Got goals? Be SMART!

The New Year is quickly upon us, and you and I know this means New Year's Resolutions are being jotted down. Many of this year's resolutions will be the same as last year's, and the year's before that. Are you tired of writing down the same thing? Let me give you some advice, make sure you are being SMART about your goals. Before you are offended by what may appear to be an attack on your mental capacities, allow me to explain. Goals that are SMART are:

• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Attainable
• R = Realistic
• T = Timely

Specific goals will be straightforward and focus on the what, why, and how. For example, many people will write down, "Lose weight" as a resolution. Using the SMART method, you would write, "Lose 10 pounds by going to the gym for group fitness classes at least 4 days a week in order to improve overall health, reduce body fat, and increase energy." There is such a difference in these two statements. Be specific, as it will help you identify exactly what your target is! (I am going to use this goal in each example for simplicity's sake.)

Mearsurable goals are just that, ones that can be measured. If it cannot be measured, it cannot be managed. This will also allow you to see your progress as you work toward your goal. Measuring your progress will also help you to stay on track, and will allow you to celebrate your successes along the way. For instance, "Reduce body weight by one pound a week" is a measureable goal.

 Attainable goals will allow you to challenge and stretch yourself, but you will be able to achieve them. If you set an unrealistic goal, you will only find yourself frustrated and failing, which will not result in any change and leave you stuck in your current state. Let me state, it is very unrealistic to believe you will lose 10 pounds, or whatever it is, in one week. It wouldn't be healthy, and it isn't the way we want to go. An attainable goal would be, much like above, "I will lose 10 pounds by losing 1-2 pounds each week, and will stick to a 1500 calorie diet by documenting what I eat."

 Realistic goals are goals that you have the tools to achieve. They are not easy, but are reachable. Be honest with yourself, what you are and are not willing to do in order to meet your goals. Do not set a goal of running 6 miles everyday if you do not have the time to commit to such a task, hate running, or have never run before. Factor in your work schedule, home schedule, etc. Realistic goals are more likely to be worked toward because you will not become overwhelmed by them. For instance, stating "I will not eat sweets any longer" is probably not highly realistic. Instead, "I will increase my intake of fruits and vegetables to 5 servings or more a day and replace a sweet snack with a healthful snack each day" is much more realistic.

 Timely goals will give you a timeframe for achieving your goals. Having an end point to a goal will assist you in staying committed and gives you a clear target to work toward. This will also keep you from being flippant, and having the same goals every single year. Instead of simply saying, "I will lose 10 pounds," you would write, "I will lose 10 pounds by March 1st." There is an exact time and date set, and now you can start putting it into action.

 Take the time to sit down and write out your goals, for this year, the next 3 years, the next 5 years. For your health, your finances, your spiritual life, every area needs attention. You cannot arrive at your desired location if you do not know what that location is and what it entails. Be SMART, and then, go for it.

2010, where did you go?

Would someone please tell me where 2010 went to?  I know we were told time seems to speed up when you have children, but this year has been ridiculously fast.  This year moved faster than the west Texas wind, and I am not sure I approve.  But, alas, I cannot rewind time, and whining will not stop 2011 from beginning.  Therefore, let me take a moment to reflect back on the wonderful insanity blessings of 2010.

• Our little one began an amazing PDO program and continues to love it, and I love it too!
• I resumed working as a personal trainer, part time, and have been enjoying the clients I have had come my way much more than most trainers do.
• Andy seems to have adjusted to working at home, and we are adjusting to it as well.  Some days are harder than others, but still, I love having him around more!
• Our girl spends ample time with her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins this year.  She adores them all, and that alone has made moving worthwhile.
• We settled on a church and are thankful for the pastor and the people therein.  A wonderfully welcoming place with Bible based preaching, thank you Lord!
• Andy and I attended a marriage retreat that was exactly what we needed at exactly the right time.  We gained so much and learned a great deal. 
• We were asked to join a small group through church and our worlds have been rocked by the people we are with.  Our group just works, and keeps me laughing, and is perfect for us.
• I have seen some growth in our AdvoCare business, but it's nowhere near where I want it.  Still, I have seen improvements.
• We spent some time in NC this summer with family.  It was such a fun time, and our girl loved having all those people around, especially her Uncle Mike.
• My friend Jami came to visit us in July and to say we had fun would be understating the truth quite a bit.
• The fall was spent at many LCU volleyball games.  We happily supported my sister and her team!
• In November, we took off to Florida for two weeks to visit my mother in law and other in-laws of mine.  We had a blast, and our girl even got to go to DisneyWorld.  We are thankful for the improvements our mother in law has had since being relocated, and are looking forward to her continued recovery. 
• Thanksgiving and Christmas were both wonderful and involved no travel, praise the Lord!  They were both relaxing, filled with laughter, and restful.
• We have been here a full year and are starting to feel more grounded and more at home here.  Roots are being grown, and we are having more and more fun together, with one another.  We miss our TN family a great deal, and always will, and are thankful for that chapter in our lives.

