Faithful Moments

Thought for the Week-The Force

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!!

I have some housekeeping things to attend to this week.  First of all, I'm so thankful and happy to be starting off another year with y'all!  Can I just tell you that?!  I also want to remind you that I am now available on TWITTER!  I know, super high-tech.  Don't worry if you're not totally on board with the whole Twitter-craze.  I wasn't either.  But, I've been strongly encouraged to tweet...so I am.  The only trouble is: almost no one is following me!  (Sad face)  So I thought to myself, Self, let's make it real easy for our girls to follow us on Twitter.  Voila!  https://twitter.com/#!/DallasLouis   Simply click on this link, and you will be directed to my Twitter homepage. Then it will look like lots of folks are following me!!  At least, that's how it's supposed to work!  Now, on with today's Thought...

A while back I received a phone call from one of my dearest friends.  I answered the phone, and instead of hearing Tracy's voice, I hear her wheezing for air.  I instantly became alarmed, thinking that there was something terribly wrong with her.  No.  There was nothing wrong with her.  She was laughing.  In fact, she was laughing so hard, she could not speak.  What was so funny?  Well, it seems that I am not the only one raising miniature Jedi Knights.  Nope.  She too, is bringing up a couple of Padawans.  This particular afternoon she picked her children up from school.  It seemed like a normal day, they were discussing the day: lunch room antics, science tests, spelling, this and that.  When, she glances into her rear-view mirror and sees her her oldest son staring back at her, hands raised, as though he were framing her face in a magic trick.  She didn't know what, exactly to make of this.  So she asked him,
"Sean, what are you doing?" 
"Ssshhh. Mom.  I'm Forcing you."
"You're what?"
"Mom.  Ssshhh.  I'm Forcing you.  You want to take us for ice-cream. You want to take us for ice-cream."

Even though she was thoroughly entertained and extremely impressed at the creativity used in his attempt to gain an ice-cream sundae for himself, his brother and his sister...sadly the Force didn't work.  Sean was at a loss.  It didn't stop him from trying again a couple of days later...with Sonic.  Again, disappointment.  Made me think of something else. 

Today we are going to pick up with the prophets of the pagan god Baal.  Baal was a god (notice the little "g") in the Old Testament.  He was an idol, meaning he wasn't really a god, well, he most certainly was not THE GOD.  But the people liked to think that he was.  In fact, in today's Thought, we are going to look at a portion of Scripture that highlights a showdown of sorts between Baal's prophets and God's prophet.  Any guesses as to which one comes out on top?  Baal had 450 prophets...meaning there were 450 men trying to use the Force in the passage we are about to read.  1 Kings 18:25-29, "Elijah [the good guy] said to the prophets of Baal, 'Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you.  Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.' So they took the bull...and called on the name of Baal from morning till noon...But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made...Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for evening sacrifice. But there was no response..."

What went wrong?  Well, the obvious answer is they were dancing, jumping and sacrificing to an IDOL.  They were never going to be able to call down fire on their bull.  Not in their power.  Not in their own strength.  Not even with the Force.  See, the rest of the story shows that Elijah had a bull and an altar, too.  He soaked his altar with water three times.  Then he prayed to God, the One True God, and BAM! Everything was incenerated.  Even the stones. 

So, what do we walk away with?  Hopefully, what you see is that you don't have to do things on your own.  You can't do things on your own.  Elijah was a great man of God.  But he knew the Source from which he got his strength.  You have strength and power that is yet untapped.  I just know it!  So, today don't tap the Force...tap your Source.  Open up that line of communication with your heavenly Father.  It's a new year, the lines are open and ready to get some really good conversation flowing.  Have a blessed week!!


UPDATES:

My radio show is ON THE AIR!!  This is an Internet station, Girls.  Go to www.wowradionetwork.com  You can pick your station to listen to: Top 40, Country or Lite.  Coming Soon is a Christian station.  I personally like the Country station, big surprise there!  I come on at various times throughout the day.  I'll try and get my time slot nailed down and emailed out to you by next week.  I've been coming on in the 11:00 AM hour.  Listen in.  Follow me on Twitter, because I send out Tweets when I'm on!!

My new book, The Mommy Diaries: How I'm Surviving Parenting Without Killing Anyone is coming out soon.  I still have several boxes of Girlfriends, Giggles & God here at home!!  If anyone needs a couple of books, please email me, I'd love to get rid of them, BEFORE more boxes of books arrive!!!    

Thought for the Week-Inventory

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Have you ever had a job that required you to take an inventory of your merchandise?  Taking inventory is an extremely tedious task.  You have to be meticulous about cataloging everything, to be sure that you missed nothing and didn't leave anything out.  You must count items and check those items off of a list, and in many cases, check them off of a master list of some sort as well.  Now, let me ask you: Have you ever taken a internal inventory?  Have you ever taken a look at the items stocked in your personal shelves located in your heart?  Items like selfishness, pride, vanity, unforgiveness or just your everyday meanness?  This notion of a personal or internal inventory has been rolling around in my head for several days.  To be perfectly honest with y'all...it's making me uncomfortable.

