Go Gently

"Go gently through this day. Lean on me, rely on My presence." ~Jesus Calling

This sentence jumped out of the page of my "Jesus Calling" book this morning. I zeroed in on the word gently. What would gently look like for me today.

                                   gently = carefully
                                   gently = purposeful
                                   gently = intentional
                                   gently = soft answers and responses

What does God's word say about gentle, gently, gentleness?

This:

Jesus is gentle. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. You will find rest." Matthew 11:28

Ladies, be gentle.  "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4

Walk in gentleness.  "....walk...with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love..." Ephesians 4:1,2

Pursue gentleness.  "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith." 1 Timothy 6:11

What does Webster say?

As an adjective, belonging to a family of high social station (hmmm..that's a new one...), chivalrous, honorable, kind, amiable, free from harshness, soft, delicate, docile.

As a verb, to make gentler, to make an animal tame and docile.

Now, that reminds me of something! Could this gentle gentle word study be leading me here?

My youngest daughter and I are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House book series this school year...We read a chapter or two each day and by the end of the year, we will have finished the entire series. Along the way we stop and study related subjects (like Native Americans), try recipes mentioned in the book, make crafts, delve deeper, etc.

The other day we read in Little House On The Prairie of Pa helping ranchers/cattle movers moving Texas longhorns through the prairie. In exchange for his help, he was given a female longhorn and her new calf. The longhorn was scared and wild "as a deer" and even kicked Pa in the chest when he tried to milk her.

Pa build a tight fence/pen around her to keep her still, secure and to begin taming her. The fence had room for her baby but the mama cow couldn't walk or turn. Pa spoke softly to the cow and was very kind to it. Pa told Laura this was how to "gentle" a cow. I explained what this meant to my girl, and we both agreed that we don't use that version of the word gentle much these days. Eventually, the cow became secure, felt safe, trusted Pa, and was docile and tame. She was able to leave her tight pen for regular grazing during the day and the barn at night.

The more we choose to and allow ourselves to be yoked (Matt 11:28) with Jesus...to be filled with His presence, the more gentle we will be. The more gentle and the more gentled.

Allowing Father to gentle us doesn't mean to beat us into submission until we don't know who we are anymore. But it means for Him to love us gentle....to love us with his overwhelming love until we desire nothing more but to follow, submit, let Him lead and still be who He created us to be.

I like this word gentle and its meanings for me...all of them.

Father, gentle me, gently. And may I be gentle to those around me in return. 

Validation - a short film

I'm all about free Kindle books. I usually skim the description but more closely read customer reviews. My latest five-star free read is "Sifted: God's Scandalous Response to Satan's Outrageous Demand" by Rick Lawrence. During an emotionally-charged couple of hours yesterday afternoon, I jerked my kindle out of my bag and started reading Sifted...mostly so my mouth and brain would be otherwise occupied and not tempted to say what I was thinking....which wasn't very kind, gentle, necessary, or who I am, for that matter.

"The names we embrace are the names we become, therefore, we're in desperate need of a good name." And the people around me that afternoon were in desperate need of hearing good names, good words....not the angry mama-bear words bumping around in my head. The author told of a movie called Validation...a 16 minute film that does a brilliant job summing up what we have learned over the years...call out, call forth the good, call out the good names, call out the best character qualities in people. (Even when...or especially when you aren't very fond of them at the moment.)  I'm not sure if the film makers knew what they were doing or just producing a nice film. 

But if you have 16 minutes, just watch it and see what you think. Validation.

http://vimeo.com/2485018

The Boy's 13th Birthday

13 years ago, Father sent to this earth a one-of-a-kind creation...our boy.

I prayed he'd have brown eyes like his daddy but they were blue. They were blue until he was two....then slowly turned to the same melty caramel brown eyes that his daddy looks through.

Through the years, I have realized that he has more than just his daddy's eye color....but he sees the world through the same eyes as his daddy does.