It has been a fast paced year, but a good year.  There is still so much to do, and I have begun a journey that is just rocking my world and opening my heart and mind even more.  I'll be partaking in another half marathon, and in doing so, will be spending some time with two of the sweetest friends I haven't seen in over 7 years.  I look forward to what 2011 has in store, for the growth it will bring, for the changes, for the joys, and even the struggles.  And my prayer, for each of you, is that you are stepping into 2011 more sure of who you are, who God has called you to be and more confident in where you are going.

Resolve to Succeed in 2011

The new year is quickly approaching, and you know that means resolution time! The number one goal for most people? Better health. To help with that, AdvoCare is running a special on their 24 Day Challenge Bundle (average weight loss is 15 lbs) beginning Saturday at noon (central time). The price is being reduced twenty dollars. That is a big savings for amazing products that work, are safe, and will help kick off your goals! Keep in mind, signing up as a distributor will save you another 20% on the products! Oh how I love savings!!!

Order for yourself, order for your family, order for your friends, just make sure to order beginning Saturday, January 1st, at noon! Do not wait, but don't hurry too much because the price reduction isn't good until Saturday at 12:00 pm cst!

Secondly, I found out today, while on a conference call, that Colt McCoy will be speaking at Success School Friday night! His father will be speaking during chapel Sunday morning, and Andy Andrews will be back this year! I cannot emphasize enough how incredible Success School is, and how valuable it is to those who want to gain financial freedom in their lives! It's a weekend you DO NOT want to miss. It's happening in Ft Worth, Texas February 11-13. AdvoCare Distributors can register here. 6000 tickets have already been sold, and there is only room for 7000, so get crackin' on that one!

Simply go here to join the AdvoCare family, order products, contact me, and change the course of your life.  Plus, I am here to help you!  Training, 3 way calls, mixers, we'll do it all...together!  2011 is the year we need to step up and rid our lives of debt, create better futures for ourselves and our families, and help others to do the same! Live well and be blessed!!!

Finding Triumph in Failures

These days, I am learning quite a bit, about myself and how I react to the world.  I have been blessed to be on this journey of self discovery, and really of discovering God's calling on my life, with a very dear sweet friend of mine.  We have found we each struggle with similar circumstances and have dealt with some of what life's handed us in similar unhealthy ways.  We are being led to change that, and to take hold of who God has already proclaimed us to be.  It is not always an easy road to walk, but it is proving to be a wild, worthwhile ride.

I sat thinking about the lessons we have gone through so far and realized a lesson I have always missed: there are triumphs to be found in failures.  When I fail, at whatever the task, I am being given a chance to learn, grow, and reassess my own values and goals.  My failures, if I allow them, will have me sit down to find the weaknesses in myself, the flaws in my own character in order to change them, being given the opportunity to become stronger, and more solidified in my own path. If I will cease from whining and pay attention, I am being given valuable lessons with every failure.
As I pondered this further, I realized these rules apply in every area of my life.  When a goal has not been met, I must look at the circumstances and be honest with myself as to why these didn't happen.  I recently failed to meet some goals I had set for my AdvoCare business.  It was in sitting and being honest in my evaluation of my actions and words that I found the reason they were not met.  There were times I simply was not doing what I knew I needed to in order to see growth, yet there were times that the individuals I spoke to just were not ready.  I can choose to give up, which some will do.  I can choose to let go of any goals and just see what happens, which many will do.  Or, I can decide to change my own behaviors and choose to do what must be done. 

With family, work, relationships, faith, anything this life involves really, we have the ability to live victoriously.  We can sit and moan about our circumstances, compare our journey to someone else's, or accept what we have been given and determine to do the best we can with it.  Sometimes that means an honest assessment, sometimes that means letting go of bad habits, sometimes it means knowing when to ask for help.  What I am learning now is that I can be triumphant even in failing if I am willing to use it as an opportunity for positive changes.  In fact, the calling and value placed on my life demands I do just that.