I don't like looking at those items that I have shoved way back in the back recesses of my heart.  I don't like thinking that those items are taking up space on my shelves.  I prefer to look at the nice and neat and orderly "store front windows" that everyone else can see.  But, just like businesses that need to take an inventory, so too, do we.

Let's see what the Book has to say about this.  "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9.  You see, we if say that these store front windows that we present to everyone is the truth, or the real us, we are really only kidding ourselves.  Everyone around us knows we aren't perfect, and God certainly knows that we aren't perfect.  The trouble is admitting that we're not.  Admitting (confessing) it means, we have to take a look, or an inventory of the ugly stuff: the greed, the pride, the selfishness, the meanness, and lay it all out there.  We have to be real.  Transparent.  Vulnerable.  That is difficult.

Now, to go along with all the yuck...here's the good: did you see the part about God forgiving us?  God knows all of our secrets.  He knows the skeletons that are in our closets.  He knows the struggles we fight daily and the ones that only show up every now and again.  He knows which ones of us are sharp-tongued and quick-witted, so that words fly like knives at unsuspecting victims.  He knows which ones of us are so tied to technology that the wires connecting their gadgets serve as their lifelines, so that they forget the actual people around them.  He knows which ones of us are clinging with both hands to bitter unforgiveness, and projecting those hurts onto others.  He knows all of this, and yet, He still loves us, and will still forgive when we ask Him. 

No one really likes to take inventory.  It's a tedious and time consuming task, however it is totally necessary in order to keep things running smoothly.  So, let me ask you: How's your heart today?  Is it time for a little internal inventory?  Have a little sit-down with your heavenly Father today.  Invite Him in to have a look around at your messy shelves.  I promise that you'll be amazed at how well His Holy Spirit remodels!  Today, open your doors wide, stand back, and let Him in.  You'll be glad you did.  Have a great week!


Don't forget!!!!!

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Thought for the Week-Rubber Ducky

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!

Did anyone ever watch Sesame Street?  I grew up watching Sesame Street.  I could tell you how to get to Sesame Street.  I loved to meet friendly neighbors...neighbors like Ernie...of Bert and Ernie.  Do you remember him?  Ernie had a yellow rubber duck.  He loved his rubber duck.  He even had a song.  As if the lyrics to Sesame Street weren't bad enough, now I'm going to plant the lyrics to an even more annoying song deep in your mind!  Here we go...

Rubber ducky you're the one,
You make bath time lots of fun,
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you.

Rubber ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise,
Rubber ducky, you're my very best friend it's true.

Stay with me, I have a point--I promise.  When children become fearful, many have something like a rubber duck, that brings them comfort.  Sometimes it is a rubber duck that they bathe with.  Sometimes it's a blanket that they must have with them everywhere they go (all three of my children were blanket babies).  Some children have imaginary friends.  My point is that we all have had something that has brought us comfort in the past.

Now, I told you that to tell you this: I collect Nativity scenes.  I've mentioned this before.  I have Nativity scenes from all over the world.  This past Christmas, I was given a very unique, new scene to add to my collection.  It is a Rubber Ducky Nativity scene.  Ducky Mary.  Ducky Joseph.  Ducky Sheep.  Ducky Donkey.  All the other important players, and of course....Ducky Baby Jesus.  This thoughtful and unique gift made me think:

What brings us comfort?  As a child, we were easily comforted by objects: blankets, dolls, or rubber ducks.  As adults, we find it exceedingly more difficult to be comforted by objects.  What comforts you?  Money?  A house?  Your car?  Perhaps.  Read with me from 2 Corinthians 1:1-4 (NLT) "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (emphasis added)  You see, as grown-ups our troubles will be greater than being afraid of the dark or being left at school for the day.  And because our troubles are greater, our source of comfort needs to be greater still.  That's where God the Father comes in.  He is the only source of comfort we need.  He sent His Son, His one and only Son to be here with us, to live with us, to die for us, and to rise again.  Then, in a stroke of sheer God-powered genius, He gave us His Holy Spirit, to comfort us until we get to see Him face-to-face.

So, what does this have to do with my Rubber Ducky Baby Jesus?  Well, Think about Ernie's song: "Rubber ducky, you're my very best friend it's true".  Now think about Jesus.  He is truly our very best friend.  He brings us comfort like no one or no thing ever can.  Are you troubled today?  Are you afraid today?  Are you lonely today?  Do you need a friend?  Can I introduce you to my Friend?  There's no one like Him anywhere.  He's loyal, faithful, and true.  He will protect you and love you--just as you are.  He's the One.  Have a great week!!




