My time here at blogger has been short, but sweet. I have decided to try another blogging platform. You can now find I Throw Like a Girl at http://www.carolmehl.wordpress.com/
Blessings,
Carol
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
God, Girlfriends, & the Grand Ol' Opry
I just know that there are 10's of you out there who read my blog and you may have noticed that I have not posted in a long time. Part of the reason is that I had the blessing of attending the Women's Ministry Forum at Lifeway in Nashville, Tennessee with four other women from our women's ministry team last week. Being from the Northeast, it took us a while to get used to all the Southern drawls and y'alls that we heard all week, but I think we also disproved the myth that Northeasterners are cold and unfriendly. We came home with lots of new friends to stay in touch with from all over the country.
At the Forum, there were main sessions and break out sessions. Worship at the main sessions was led by Travis Cotrell who usually travels with Beth Moore. I had been wanting to go to a Christian concert for a long time and God graciously provided one for me through this forum. I am now a new Travis fan. We even got to sneak back (with permission) on Friday morning to attend Lifeway's chapel service for their employees where Michael W. Smith was speaking and performing! What a blessing! We had many choices of break outs to attend. I chose ones on digging deeper into God's Word, pursuing personal holiness, using the internet in your ministry, using women's ministry to minister to the young girls in church, public speaking tips, and ways women's ministry can help strengthen the marriages in church.
The last evening of the Forum was wrapped up with a message from Kay Arthur on connecting with God through prayer. She is 74 years old and just about every scripture she used in her message came from memory. Her whole message was full of wisdom and God's word. The point that stood out the most from her message is, "Do not aspire to a certain position in ministry, aspire to know God and allow Him to do as He pleases with your life." I don't think there is any better advice than that for Christians.
Our hotel was just across the street from the Opryland Hotel - home of the Grand Ol' Opry, and we went there one night for dinner. It was the perfect time of year to be there because it was already all decked out for Christmas. There were lights and poinsettias everywhere. Absolutely beautiful! We had dinner next to a fountain that put on a show set to lights and music several times an hour. It was just indescribable so I won't even try!
To top off an already fantastic week, yesterday our son came home from college for Thanksgiving. He will then go back for 3 more weeks and then come home for 5 weeks of winter break! Yipee!!
My husband is having surgery on his hand tomorrow and we have family coming in for Thanksgiving, so I don't know if I will get to post much this week, so just in case I don't - have a HAPPY & BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
At the Forum, there were main sessions and break out sessions. Worship at the main sessions was led by Travis Cotrell who usually travels with Beth Moore. I had been wanting to go to a Christian concert for a long time and God graciously provided one for me through this forum. I am now a new Travis fan. We even got to sneak back (with permission) on Friday morning to attend Lifeway's chapel service for their employees where Michael W. Smith was speaking and performing! What a blessing! We had many choices of break outs to attend. I chose ones on digging deeper into God's Word, pursuing personal holiness, using the internet in your ministry, using women's ministry to minister to the young girls in church, public speaking tips, and ways women's ministry can help strengthen the marriages in church.
The last evening of the Forum was wrapped up with a message from Kay Arthur on connecting with God through prayer. She is 74 years old and just about every scripture she used in her message came from memory. Her whole message was full of wisdom and God's word. The point that stood out the most from her message is, "Do not aspire to a certain position in ministry, aspire to know God and allow Him to do as He pleases with your life." I don't think there is any better advice than that for Christians.
Our hotel was just across the street from the Opryland Hotel - home of the Grand Ol' Opry, and we went there one night for dinner. It was the perfect time of year to be there because it was already all decked out for Christmas. There were lights and poinsettias everywhere. Absolutely beautiful! We had dinner next to a fountain that put on a show set to lights and music several times an hour. It was just indescribable so I won't even try!
To top off an already fantastic week, yesterday our son came home from college for Thanksgiving. He will then go back for 3 more weeks and then come home for 5 weeks of winter break! Yipee!!
My husband is having surgery on his hand tomorrow and we have family coming in for Thanksgiving, so I don't know if I will get to post much this week, so just in case I don't - have a HAPPY & BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Torn Between Two Topics
Confession time - I am really torn over what to post today. I had intended that since Thanksgiving is in November that I stick with a "thankful" theme and maybe post my entries from my Gratitude Journal - both current and old entries from when I journalled many years ago back in the dark ages when my kids were little.