A merry Christmas to be sure

Here we are, the day after Christmas, and enjoying a slow paced, quiet day.  We did not make it to church due to my still not feeling well, and we are taking advantage of simply laying low.  Our girl is loving playing with her new toys, well, her new Barbie and Groovy Girl anyway.  The others will have to wait a bit because those two dolls have taken top honors so far.  Although, she is drawing me what I am sure are masterpieces on her 3 in1 easel.  As for my husband?  I gave him the world this year:

The best part of this gift?  He had no clue what he was getting.  On multiple occassions, he has said he wanted a globe.  However, no such declaration entered his mind and the stand wrapped up in a black plastic tablecloth while the globe was in an oversized holiday gift bag simply gave no indication as to what liked beyond the bows.  His expression was as wonderful and delightful as when our girl opened her Barbie.

As for me?  I got just what I wanted:
A better way to serve

A way to glow

And a new way to capture it all

As nice as the presents are, it's the time spent with family that I love the most.  Hearing the kids laugh, laughing with my parents, and simply being together.  It was a Merry Christmas for our house, a Merry Christmas to be sure.

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 13

Day 13: Lauraine Snelling (12/25)

Title: Love

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Love
by Lauraine Snelling

When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they’re only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all?

Then I kept on thinking. If they’re only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much.

Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God’s love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive.

So, let’s use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let’s look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!

 ~~~

About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy.

For more information please visit Lauraine's website: www.laurainesnelling.com.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 12

Day 12: Karen O’Connor (12/24)

Title: An Unforgettable Gift

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

An Unforgettable Gift
by Karen O'Connor

On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house.
      
It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children's father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant.

"Can't sell this one," the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children.
  
To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games.
      
"Charlie," his mother called, "would you see what's going on out there?"
     
Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back.

There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could.
      
"Hey Mister, we didn't order any coal," Charlie shouted. "You're delivering it to the wrong house."
      
"Your name's Flowers, isn't it?" the man asked, still shoveling. 
      
Charlie nodded yes.
      
"Well then, there's no mistake.  I've been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning." He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. "And I'm under strict orders not to tell who sent it," he teased.
      
Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind.  He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world.
      
Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn't tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift.
      
It wasn't the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it.
      
That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie's son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

 ~~~

About Karen: Karen O'Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010).

For more information, please visit Karen on the web at http://www.karenoconnor.com/.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

One Last Christmas - Matthew West Official Music Video

For every parent whose arms ache to hold their children one more time, to those who hold tightly to the hope of Heaven, be blessed.  And for those of us whose children are happily running around making us laugh and sometimes making us crazy, may we cherish every moment.

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 11

Day 11: Melissa Mashburn (12/23)

Title: Just give me Christmas this year!

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

All I Want for Christmas…
Is to be able to have Christmas this Year
by Melissa Mashburn

This is a simple request, isn’t it? In the previous years, we had great big bountiful Christmases with our family. Gifts, goodies and general Christmas cheer but this year it was different. The year before has been chock full of disappointments, failing businesses and severe cutbacks for our family. 

Sitting with my husband one night we hammered out the bare minimum that we could spend that year for Christmas and even still the total was four hundred dollars. It does not sound like a whole lot compared to what we’ve spent on Christmas before, but this year it could have been four thousand dollars because we just did not have it.

We prayed, I cried, we prayed some more and decided that we would cut back anything else that we could that year so we could have Christmas for our kids. We did not know how we would make this happen, but we knew that we needed to step forward in faith that it would happen.

Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. Galatians 3:5 the Message

Not even two days later, we hear a knock on our front door. We open the door to see some friends of ours from church. With tears in their eyes, they handed us an envelope and said that the felt they needed to give us this. We opened the envelope and inside there was four hundred dollars cash.

Shocked, stunned and with tears flowing down our face we just sat there in a state of crying and laughing at what God had done. We never shared with anyone that year what we needed, how bad it was, what was going on or what that number was for us to have Christmas for the kids, but God knew.

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”  2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT

He took a willing servant, led them to our front door and changed Christmas for us that year. After many years of being in full time ministry we knew that God would provide, but when He shows up just at the right moment, you know that it was all a part of His plan to show how much He loves, provides and cares for His people.