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Thought for the Week-Back to Work

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Happy New Year! I trust that everyone is rested and ready for the new year!  I hope and pray that each of you had a very warm and special Christmas.  We had a wonderfully relaxing Christmas.  We stayed home for the entire Christmas break for the first time in several years!  It was terrific!  New Year's was nice, and I thought things were rolling along just swimmingly, until...yesterday.  You see, the kids have been home for about two and half weeks.  Oh sure, they've had playdates.  Kids have been at my house.  My kids have been farmed out to other people's houses.  But still, the days of Christmas vacation were wearing on them.  They were becoming more restless.  Think of the animals at the zoo.  They began to pace.  In fact, they began to run...and to jump...to jump off of stairs.  Yesterday Elliott ran, and jumped off of the steps in our upstairs playroom and broke his leg.  Now, don't panic.  This is not a big deal, at least not as big of a deal as it was last year when he broke his arm.  After we dried the tears, found some ice and took some x-rays, we soon found out that are dealing with a break that will heal in about three weeks as opposed to the ten weeks from last May (through July). 

Now, I told you that story, to tell you this one: It's time to go back to work...or school, whichever boat you happen to be in.  We've had some time off, but now is the time to get back into the groove and put our noses to the grindstone, pick your cliche.  I've been holding onto this account for quite some time, just waiting for the right time to turn it lose.  Do you know how utterly amazing God's Word really is?  Can you even fathom?  I've read certain accounts so many times, I can literally see the words and the verse notation in my mind's eye.  Luke 2:1-20 is one of them.  Luke 2 is a very detailed account of the birth of Jesus.  My children recite all twenty verses for their school Christmas program every December, so about mid-October Luke 2 makes its first appearance in our home.  I hear it.  I study it.  It's written on my heart, and yet there is still something new each time I read it.  Today I pray you see it in a new light. 

God does things big.  He does.  It's who He is.  When His Son was born, He sent a multitude of angels down to announce it.  He set an enormous star in the sky over Bethlehem to guide the Wise Men from afar.  In all of His big-ness and His overwhelming greatness, He also shows great attention to detail.  Read with me, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12  And then, with that one angel, there appeared a whole host of angels!  Don't you know that was a sight to behold!  How's that for a birth announcement?  Immediately the shepherds got up and went into town to see what was going on.  They found the Baby exactly as the angels said.  What does all of this have to do with going back to work?  I'm getting to that. 

Having a visit from a multitude of heavenly hosts would be something that you wouldn't easily forget.  At least, I wouldn't be able to.  Then they get up and truck it on into town and see the Baby that was told to them.  My mind would've exploded and my eyes would've popped right out of my head.  But not these shepherds.  Girls, they were there.  They went to the manger.  They knelt before the King of Kings.  They worshipped Him in His purest form.  Then...."The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:20 (emphasis added)  The shepherds went back to work.  They witnessed this miracle, the key to salvation, and yet, they returned--they went back to work. 

So, what about you?  What have you witnessed?  Are you back at work?  Are you praising God?  Are you thinking right now: But, I'm nobody special...who am I to give a witness to anything?  Let me stop you right there for a moment, did I mention that shepherds in Biblical times weren't really considered the most reliable witnesses or sources of information...yet, here we are more than 2000 years later reading about their testimony to birth of our Savior.  I want to offer you some encouragement today: God does BIG things with small starts.  God wrapped His awesome and unimaginable glory and power in the tiny, soft and vulnerable package of a newborn Baby.  That Baby was the BIGGEST thing to ever hit mankind.  Don't second-guess God's plan for you.  It was no accident that God spoke first to the shepherds...unreliable...outcasts of society...but it worked.  They went away praising God.  I challenge you to go back to work today.  Praise Him.  Be His witness.  Have a blessed week!

Please pray for me this week: The Mommy Diaries goes to print this week!!  My new Publicist starts my campaign this week--pray she is able to make some really good and strong connections for The Mommy Diaries.
If I can pray for you, please let me know!

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Thought for the Week-My Blanket

Good Morning, Girlfriends!

Oh! I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning!  I would like to tell you it was because my bed was so warm and cozy, but today that wasn't entirely the case.  Although I do have a super-cozy electric blanket that I typically snuggle down under, my struggle to get out of bed this morning was purely physical.  Yesterday I pulled a muscle in my back.  At least I'm pretty sure it was yesterday.  I know that late yesterday afternoon, swinging my four-year-old niece onto my hip was the straw that broke the camel's back...I very easily could've angered this muscle the day before yesterday as I carried five RubberMaid tubs of Christmas decorations up the stairs and shoved them into the attic or possibly upset it as I fought with my eight-foot tall Christmas tree trying to drag it up those same stairs...who knows!  All I know now, is that I'm stuck on the couch with a grimace glued to my face and an involuntary cringe each and every time I move.  Now, what does this have to do with my electric blanket?  I don't have a heating pad.  So, I was thinking that I could use my electric blanket folded over as a big-giant heating pad.  What is the main job of the electric blanket?  To keep me warm.  Well, I found out, not long after I bought it that the blanket, when it is on my bed, needs to be covered by my comforter in order to reach its full potential.  The blanket has the ability to keep me warm, but it can't do it by itself....it needs some help.  I was hoping that today, being folded under my back, my body would serve as a proper covering.  And just like that: my mind began to circle.