However, I just "met" someone from the Bible and I can't get her off my mind. I want to write about her, but I need to study and think and pray more about her and what exactly God is saying to me through her story, but I will introduce you to her. You may already know her better than I do. Her name is Abigail.
Let me tell you how I met her. It was November 2. The reason I know this is because sometimes in my devotions I will read "the Proverb of the day" meaning that I will read a chapter from Proverbs for whatever day of the month it is. Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, it works out very nicely. I think God actually planned it that way. :) Therefore, I was reading from Proverbs chapter 2.
Proverbs 2 is all about wisdom and how important it is. There is a footnote in my Bible that lists "People called 'wise' in the Bible". When I looked down the list, there were the usual suspects: Solomon, of course. Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Joshua, Paul, etc. But then there was Abigail. Now I just thought that Abigail was one of David's wives. Big deal, end of story. What caught my attention about her was the reason the footnote gave for her being included in the list, "She managed her household well in spite of a surly and mean husband." But wasn't David her husband? He was not mean or surly. So I looked her up in I Samuel 25 and found that David was actually her second husband. How she became David's wife is a big deal and a great story. But her first husband was a guy named Nabal.
Here's what I Samuel 25:3 says about the couple, "His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings." The story then goes on to tell about Abigail's wisdom, humility, and bravery that saved her household from the impending destruction that Nabal's arrogance and rudeness had provoked.
I think there is a message in Abigail's story for women who, at times, are less than thrilled with their husbands. Being in women's ministry, I often hear stories of women who are dealing with husbands who can be mean and surly. And wives who are mean and surly. Heck, I can be mean and surly (I know that's a big shocker)! So I want to study Abigail and her story and use her wisdom to encourage others who are not in the marriage they had hoped for when they stood before God and promised, "til death do us part".
But for most of the rest of November, I think my "Grateful Journal" will have to do.
Hugs,
Carol
However, I just "met" someone from the Bible and I can't get her off my mind. I want to write about her, but I need to study and think and pray more about her and what exactly God is saying to me through her story, but I will introduce you to her. You may already know her better than I do. Her name is Abigail.
Let me tell you how I met her. It was November 2. The reason I know this is because sometimes in my devotions I will read "the Proverb of the day" meaning that I will read a chapter from Proverbs for whatever day of the month it is. Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, it works out very nicely. I think God actually planned it that way. :) Therefore, I was reading from Proverbs chapter 2.
Proverbs 2 is all about wisdom and how important it is. There is a footnote in my Bible that lists "People called 'wise' in the Bible". When I looked down the list, there were the usual suspects: Solomon, of course. Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Joshua, Paul, etc. But then there was Abigail. Now I just thought that Abigail was one of David's wives. Big deal, end of story. What caught my attention about her was the reason the footnote gave for her being included in the list, "She managed her household well in spite of a surly and mean husband." But wasn't David her husband? He was not mean or surly. So I looked her up in I Samuel 25 and found that David was actually her second husband. How she became David's wife is a big deal and a great story. But her first husband was a guy named Nabal.
Here's what I Samuel 25:3 says about the couple, "His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings." The story then goes on to tell about Abigail's wisdom, humility, and bravery that saved her household from the impending destruction that Nabal's arrogance and rudeness had provoked.
I think there is a message in Abigail's story for women who, at times, are less than thrilled with their husbands. Being in women's ministry, I often hear stories of women who are dealing with husbands who can be mean and surly. And wives who are mean and surly. Heck, I can be mean and surly (I know that's a big shocker)! So I want to study Abigail and her story and use her wisdom to encourage others who are not in the marriage they had hoped for when they stood before God and promised, "til death do us part".
But for most of the rest of November, I think my "Grateful Journal" will have to do.
Hugs,
Carol
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sadie's New BFF
Here are Kobi (left) and Sadie. My husband brought Kobi home from the shelter as a surprise for me a few weeks after our son left for college this August to cheer me up. He later realized that a bouquet of flowers doesn't last as long as a dog does and is not as messy! Oh well, Kobi is here to stay and Sadie, our 11 year old golden retriever just loves her new little friend.