He has heart vision....gazing at things through a filter of compassion, kindness, and tenderness, with the most precious heart. Just like his earthly daddy. And his Heavenly Daddy.

He has had his share of struggles. They've made him stronger and more compassionate to others. Only Father knows what path our boy will take, what profession he chooses, but I can say with confidence that he will touch people's hearts with his kindness and compassion, he will cheer folks up with his cheerfulness and cornball humor, he will encourage those around him with his gentle words and quiet strength.

He is a treasure, our treasure.

Happy 13th Birthday, precious one.

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

Around 1500 years ago, a young British teen was kidnapped by Irish Raiders and forced into slavery in Ireland. Six years later, he escaped and returned to his home in Britain. This young man became a Christian and took the Christian name of Patrick. Through a vision/dream (as it's told), the Lord put it on his heart to return to Ireland as a missionary. He did just that....sharing the love of Christ and building schools and church buildings. Did you catch that? Just in case you missed the point....Patrick RETURNED TO IRELAND...the place where he was enslaved for 6 years. Could I do that? You? By the 8th century, he was a patron saint of Ireland. March 17 is believed to be the date he died. Irish Catholics began celebrating this day in the 17th century. Irish-Americans introduced the celebration of St. Patrick's Day on American soil during Colonial times.


Most believe it to be legend that St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland. Some believe it was symbolic of him driving paganism out of the country. I personally don't believe the Lord would send Patrick back to Ireland just to rid the country of unwanted reptiles. He had a greater plan for Patrick in Ireland! There is also legend that St. Patrick used shamrocks to explain the Trinity - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. While this is not fact, it is definitely a feasible possibility, don't you think?


There is a prayer long believed to be authored and prayed by St. Patrick. It is known as St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer, The Deer's Cry, or The Lorica. Whatever you choose to call it, the prayer is beautiful and relevant in our lives some 1500 years later! Here is just a portion of the prayer. Read it in its entirety here.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,

Splendor of fire,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of the sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's hand to guard me.

Afar and anear,

Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today

Against wounding:

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ in me.

I arise today

Through the mighty strength Of the Lord of Creation.

P. S. I'm not sure where the Wear Green or Get Pinched tradition fits in, but yes, I will have on a green shirt bc my kids take this pinching thing SERIOUSLY! ~Blessings!~

2012 - Year Of Steadfast Faith

We spent New Year's Weekend at the beach with our sweet friends. After a fun New Year's Eve celebration with fireworks, blow horns, noise makers, fun hats, PFChangs, cheesecake and sparkly juice in plastic wine glasses, we started New Year's morning together reading The Word and spending some time in prayer. As each person took their turn praying about the fresh, new year, a picture began to form in my mind.

The little girls had spent the weekend skating on the sidewalks. I pictured Little C in full skate gear. Helmet, elbow pads, gloves, knee pads. She had her rollerblades on and was poised to take off skating...headed down into the depths of a canyon, completely obscured by a blanket of thick, gray fog.

As I pondered the foggy canyon and the fully-padded skater girl, the symbolism...the meaning...became perfectly clear.

Little C in her pads represents all of us in our spiritual armor. The Full Armor of God, spoken of in Ephesians 6. The canyon, foggy and path unclear, is the upcoming year - 2012.


We are all standing at the edge of this foggy, obscured canyon of 2012.Complete unknowns...trials and joys of 2012.

But fully clothed in our spiritual armor of faith, we have NOTHING to fear or dread.

We can take off, full speed ahead, with complete and steadfast faith in the One who loves us like no other, wholly and completely....the One who is the ONLY one worthy of our complete and total trust because He cares for us, has a plan for our lives that is ALL GOOD. No, we can't see what's ahead for this year. But we know WHO has us in His hands and we can walk boldly into 2012, fully confident of His love, His care, and His provision for each one of us, counting everysinglebit of it ALL JOY.