Father God, thank you that after all the years of serving and loving you in ministry that you continue to teach, guide, love, shepherd and care for us.  You, Father, are abundantly gracious and kind, thank you for showing up for us at just the right moment every time, forgive us when we forget that.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 ~~~

About Melissa: Melissa is the founder of the blog Mel’s World Ministry, co-founder of the Praise and Coffee Nights Ministry with Sue Cramer, Kids Ministry Director at her church.  Just last year she launched a new weekly series called Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith where we meet new women each week who are “Taking their everyday, ordinary lives and placing it as their offering to God.” Romans 12:1 the Message. You can find her on twitter and at her blog. She loves encouraging women to live with an authentic faith by being transparent, renewed and transformed. ~ Romans 12:2.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

WFW: Luke 2:11-15

Luke 2:11-15

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

In a dirty stable in Bethlehem, his mother bore down to bring him into this world; blood and sweat mixed to birth Emmanuel, Adonai, Jehovah, El Shaddai, Jesus.  Jesus came to die, on a bloody cross, stained with the sin of humanity, for the sake of humanity.  His mother could not have known, in the moment her body brought her son into the world that he would one day be a sacrifice, the sacrifice for all mankind.  She could not have known that he would become a stranger in his own town, that people would hate him, spit on him, whip him, and crucify him.  She could not have known, as she held her son gently to her chest, that his life was meant to save others.  As Mary looked into the eyes of her son for the very first time, she could not have known of the scars he would one day bear.  No, his mother could not have known his life would be given for ours.  Her mother's heart could not have withstood the brutal blow of that truth.  What she knew is that God had called her "for such a time is this" to "conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).  The promise extraordinary, the method untold, the reason eternal. 

On a cold night, in a lonely stable in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph witnessed the birth of God's own son, a heavenly promise, a beautiful sacrifice, the Savior.

To enjoy more Word Filled Wednesday posts click here..

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 10

Day 10: Maureen Lang (12/22)

Title: What’s the best thing about Christmas?

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

What’s the best thing about Christmas?
by Maureen Lang

The answer to that question will undoubtedly be different depending on the age and the faith of the person being asked. Most children will say it’s all about the gifts. Adults, even if they secretly still enjoy the gifts, will probably strive to sound more mature and say the holiday is all about friends and family. Still others might say it’s about tradition, or memories or the music or even the special food we connect to this time of year. The scrooges among us might say this season is just another marketing gimmick, or materialism gone awry. The faithful will say it’s all about Jesus, a reminder of why He shed the glory of Heaven to step into human skin and frailty.

I’m not here to defend or attack any answer to this question, but rather to ponder those possible answers.

Gifts: They touch us in personal ways, as tangible evidence of someone else’s thought and affection. Even if we don’t get exactly what we hoped, there’s something to be said about the thought behind a gift being the important part. Why wouldn’t gifts be an important and valid part of this holiday in which we celebrate God’s gift of salvation?

Holiday Gatherings: Parties might be a lot of work, forcing some out of their comfort zone, but at the core they’re all about human connection. Isn’t that what most people want?

Traditions and memories: They remind us of the past, of who we are, with the hope that even as we look forward to an unknown future we still hold some things worthy enough to repeat every year. We might find ourselves letting go of some traditions, or we might want to start some new ones.

The music: This is the only time of the year when even secular radio stations welcome songs about a baby born in Bethlehem. As a nation we may be getting stringent about separation of church as state, but the lines blur just a bit with old favorites that reflect this season.

Scrooges: The holiday season is probably a time to endure rather than enjoy, but even the scroogiest-scrooge might admit the lights of the season are pretty to behold. They’re free to look at, after all.

As for the food, the busyness, the expense and all the other things that make up this season: keep in mind that it’s all temporary. This, too, shall pass. Until next year, of course.