Do you know how much I love the disciples?  I really do love them...for a number of reasons.  But one of the best things about them is their absolute inability to grasp the full concept of what Jesus was trying to tell them during the final days of His life.  The disciples were clueless (well, technically they were clueless for a lot longer)!  Today we are going to take a trip into the book of John.  We find the disciples and Jesus having a meal together at the Passover Feast.  Jesus is at the very end of His earthly ministry.  He is about to be betrayed by Judas, handed over to be arrested and then crucified.  He knows all of this....the disciples know nothing.  So, we have the Twelve and Jesus having their meal, when Jesus "got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 12:4-5  The disciples were confused, embarrassed, in shock...just to name a few emotions.  Foot washing was reserved for slaves, not servants, but something lower than that.  And here was their Teacher, their Rabbi, their Leader, bending low to wash their feet.  They had trouble understanding.  Peter wanted no part of it.  Jesus told him, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 12:7  I can just see the disciples with these utterly bewildered looks on their faces!  I've heard them called the "duh-ciples" because they just didn't get it.  They had been with Jesus for three years up to this point.  He had taught them.  He had performed miracles in front of them.  They had performed miracles.  Peter had walked on water.  And still they missed the point.  Jesus knew they were going to need some help.  He was sending them out to continue the work of spreading His gospel to the ends of the earth.  Jesus promised them that He would send His Holy Spirit, to help them understand, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth." John 14:16

You see, the "duh-ciples" had the ability to preach and spread the Word of God.  Jesus placed that ability deep within them.  But they couldn't understand that on their own.  They needed a "covering" or Comforter to insulate them so they could fully process everything they had seen, heard and learned while at the feet and side of Jesus.  You've heard the old saying, "hind sight is 20/20"?  That's what they were experiencing.  Looking back, everything made sense.  By ourselves we understand nothing, but with the help of the Holy Spirit the floodgates of understanding spring wide open.  Just like my blanket...by itself, it doesn't get very warm, but when I throw my comforter on top of it---umm, cozy.  Ask God for a deeper understanding of His Word today.  I promise you will NOT be disappointed.  Have a blessed weekend and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Thought for the Week-The House

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!

Happy Thanksgiving....a couple of days late!!  I trust everyone ate their fill of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie!  I know that we sure did!  We managed to do some pretty significant damage to our turkey...not to mention my waistline...over this past weekend.  But, as the saying goes, Thanksgiving is history and it's time to move on!  It wasn't long after the dishes had been cleared, that I sent my sweet husband up to attic to retrieve box after box after RubberMaid tub of...you guessed it...Christmas decorations!  Too soon?  You may be wondering.  Well, let me explain.

Next weekend our house will play host the annual Christmas party of the A-Team (the men's group from church).  Now what kind of Christmas party would it be without Christmas decorations?  So, after cooking for two days, I (with the help of my husband and daughter) spent the next three days, decorating our house.  We put up the main tree in the family room.  Yes, you read that correctly: I said "main tree".  Then Jeff wrapped the banister with garland.  The fireplace mantle was stripped of its pictures, where snowmen, Christmas trees, stocking hangers and pre-lit garland of its own was placed.  My snow globe collection was gently taken out of their boxes.  Then, with absolute care and delicate hands (while the family watched, as no one is allowed to touch) I set up my grandmother's nativity scene.  We then spent the next couple of days setting up the other tree and remaining decorations and outdoor lights.

Over the top?  Perhaps.  Naturally, this all got me thinking.  Why did I do all of this?  It's true, I love Christmas.  I love setting the house up.  I love the festive-ness...the warmth that season brings.  But the main reason was because I was having people over, and I didn't want my house to be naked.  Pitiful reason.  Let's look at what the Book has to say about outward appearances.

This Thought came to me while I was sitting at a red light listening to a Christmas song about the street lights even blinking red and green.  It's all outward.  However, God doesn't really pay much attention to outward appearances.  I'm thinking of three kings.  The first, looked very royal, well, at least he was tall.  You see back in the day, the Israelites wanted a king.  Who they got, was Saul: "They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others." 1 Samuel 10:23  King Saul didn't work out very well.  The people wanted Saul because he looked like he could get the job done; turned out he couldn't.  But God had a better plan.  Read with me about his successor, "'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him [speaking of David's brothers].  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart...Samuel took the horn of oil an anointed him [David] in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power." 1 Samuel 16:7, 13  David worked out better than Saul, but still he had issues.  There would be a final King who would come.  A King who would come from the line of David, and would rule with definite power and infinite authority once and for all.  One more time, read with me from the Old Testament Scriptures, this time from Isaiah 53:2, 5 "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him...he was pierced for our transgressions...the punishment that brought us peace was upon him."