Count it all joy, brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds.

For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, 

when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

You know that under pressure, 

your faith-life is forced into the open

and shows its true colors.

So don't try to get out of anything prematurely.

Let it do its work so you become mature and

well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-4 - The Message

Steadfastness - endurance, patience, strength to keep going, loyalty in the face of trouble, fixed or unchanging, firmly loyal or constant, unswerving.

May 2012 be a year of ever-increasing, boldly walking, firmly loyal, steadfast faith for each of us. 

The Little Drummer Boy, Repost

Tonight, we watched the Little Drummer Boy together. Below, you will find a repost of my own Little Drummer Boy story from a year ago.

Have a blessed Christmas!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8"

That's how the 1968 version of "The Little Drummer Boy"show ends. I'm sure you've heard the song....and you probably saw the tv show as a child. The storyline goes like this....a little orphaned drummer boy and his animal friends follow three kings and a really bright star across a desert. The Little Drummer Boy finds himself at a stable where a newborn baby has just been born and a crowd of shepherds have gathered, along with the three kings. Just as the Little Drummer Boy begins to make his way to the manger, a chariot runs over his little beloved lamb. With a huge tear in his eye, he approaches one of the Three Wise Men and asks him to save his dying lamb. This king told him the lamb was dying and he could do nothing for him.....but he knew a King among Kings who could. At that, he motioned towards the baby in the manger. The Little Drummer Boy said, "But I have no gift to bring." To which the wise man replied, "Go. Look upon the newborn King." As he gazed at the Baby Jesus, he is overcome with emotion and begins playing his drum for the King. His best for Him. The wise man then says to the Little Drummer Boy, "Your gift, Little Drummer Boy, given out of the simple desperation of a pure love is the one favored above all." The little lamb was healed and so was the Little Drummer Boy's heart.

We watch this movie together each Christmas as a family...it's one of our Christmas traditions. Although the movie is precious and meaningful in and of itself, it has deeper meaning for our family. You see, my Hero had a Granny who never stopped praying for him as he grew up. Jesus spoke to his little heart through any means He could. As an 8 yr old boy, my dh found himself watching "The Little Drummer Boy" on tv at Christmas.....And at the end, he was crying and his heart was touched by the King of Kings. My dh had to endure many heart-wrenching things as a child. Things that send many into a downward spiral and spend a lifetime trying desperately to stop it. There is no other explanation except a miracle straight from the heart of God to explain why my dh is the man of God he is today....a man of integrity, grace, mercy, love.....did I mention grace?

I grew up with many special Christmas traditions in my home and he grew up with very few Christmas memories or traditions. It's been very important to him to establish special traditions with our kids each Christmas. We have quite a few....Advent devotions and wreath, chili on the night we decorate our Christmas tree, eating Martha Washingtons, visiting relatives, but one of the most special times to my husband is when we cuddle together and watch The Little Drummer Boy.

When my sweet husband watched it the first time, I imagine he never dreamed he'd be watching it again.....30 some-odd years later with a wife and three beautiful kids, wondering at the hand of the Lord upon his life.

Blessings to you as you celebrate our Savior's birth with your family and friends. May the realization of His Gift to Mankind overtake you and may the blanket of His peace comfort you. And may you offer Him the most favored gift of all, your heart.

Joyful Christmas Cheer!

Elf is one of our favorite, cheesy Christmas movies. Some people in our house have already watched it THREE times this season...and it's not even December quite yet!! So, I was so excited to find this free printable on Pinterest. I printed it out, put it in a cute aqua frame, added a sparkly snowflake and placed it in a prominent spot in our kitchen. 

You can get yours here at LessCakeMoreFrosting.com. A sweet friend is also offering a free printable with this same quote on her site that is absolutely DARLING!!!  Look HERE.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is 

singing loud for all to hear!! 

The music of Christmas! Let the singing begin!!! Joy to the World!