trailers, and so many other things! Did you know that is a beautiful example of dreaming? When was the last time you did any of those things? Can you imagine any of those things happening? Imaging yourself having those things, purchasing those things is the first step. If you can't imagine you, you probably won't have it.

You may think that there is no logical reason for touring model homes, especially if you already own a home or don't think you can afford to purchase a home at this time in your life or why pretend to shop for furniture you don't need right now. But that's just what the Lord wants us to do. He wants us to dream and dream BIG. The Lord is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Do you know what that means? It means that as big as we can dream, He wants to do BIGGER! 

If you haven't ever done any of those things I mentioned earlier, I want to encourage you to give yourself permission to dream--TODAY! There is no harm in window shopping and imagining what it would be like if you owned that home, owned that travel trailer, had that furniture in your home, bought those shoes. The only thing that might happen is that you begin to see what God can do for you! 

Have a wonderful, dream-filled week!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

There are many things that I am passionate about. Just ask me about the youth organization I work with, vision boards, the daily dose of dense nutrition I have come to LOVE, learning and education, or telling people of the love of the Lord. But it occurred to me this week that some of my family and friends have no real idea what they are passionate about. I don't know that I have ever asked them either. But why haven't I thought to ask my friends and family what THEIR passions are?

You see, writing this blog isn't about telling you how I have it all together, how I school my kids so perfectly (I certainly DON'T!), or how I am a Super Mom. That is why this blog is called, "Super Mom the Illusion"! I don't have everything completely figured out. But I know there are other women out there who feel the same. So today, I want to give you a printable that will allow you to tell others what you're passionate about.

If you don't know where your passion lies, read 2 Corinthians 7:7, and ask the Lord to show you. Some ways of finding your true passion are to think back to things you played as a child. Maybe you played school or had adventures in your backyard that you pretended to be another country or were a motorcycle police officer or maybe you had twin dolls and dreamed of the day you'd be a mother. Ask the Lord to show you the dreams of your youth. Then, begin to write what the Lord shows you, even if it doesn't make sense to you! That is where you passion lies; in the dreams He gave you in your younger days. Don't give up on them! No one else can do what the Lord has called you to do!

I've included this printable for you to write down what you're passionate about, print it out, and put it up where you can see it daily! I would love for you to share with me what you're passionate about, too!

Have a great weekend!!

Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

As a homeschooler, I often found myself bound by the textbooks and workbooks my children needed to work through each year. I saw their incomplete work as a bit of a failure on my part, and I believed I was letting them down by not finishing each year. The reality was (and still is!) that they are getting far more in their education than the textbooks. They are getting real world experiences, some of them now also get real work experience as part of their schooling, too!

Two weeks ago, my youngest daughter and I were on a trip to visit my best friend (the one who is like a sister to me that I mentioned in a previous post!). We went to the zoo in the area, a crocodile farm, the beach, and a space center! My daughter was getting an advanced version of school for the next week that her brothers didn't, but there is so much more that she was able to learn on those field trips than she could learn by reading or working in a book.

(C) SuperMom the Illusion 2017

Where could you go that would give your children a more in depth look at a topic (or several topics!) that isn't like traditional schooling? Always look for opportunities for your children to learn and for you to teach!! They're out there--I guarantee it!!


Have a great week!


Lyn~

Passion and Purpose

Has someone told you that think you're really good at doing something specific, like maybe working with kids, organization, public speaking, or crafting things? Do you know that they are simply recognizing that God-give talent and gift you have? It's true! Think about this: Your passion is directly related to your purpose and your potential!

First Corinthians 7:7 in the Amplified says this:

Don't think you don't have a special gift or talent. We've talked before about getting back to that thing you enjoyed as a younger person, the things you played with your brothers, sisters, and friends. Get back to those things! 

God has given each one of us something unique that will place us in the right place, at the right time, in the right faith-frame of mind for His purpose! Your gift is a part of your DNA. It's what makes you YOU! So if gardening is your thing, DO IT! If scrapbooking is your thing, DO IT! If teaching is your thing, DO IT! God won't let that gift go to waste if we are willing to let Him use it in us.

Pray this with me:
God, I know you've given me a gift for something. Even if I think it is small and insignificant, I want to use that gift. I am willing to be used by You! I know my passion for (fill in the blank) is connected to my purpose and my potential in the Kingdom. And I'm ready right now!

Revelation 3:8 says that He has set before each of us an open door and no one can shut it! Each day is a new opportunity for us to use our gifts. How will you use yours today?


Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Relationships: Greater Love Has No One...

This week, my youngest daughter and I are travelling to Texas to spend a week with my best friend and her family. I am so excited because I have really missed her! She's like a sister to me, and it is a friendship based on mutual love and respect for each other. It's like we're sisters with minor arguments and discussions ending up in still loving each other after the fact. Have anyone like that in your life?

You know God gave us these relationships to build us up so we can build each other up and others up, too. We can read that in Proverbs, John, Romans, and First Peter ( and many more!). Here's what the Word says about our friends:

Our friends, our sisters in the Lord, refresh us, renew us, and bring us up in the faith! I can't wait to see my best friend, and I'm sure she feels the same way! I hope you have a sister in the Lord that you feel as close to (or closer!) than your family. If you are longing for that, ask the Lord to bring you a sister in Christ who is as close as your own family!


Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

You've heard before that I am a list maker. I like to make sure I write down important things to do or that I want to accomplish in a day or week. This past week, my husband was off for vacation. We didn't go anywhere, but instead purposed to accomplish certain things on the every-growing list of things to do, or my "honey-do" list. 

My confession today is that while we didn't get everything completed that we had set out to do, we did get several things checked off. I think it's important to aim for something, even if we only hit 50 or 75 percent of those things. It's certainly better than aiming for nothing and hitting it 100 percent!

Though we didn't get everything done, we were able to knock that list down to some more doable chunks that the kids and I can complete in the coming months as my husband begins his new driving route. We will be able to get those more minor things done and see the results of our efforts. 

I read a post today that said this:

Are you interested in your vision or are you committed to accomplishing it? I understand that many of us are busy. We have work, perhaps homeschooling, church obligations, children's activities, and more. Today, I'd like to you be honest with yourself and ask if any of those things are actually pulling you away from your vision, your calling, your passion, or even just those things on your "to-do" list. Then see what things you can decrease or cease altogether. When you focus on what the Lord has for you, He will begin to show you the bigger picture of what He has planned for you and your life!

Have a blessed week!


Lyn~

We Were NOT Meant to Live in Lack

Leaning on the Lord in All Things

MY God shall supply ALL my needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

This morning I was looking at our bank account. My husband just received his paycheck via direct deposit, but it wasn't as much as we were expecting. We haven't spent money on Christmas presents or been lax in the handling of our finances, but we haven't exactly been prudent about it either. The pay is not enough to cover our bills for the next two weeks. We need God to show up in a big way and provide for us. But when our bank accounts don't match what our needs are, we have two choices:

Freak out and try to figure out what WE can do.

OR
Praise God for taking care of us and meeting every need.

Yes, there are consequences for our foolish handling of our provision. Yet He desires us to be dependent on Him and to run to Him rather than trying to do it all with our own power. It says in the Word that without God, we can do nothing (John 15:5). One move by Almighty God can turn a situation around for our good and His glory in an instant! Your current circumstance is subject to change! We don't have to sit in self-pity shaming ourselves for the errors we've made. No good will come from that! Instead we can praise Him--at ALL times--in every situation, good or bad.

Your first reaction reveals your heart. Like Paul said, "The good I want to do, I do not do; but the evil I do not want to do, that [is what] I end up doing...I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7: 19 and 25).
We are at a constant battle, a warring within ourselves to do the will of the Father, but turning towards the will of the flesh. The good news is, you don't have to fight that battle alone! God will fight for you! Put first things first and seek HIM first in any situation.

Finding Your Calling

If you're like me, at one point in your life you turned your face toward the sky and asked God, "Why am I here? What is my purpose?" You know that God predestined you for some position in the Kingdom, but you may not know just what that assignment or calling is. So how do you know what you're supposed to be doing? That's what we're going to talk about today!

First, think back on things you did when you were younger and write those things down. Don't discount anything, really. For example, if you played with dolls, write that down. My sister and I used to play two different things, for the most part. We played TV newsroom, where I was the reporter/news anchor and she was the weather girl. Then, we played school where she was the teacher and I was the student. Today, I have a degree in journalism and my sister is a teacher! She was made to work with children, first her own as a homeschooling mom, then as a public school teacher. Isn't it amazing how God prepared her for that?! While I don't work for a newspaper, I do write and edit a nationally distributed magazine. Sometimes, we just need to get back to what God put in our hearts when we were young to find our calling.

Next, ask yourself, "What brings me the most happiness and am I passionate about?" The things you're passionate about, by the way, are those things that you can talk about easily, you get excited about when someone mentions that thing, and that you would probably do (or are doing already!) even if you didn't get paid to do it! That thing you thought about doing last year or the year before or the year before that? That is more than likely something God has for you to do!

Finally, pray. I know this probably seems obvious, but I think it's necessary to mention. When you pray, ask God to bring back to your memory those things you were passionate about. If you have ever had someone tell you they could see you doing this or that, it could be something the Lord had previously asked you to do or given you a dream for and that person was carrying the message to confirm that to you. Ask the Lord what He has for you and commit to doing whatever that is! 

As Paul said to the Corinthians:

(C) Mandie Vigil 2017 Used with Permission

Have a blessed week and start walking toward your calling!!

Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

When you put first things first, the enemy will immediately begin attacking you! He's jealous of God. He wants to distract you from focusing on the Lord and will stop at nothing to keep you from fulfilling what God has called you to do for His kingdom.

We daily have to battle distractions that aim to take our focus off the Lord, off of our goals, and off our productive plans for the day. How many times have we said that we were going to purpose to eat correctly? What about those times we've said we would begin working out more regularly? And devotional time we promised the Lord and ourselves that we would put first? How often have those things taken a back burner or have we gotten to the end of our day only to realize those things we set out to accomplish, we had forgotten about?

I'm so guilty of all of the above! That's my confession to you today. I found this true this week in two areas: my devotions and my workouts. I'd get to the end of the day, getting ready for bed, and sit and get a bit bummed that I was only now remembering the devotion and the workout that I had planned to make a first priority each day this week. I began to beat myself up about forgetting time with the Lord. 

But that's not what the Lord does to us! His Word says that His mercies are new every morning! So, if your week turned out much like mine, don't get upset, don't beat yourself up about it, and don't stop aiming for those goals! Know that tomorrow is a new day, and it is our opportunity to begin being intentional again.

Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~