Do you see it?  God looks at the heart of the thing.  It doesn't matter how something is packaged.  It doesn't matter how many trees we put up.  It doesn't matter if our door bell chimes Jingle Bells each time someone rings it.  The only thing that matters is the state of your heart.  Is your heart ready to receive?  Is there room for Jesus to sit down and stay awhile in the living room of your heart?  I cleaned up the house that I live in.  I stored stuff in boxes, and I stashed things away in the attic that I won't see until January.  And please, please, whatever you do...don't open the door to the closet under the stairs!  But the house that is the most important, the house that needs the most attention is you.  Are you ready?  He's coming.  He wants to see you.  Here's a little tip: Even if your heart is a complete disaster area--He still wants to see you.  He's bringing peace this Christmas season.  Don't worry about the tinsel.  Don't worry about the tree.  Spend some time with Jesus, the gifts He brings, cannot be beat!  Have a blessed week!


Please don't forget to update my email address in your contact list!  Follow me on Twitter @DALLASLOUIS  The new radio show should be airing next week--I'll keep you posted!!

Thought for the Week-Def Leppard

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Well, it's early!  I've already been up a while...I figured I needed a little bit more caffeine before trying to hammer out coherent thoughts to y'all!  I've got some exciting news to share with you, and as usual, when I have announcements...I will tack those on to the the end...Settle in, today is a LONG one! 

I've been sitting on this Thought for a couple of weeks now.  Y'all have been on my mind.  Each day that went by, my heart sank a little bit.  I tried desperately to sit down and get this out to you, but, as your inbox has proven, that did not happen!  I was also waiting for just the right "tie-in".  That was not provided to me until this past Sunday.  Hopefully most of you are familiar with the heavy-metal-big-hair-band, Def Leppard.  Incidentally, when this idea first came to me, I shared it with my senior pastor, believe me, trying to tie an iconic 80s rock band to Scripture made the man go very green.  Sorry about that Pastor!  Here's my disclaimer: this is a loose interpretation, merely for visual aid purposes.  Have you ever heard their song Women?  I've heard it lots of times.  That in itself is very interesting, considering that I very seldom stray from my comfort zone of Willie, Waylon and the Boys.  For those of you who may not be well acquainted with this song, let me help you with a couple of lines pertinent to today's Thought.  For the rest of you: please be patient.

The singer opens with the account of Creation.  He then moves into the creation of Adam and Eve, and without sticking to actual Scripture, the account of the Fall is laid bare; here's where theology flies out the window, but creative license take over.

        "She fed him with a hunger, an appetite
         And fillin' with emotion he took a bite"

Now, let's got to the Book to see what really happened.  Genesis 3:6, "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it."  And ever since then husbands and wives have been at odds with each other over the question of who the head of the household really is.  That verse right there, threw the biggest monkey wrench in Mankind's history.  Adam was standing right beside her.  His job was to protect and defend.  He failed.  As my son would say, "Epic fail, Adam!"  The truth hurts.  I've mentioned this point before.  When God handed down the punishment, the curse, for this--the first time man would disobey God, He slips a line into Eve's curse at the very end.  "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over over you." Genesis 3:16  What that really boils down to is this: We are always going to try and steal our man's thunder.  We are always going to want or try to be the dominate one, the alpha-dog, the big cheese--call it whatever you will, in our households.  Girls, we cannot fall into that trap.  Now, I told you that story, so that I could tell you this one:

This past Sunday, as we were getting ready to walk out the door for church, my sweet husband looks at me and says, "Woman! I'm running low on socks!"  Okay.  Let's hit the pause button right there.  First of all, he never calls me "Woman" unless he's kidding (or possibly has a death wish).  Secondly, he had no idea--I woke up cranky.  Enter the last line of Eve's curse.  The events that unfolded throughout the rest of that day (and into the next--if the truth be told), had my children, my dogs, and poor husband diving for cover.  I proceeded to tell Jeff where he could put the washer, and what he could do with the mountain of dirty socks.  Alpha-dog.  Big Cheese.  Bad Attitude.  At the end of the day (on Monday) I had to apologize to just about everyone I knew, beg forgiveness and pray that God would help me control myself.