Friday, October 26, 2007
"When I Lay My Isaac Down"
In elementary school, I hated book reports. I loved to read, but I did not like the teachers making me stand up in front of the class and share my personal feelings and opinions of the book. For a shy kid, it was torture. But those teachers must have done something right by me in the reading department, because I went on to become an English major in college. I hesitate to admit that because now you will expect perfect grammar in my blog. Just remember - false expectations lead to bitterness! :-)
I still love to read and now I do enjoy sharing a great book with anyone who will listen. I have even been known to read out loud to my family if there is one I want them to read, but I know they won't read it on their own. I think they secretly like it, but still roll their eyes for my benefit.
Two of my very good friends recently read a book and had been encouraging me to read it, too. At first I didn't want to because I was afraid it would be too painful. But I did eventually read it and "When I Lay My Isaac Down" by Carol Kent is a book I just have to share. It deals with a tragic event involving the Kent's only son who is also their only child. I would call very few books I have read besides the Bible "life changing", but this book will definately change your view of the challenges that come into your life.
Without giving anything away, I will share just a little from the inside cover to give you a better idea of what the book is about,
I still love to read and now I do enjoy sharing a great book with anyone who will listen. I have even been known to read out loud to my family if there is one I want them to read, but I know they won't read it on their own. I think they secretly like it, but still roll their eyes for my benefit.
Two of my very good friends recently read a book and had been encouraging me to read it, too. At first I didn't want to because I was afraid it would be too painful. But I did eventually read it and "When I Lay My Isaac Down" by Carol Kent is a book I just have to share. It deals with a tragic event involving the Kent's only son who is also their only child. I would call very few books I have read besides the Bible "life changing", but this book will definately change your view of the challenges that come into your life.
Without giving anything away, I will share just a little from the inside cover to give you a better idea of what the book is about,
"Sometimes we make sacrifices to help us get ahead, to allow us more time with family, or because we believe in the cause. And then there are sacrifices in which we have no say --"Isaac experiences" as in Genesis 22 --thrust upon us without warning or survival instructions. This book outlines eight transformational power principles that Gene and Carol Kent learned in the process of facing news that forever changed their lives.....Carol's candid retelling of her emotional and spiritual agony will touch your heart. The principles the Kents learned in the process of surviving such unspeakable circumstances will boster your faith, renew your hope, and challenge you to new levels of personal and spiritual commitment."
I got this book from the library, but if it were mine to keep I would have highlighted every time Carol Kent used the word "choose" or "chose" or "choice". She and her husband Gene chose to use a tremendous family tragedy for God's glory. And by God's grace we have the free will to choose how we handle the challenges that come into our lives as well.
I think everyone on my Christmas list will be getting "When I Lay My Isaac Down" in their stocking this year. That's how important I think the lessons in this book are.
Blessings,
Carol
Friday, October 19, 2007
Two Truths and a Lie
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God!"
Maybe some of you have played this ice-breaker game. You go around the room and everyone shares two things that are true about themselves and one thing that is a lie. Everyone else has to guess which is which. The idea is to be so convincing that all three things are true, that you stump the crowd. I have played this game several times and it can get hilarious! I never win because whenever I have to tell the "lie" about myself, I burst out laughing. One time my lie was that I went to college with Shania Twain, but I could not keep a straight face for anything! Oh well, I still love trying to guess everyone else's lies.
There is someone else who tries to fool us with his lies and he is an expert at it. Another name for him is actually "father of lies". Satan sticks just enough truth in the story that we swallow the whole thing, hook, line and sinker. And just like a fish who has been fooled by the bait, believing the truth-stuffed lie can, at worst, cause death and destruction in our lives, and, at best, keep us in bondage and away from the freedom in Christ that He paid so dearly for us to have.
I have believed some of the lies Satan has held in front of me disguised as truth. Most of them have to do with worry about my children and their future. Having a child go off to college for the first time gives the deceiver plenty of opportunity to play with a mom's heart and head. What if he leaves his faith? What if he chooses the wrong friends? What if he decides to try drugs or alcohol? What if he fails because I have not prepared him well enough? What if I'm just not a good enough mom or Christian for that matter? And once you get to the point of questioning who you are in Christ, game over, Satan has won that round.
The truth of the matter is that some of these fears are real possibilities. The lie is that I have control over this stuff anyway. Once I caught on to the lies that I had been believing for years, the scales fell away from my eyes (why do I have a fish theme going on?) and I have enjoyed a freedom in Christ that had been lacking. Not that I don't slip back into my old ways now and then, but now I know whose ideas I am listening to and Who I need to turn to for the truth.
