The First Step in the Right Direction

This week we began the Bible study, "The Frazzled Female" by Cindy Wood. About 25 or 30 ladies were willing to admit they were frazzled as they joined the class - including me the teacher! Our focus this week to begin "defrazzling" has been to make a conscious effort to have a consistent quiet time if we were not already, and if we were already having a quiet time, our goal was to really make it more effective.

Of course the place to begin was in Luke 10:38-42 with the story of Mary and Martha. After meditating on these verses the last couple of days, I really believe Martha started out on the right path. She welcomed Jesus into her home. That's really where we begin isn't it?

Welcoming Him into our lives - our marriages, our parenting, our careers, our relationships, our ministries...well, you get the idea. If you have ever heard me talk about my neighbors, you know that all are welcome on the culdesac. We are blessed with amazing friends around us - the kind you trust with the codes to get into your house. (I would say a key but Brian has never given me a key to this house!) We constantly borrow and share with each other - lawnmowers, milk, poundcakes, pools, children - even if the other one isn't home to get permission from, we know it's all good.

Welcoming....Martha started out right - she welcomed Jesus into her home. That word "welcome" translates "to receive." She "received" Jesus into her home. Wow...that makes a difference doesn't it? She didn't have a clue what she was really receiving.

The distractions came later so we'll talk about distractions another day.

For today - are you welcoming Him into every aspect of your life and your home? Are you receiving all He has to give?

A Cultured Pearl

Several weeks ago I attended a writer's conference at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, near Orlando, Florida, at the prodding of my husband Brian, and good friend Neal Cordle. There I met many amazing people - authors and editors alike - including an editor from Christian Broadcasting Network (cbn.com) who encouraged me to submit articles for publishing.

To my amazement, CBN accepted the first article I submited. It chronicles our struggle with Colby's poor eating habits. My purpose in writing this article was to encourage moms and give practical advice to those struggling with similar issues with their own children.

Feel free to share the article with anyone you think might benefit.

http://www.cbn.com/family/parenting/Griner_Picky_Eaters.aspx

Please comment your thoughts.