Has that ever happened to you?  You see, way back in the Garden, after God handed down an incredibly stiff punishment to Adam and Eve, He promised them a Savior.  True, they had gotten themselves into a right unholy mess.  However, God was not going to leave His children there indefinitely.  He won't leave you in your mess indefinitely, either.  He's promised and provided that Savior.  Jesus' sacrifice takes my curse and makes it clean.  His Holy Spirit provides the filter that sits over my mouth and prevents me from saying everything that I want to.  Some days He has to work harder than others!  Do you feel like today or this week or this year, that your curse is getting the better of you?  God won't leave you there forever.  He loves you too much.  Even though the forbidden fruit looked tasty, I'm sure...the fruit that God has to offer is so much better!  Have a blessed day!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

My email address is changing.  I will moving to a new website in the next few weeks.  So, please update my email in your address books!  My new email is DALLAS@DALLASLOUIS.COM  I will let you know when the site goes live, so you can visit it.  It's not up yet, we are still in the designing phase.  But, I'm really excited about it.  However, the email is up and running.  Your next Thought will most likely come from this new address!  Please pray that the transition goes smoothly.

My Twitter name has already changed!  We did that yesterday.  Please follow me on Twitter!!  Most of you know, I'm technically challenged. But my new Twitter name is DallasLouis  Hopefully all of you who use Twitter are much more skilled than I am at following people!  Please tell your friends to FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

And last, but now least...I've been asked to HOST MY OWN RADIO SHOW!! Please pray for me.  There is a new Internet radio station call WOW (Women of the World) and the programming is all for women and about women.  It hasn't launched yet.  We are hoping to get it up and going in the next couple of weeks.  My show is called WAITIN' ON NAPTIME, and it is geared toward family and kiddo issues.  It will run four times a week, at various times.  I am beside myself thinking and watching how God is moving in my life!  The station's web address is www.wowradionetwork.com  Eventually we will have Iphone and Android apps for the station as well.  I will keep you all posted about when we go live!  Please pray for me as I begin this new phase of ministry. 
   

Thought for the Week-Chambered

Good Morning Girlfriends!

So, a couple of weeks my sweet husband came home with a little gift for me.  Actually, truth be told, he didn't exactly buy this thing for me, he bought it for himself, but when I saw it...I just had to have it.  What was it, you may be wondering...  A compact, laser-equipped, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistol.  Girls, can I just tell you that I was elated! Yes, I can say, "Redneck."  First of all, before anyone panics, if you will think back, I am licensed in Texas to carry a concealed weapon (comforting, isn't it).  Secondly, the gun I normally carry is big and bulky, and I really don't like it very much.  This one is small, it fits my hand, and better still--it fits in my pretty purses.

The very first Saturday after I received my new gift, Jeff and I headed to the gun range, so that I could go and try it out.  I needed to make sure I knew how to operate this thing before I started carrying it.  It works like a charm!  The laser is totally awesome.  When we arrived back home, I reloaded it and put it back in my purse, being exceptionally careful to "chamber it."  That means if I need to fire it, it's ready.  Should the need ever arise, where I needed to protect myself or my children, I will be ready to fight.  I pray, that will never happen. Why am telling you all of this?  Naturally, this all got me thinking about the Bible. 

Did you know we need to protect ourselves from attack every day?  Each and every day that we walk this earth, the enemy is trying his level-best to attack our souls and destroy our hope for the future. Let me ask you a question: If you had to dig into your "spiritual purse" for your weapon, would you find it "chambered" or empty?  Come with me to the book of 2 Timothy, deep into the New Testament.  You see girls, God gives us all the ammunition we need to defend ourselves against the attacks of the enemy with His Word.  But in order for that Word to protect us, we have to know how to use it.  We have to go to the range and use it.  Read with me 2 Timothy 16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  In other words, we can arm ourselves with His Word to ward off and fend off attacks of the enemy.  But in order to do that, we must first know what that Word says.  In short: we have to read it.

What attack are you facing today?  Do you have your pretty purse with you or are you packing something with a bit more bulk to it?  I know what it feels like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulder or in your handbag.  You feel like you are searching through your purse for something, and instead of pulling out what you want, you end up with Mary Poppins' bag of endless tricks.  Is that how you feel today?  Might I make a suggestion?  Ask your heavenly Father for a little help with your baggage today.  Ask Him for a fresh and renewing Word.  Read Psalm 107:20, "He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."  I promise you this: When the need arises, and you are under extreme persecution, the weapon that defends you will come from the Almighty, Himself.  All you have to do is ask.  He is mighty to save.  His power is never empty, and it always chambered.  Have a blessed day.

Thought for the Week-Water Bending

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Happy Monday to each of you!  I pray that you all will be blessed with a good and productive week.  Today we are going to venture into an area of fiction and fantasy and then see if we can't travel back into reality.  As most of you know, I have three young children.  As you can imagine, we watch our fair share of television, and with three kids vying for possession of the remote control, it's almost never my turn to chose the channel!  Here lately, all three of them have been in general agreement of the show Avatar: The Last Airbender.  For those of you who may not be familiar with the specifics of this show, please bear with me, as I give the extremely condensed version of the show.  The basic general premise is the age-old battle between good and evil.  When the story started, there were four nations: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air.  They all lived in peace.  As the story goes, one nation rebelled, and peace went to pieces.  All of the nations have heros that can use (or bend) the elements to shield and protect their inhabitants.  That is what I want to focus on today. 