Gal 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
When I believe Satan's lies, I am picking up my yoke of slavery and putting it back on my neck. I have experienced freedom by letting God be in control of my life and acknowledging that He is in control of my children's lives.
The TRUTH is: My son is a young adult. He is a Christian who desires to walk with God. He is God's child and He loves my son so much more than I do. I have done all I know to do to be the best mom possible for him. I pray for him everyday. Now my job is found in Psalm 46:10. I need to "be still and KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt (my words) that He is God!" That verse was explained to me once this way, "To 'be still' means to rest, recline, and relax in the arms of the almighty Creator of the universe". Wow! I think He can take care of things without my help!
Blessings,
Carol
Maybe some of you have played this ice-breaker game. You go around the room and everyone shares two things that are true about themselves and one thing that is a lie. Everyone else has to guess which is which. The idea is to be so convincing that all three things are true, that you stump the crowd. I have played this game several times and it can get hilarious! I never win because whenever I have to tell the "lie" about myself, I burst out laughing. One time my lie was that I went to college with Shania Twain, but I could not keep a straight face for anything! Oh well, I still love trying to guess everyone else's lies.
There is someone else who tries to fool us with his lies and he is an expert at it. Another name for him is actually "father of lies". Satan sticks just enough truth in the story that we swallow the whole thing, hook, line and sinker. And just like a fish who has been fooled by the bait, believing the truth-stuffed lie can, at worst, cause death and destruction in our lives, and, at best, keep us in bondage and away from the freedom in Christ that He paid so dearly for us to have.
I have believed some of the lies Satan has held in front of me disguised as truth. Most of them have to do with worry about my children and their future. Having a child go off to college for the first time gives the deceiver plenty of opportunity to play with a mom's heart and head. What if he leaves his faith? What if he chooses the wrong friends? What if he decides to try drugs or alcohol? What if he fails because I have not prepared him well enough? What if I'm just not a good enough mom or Christian for that matter? And once you get to the point of questioning who you are in Christ, game over, Satan has won that round.
The truth of the matter is that some of these fears are real possibilities. The lie is that I have control over this stuff anyway. Once I caught on to the lies that I had been believing for years, the scales fell away from my eyes (why do I have a fish theme going on?) and I have enjoyed a freedom in Christ that had been lacking. Not that I don't slip back into my old ways now and then, but now I know whose ideas I am listening to and Who I need to turn to for the truth.
Gal 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
When I believe Satan's lies, I am picking up my yoke of slavery and putting it back on my neck. I have experienced freedom by letting God be in control of my life and acknowledging that He is in control of my children's lives.
The TRUTH is: My son is a young adult. He is a Christian who desires to walk with God. He is God's child and He loves my son so much more than I do. I have done all I know to do to be the best mom possible for him. I pray for him everyday. Now my job is found in Psalm 46:10. I need to "be still and KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt (my words) that He is God!" That verse was explained to me once this way, "To 'be still' means to rest, recline, and relax in the arms of the almighty Creator of the universe". Wow! I think He can take care of things without my help!
Blessings,
Carol
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Grateful Journal
Since I have committed to begin my "Grateful Journal" again, I thought that from time to time, I would post it here. So here is my Journal of Gratitude entry from Monday:
1. My 15 year old daughter confided in me about something.
2. The "something" is a direct and very specific answer to prayer! (Thank you, Jesus!)
3. I can't look at my puppy, Kobi, without smiling even when he's naughty.
4. Met the sweet friend who told me to start writing for coffee early this morning.
5. After my coffee date, I met another friend for breakfast. (One of my "hobbies" is spending time with friends!)
So that's it. Some are "big" things, some are just simple joys of life in the middle of our our crazy days.
I Thes. 5:18 "In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Blessings,
Carol
1. My 15 year old daughter confided in me about something.
2. The "something" is a direct and very specific answer to prayer! (Thank you, Jesus!)
3. I can't look at my puppy, Kobi, without smiling even when he's naughty.
4. Met the sweet friend who told me to start writing for coffee early this morning.
5. After my coffee date, I met another friend for breakfast. (One of my "hobbies" is spending time with friends!)
So that's it. Some are "big" things, some are just simple joys of life in the middle of our our crazy days.
I Thes. 5:18 "In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Blessings,
Carol
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)