I know, I know.  Some of you are thinking: this is quite a stretch.  Stay with me.  I promise I'll make my point.  Naturally, every good show/story has a hero.  Avatar is no exception.  The hero in the series is named Ang.  He is really good, and really special.  He can bend all four elements, and as the show progresses, he uses those powers to save the world.  However, it is around the water bending, that I want to focus on. 

Water benders move water in ways normal people would deem impossible.  They bend the water to shield and to protect.  They've even used it to fight.  I want you to think about something: Did you know that God is a water bender?  He is.  I can prove it.  God has moved water in such mighty, awesome and powerful ways that still have people today scratching their heads!  Come with me to the book of Exodus.  Here we see the people of Israel in a really tight spot.  Moses has just led them out of Egypt.  Pharaoh's army is hot on their trail, and they (all two million of them) are stopped dead in front of the Red Sea.  It's time for a miracle.  Exodus 14:21-22, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.  The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (emphasis added)  Can you even imagine?!  Girls, what we have here, is the first aquarium.  Pharaoh's army followed, but the sea rolled right back into its place.  "Not one of them survived." Exodus 14:28  Extreme water bending.  That was an impressive display.  Look with me now in the book of Joshua.  Here we find the Israelites in battle.  Keep in mind that battle in Old Testament times was incredibly brutal.  We are talking about hand-to-hand combat.  God Himself has already assured His people that He is fighting with them.  And to prove His point, read with me: "As they [the enemy army] fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites." (emphasis added) Joshua 10:11  Y'all, that is some seriously precise aim!

I have one more example of water bending to share with you, although in reality, I could lay out many more examples.  For my last example we fast forward to the New Testament, and look at the book of John.  Here we meet Jesus as He visits with a Samaritan woman by a water well.  The original story is long, as was hers.  She had led a life of shame and disgrace, yet Jesus reached out to her.  He broke the tension by asking for a drink of water.  When in actuality, He was the One offering the life-giving refreshment.  In Biblical times, men, especially teachers, did not associate with women.  Jesus knew this woman's past (the list of indiscretions was long), He knew of her origin (He was Jewish-Jews did not associate with Samaritans), He reached out past all of that: "...whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Do you see?  Jesus alone, only He can wash away the things we are hiding. He is our Hero.  Only the water He offers will quench the thirst we have deep inside of us.  Our past doesn't matter.  Our point of origin doesn't matter.  He sees right through to the heart of us.  It's through His living water that we are made clean and whole.  That is some powerful water bending.  I want you to understand something very important before we part today: God is on your side.  The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament.  He, who parted the Red Sea and threw down hailstones with amazing accuracy on the enemies of His children is the very same One who comes to you in this living water.  Will you trust in Him today?  Will you walk through the sea that is being parted for you?  You are chosen.  You are one of His.  This water that God uses so miraculously to shield, protect and save...is for you.  Have a blessed week!

      

Thought for the Week-Remind Me

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Have you ever forgotten something important?  Let me clarify.  maybe you haven't really forgotten, you've just become desensitized to the scope of the thing.  Several months ago I flew out to San Diego to visit my sisters.  I stopped by my parents apartment to check out their new place, and while I was there I felt (not merely heard) the unmistakeable roar of a 747 flying so low I thought I could've tickled the belly of that plane if I'd been on the roof.  I grabbed the kitchen counter and braced myself, knowing for certain that plane was going to land smack dab on me!  My sisters, on the other hand, didn't even flinch.  Why?  They were used to it.  My parents live about two blocks from the San Diego airport.  They forget how loud those planes flying overhead actually are. 

Now, I told you that story to tell you this one.  This past weekend our nation remembered the tenth anniversary of 9/11.  Memorials went up.  Speeches were made.  Images of the events that played live on national television ten years ago were replayed over and over again.  Words across countless TV screens and church bulletins read, "We Will Not Forget".  Over the last ten years, our lives have moved forward.  But for one day each year, we stand united together, linked by tragedy, disbelief, grief, anger, fear and pride in our country and pride for those who died that day...stating "We Remember."

What about God?  Amid the most dastardly deeds and tragic events, we ask did God forget about us?  The answer, Sweet One, is No.  He has not forgotten...He will not forget...ever.  I was curious about the word "remember" and how many times it was used in the Bible.  God knows that we get side-tracked.  He knows we are the ones that need reminding.  During some of the darkest times in human history, when it seemed that God had forgotten His people, He was merely setting the stage for something that would render Shock and Awe throughout the ages.  I looked in a couple of different sources, and short of turning my Bible page by page, I have found that the word remember, or some derivative, is mentioned more than 165 times in the NIV.  Many of those times referring to when God Himself delivered His people from the hands of the Egyptians by way of the Red Sea.  We read in Exodus 14:21-22, "...all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.  The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left."(emphasis added)  Let me ask you, if you walked through a parted ocean, would that be something you could forget?  You wouldn't think so.  But once the Israelites gained some distance (a few hard knocks, perhaps) they became a bit desensitized to God's mighty works.  They forgot the atrocities they were subjected to as slaves in Egypt.  God reminded them, through Moses.

God reminds us through His Word.  Everyday we are faced with a new trial.  A new problem that requires our attention.  While we have to focus on our daily lives, we tend to forget God's Shock and Awe power play that He has planned for us.  We live in a fallen world---there is no escaping that.  Ugliness will infiltrate our world.  It will cause things to crash down around our ears.  But I promise you that when things are at their absolute darkest, that's when God's Light shines the brightest.  Open His Word, let Him remind you how much He loves you.  Turn to John 3:16 for a good place to start.  The Cross stands tall, when everything else falls down.  We remember.  Have a blessed week.



 

Thought for the Week-All the Single Ladies

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!

I've been thinking (dangerous, I know) about my past.  See, I've got a birthday coming up...and it's sort of a big one...it's not THE big one, but I'm getting closer.  Then yesterday, I was downloading a song for Ethan and I noticed a new album out from a group called Pistol Annies--spearheaded by Miranda Lambert.  Naturally I had to have it.  The very first song on it could have been written for me and a couple of my running buddies from about fifteen years ago.  Cringe.  Here is my disclaimer for the rest of today's Thought: Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.  Remember that.

You see, I wasn't always a Bible teacher, a MOPS speaker and a Women's Ministry Director.  Nope.  I spent plenty of time hanging out in the wrong places, with the wrong people doing things my mother prayed fervently that I wasn't out doing.  I hung out with women I was sure had made the Devil himself a deal because it simply wasn't natural to be that good-looking and smart at the same time.  I thought I was bullet proof and indestructible.  I was also eighteen and S-T-U-P-I-D.  Eventually I saw the Light.  Why am I telling you all of this...really good question. 

Today I want to tell you about a real life single gal who probably did make a deal with the Devil.  She was smart and beautiful and had a string of broken hearts to prove it.  And when the dust finally cleared, she had one broken, beaten, fallen hero of Israel to prove it as well.  Let's take a peek at Delilah.  Here's the Reader's Digest version on Samson and Delilah: Samson was Israel's great hero.  There wasn't really anyone or anything that could stand in his way.  He had been consecrated (set apart) since before he was born to be in God's service.  He was intelligent.  He spoke in riddles.  He had unbelievable strength...except when it came to women.  Women were his Achilles heel; his weak spot.  He was always falling for the wrong ones, despite his Momma's pleading.  We read in Judges 16:4 "...he [Samson] fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah."  Delilah is then approached by the leaders of the Philistine army with promises of a large payoff if she can secure the necessary information of the secret to Samson's great strength.  Night after night, Delilah uses every trick, every caress, every sensual touch and smoldering look she has in her arsenal, until finally she hits Samson with the ultimate Ace: "'How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me?  This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength.'  With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death." Judges 16:15-16  Can't you just see her?  Arms crossed.  Lips stained red, in a full pout.  Smokey eyes tilted up, half masked by her thick dark hair...poor Samson never stood a chance.

Well, the rest of the story isn't very pleasant.  He told her that the secret to his strength lies in his hair.  Shave his head, and his strength will leave.  Wouldn't you know that's just what she did!  The Philistine officials came and took Samson (brutally) away.  This capture eventually and ultimately caused the death of the great Samson.  For the full and sordid account, please read Judges 16:1-31.

So, why did I tell you this story?  We often underestimate the power we have as women.  No, I'm not about to get into some long and drawn out rant about how being a woman is SO much better than being a man...however, we need to be careful.  I would like to think that Delilah had feelings for Samson.  We know from the Biblical text that he was in love with her.  Unfortunately the Bible isn't as clear as to her feelings for him.  Fifteen years ago getting married wasn't even on my radar screen.  Breaking hearts and taking names--now that was something that sounded like a bit more fun.  I wasn't living anywhere close to God's potential for me.  Neither was Delilah.  I'm not sure how her story ended.  I do know what happened in mine: you see, I wasn't looking for God's path.  Good grief, I didn't even really know I was lost!  Thankfully He was already looking for me.  In fact, He never lost sight of me.  I'd been doing a really fantastic job of keeping His angels busy keeping watch over me!  He redirected me.  He got my attention.  He spoke to me in a language that only I could understand.  He will do that for you.  All my single ladies...I'm talking to you.  There's not a path too twisted or too far gone for Jesus to straighten out.  I was afraid my path would make His hair curl!  He knew where I was all along.  Come to Him.  He's waiting.  Have a great week.