I’ll leave you with this thought: we are all made in God’s image, whether we believe that or not. Part of that image is the ability to give—and to receive. So here’s my thought for the day: stop a moment and dwell on all the gifts of the season. From the little mementos that say we haven’t forgotten someone or been forgotten by others, to the costliest gift of all: what God did for us in the form of Christ. As you enjoy the sounds, the sights, the scents and the tastes of this season, may your only trouble be in choosing just one thing among so many best things about Christmas.

 ~~~

About Maureen: Maureen Lang is the author of ten books, her most recent from Tyndale House is The Great War Series which are full of romance, adventure and spiritual journeys. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons and their lovable Labrador Retriever.

For more information please visit Maureen at her website, http://www.maureenlang.com/.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Corrections and a thank you

It was brought to my attention that the lunar eclipse happened early this morning, not yesterday, prior to me being hunted by Kujo and Kujo Jr as I posted yesterday.  This my friends is why I am not a news reporter.  Oh well.

It is not often that I get a shout out on someone's blog, much less an entire post.  This has happened friends, and I am honored.  Head on over to My Journey to Holistic Health and check it out.  Carey and I would have great fun if we were in the same place, that much I know.

At this very moment, my child is acting like a hysterical young girl for some unknown reason.  My usually sweet little 2 and a half year old has told me she doesn't want me to talk to her, doesn't want me to touch her, doesn't want, well, anything to do with me.  So, she is sitting on her bed until she calms down.  Oh mercy, this is not how I wanted the day to start.  The joys of parenting, right?

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 9

Day 9: Deb Kalmbach (12/21)

Title: Good News

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Good News!
by Deb Kalmbach

The first Christmas card of the season arrived in my mailbox way back in August. How could anyone be that organized? Then I noticed my friend, Nita, had sent me a card I had written to her more than 20 years ago!
 
Memories rushed back as I read the words penned in my familiar handwriting. It was Christmas, 1991, and my world had unraveled. I could almost pretend everything was all right at this most wonderful time of the year—but not that year.
 
My husband Randy’s drinking problem had escalated to the point where his job and career were on the line. He had already been through two alcohol treatment programs and managed to stay sober for short periods of time. Then he slipped back into old, familiar patterns. His ongoing relapses were a crushing disappointment for our family.
 
I had looked forward to Christmas Eve and our family traditions; making homemade lasagna, singing carols around the piano, attending the candlelight service at church, and then coming home to open one token Christmas Eve present.     
 
“Randy, are you ready to crank out the pasta?” I called to him over the Christmas music I was playing to lift my spirits.
 
I peered into the living room to see what was keeping him. My heart froze. Randy sat on the couch, trance-like, watching a basketball game while sipping a drink.
 
No, not on Christmas Eve, I screamed inwardly. I felt like I was suffocating. Usually Randy pulled himself together but it didn’t happen that night. He drank vodka all evening while I finished holiday preparations on autopilot. None of us felt like eating lasagna or celebrating.
 
Only a few days earlier, I had written these words on the Christmas card to my friend, Nita. I don’t know God’s plans, his timing or his ways in accomplishing his purposes, but I am learning to trust him. He is faithful!
 
I suspect Nita kept my card all those years because she saw a small seed of faith and it encouraged her heart. I didn’t know it at the time, but it would be eight more Christmas seasons before Randy experienced the miraculous breakthrough of finding freedom from alcoholism.
 
As I read the card I had written so long ago, I felt awed by God’s faithfulness to us—even when our situation looked completely hopeless.
 
You may be facing great difficulty as the holidays approach. The last thing you feel like is celebrating. And that’s O.K. The Good News of Christmas isn’t about picture perfect holidays where our homes are decorated a la Martha Stewart and tables are laden with holiday delicacies. Your days may not be merry and bright. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of a relationship through divorce or estrangement. Your world has unraveled.

That’s exactly why the message of Christmas is Good News. The Savior is born! The One who came to set you free, to give you peace and hope and help beyond anything you could ever imagine is as near as your next breath. Today you might not be able to see how God’s purposes are unfolding for your future, but you can be assured that He is working all things for good in your life. A twenty year-old Christmas card came on a summer day as an unexpected gift and gentle reminder of God’s presence—especially in the worst of times.

 ~~~

About Deb: Deb Kalmbach is the coauthor of Because I Said Forever: Embracing Hope in a Not-So- Perfect Marriage and the author of a book for children, Corey’s Dad Drinks Too Much. She has contributed to The New Women’s Devotional Bible, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, and other anthologies. She is a vibrant and engaging speaker who gives hope and practical solutions to those who struggle with difficult relationships. Deb and her husband, Randy, live in a tiny town in Eastern Washington. Visit Deb at: http://www.debkalmbach.com/, or on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Never take it for granted

Out the door I went, in the early morning, to do my jogging for the day.  My music was playing, my mind was wandering, and my feet were moving.  It was a cool morning, and the moon had a cool halo effect following last night's eclipse.  I found my rhythm, and got lost in my own little world. 

Less than a mile into my jog, I heard some barking and turned my head slightly.  Behind me stood Kujo and Kujo Jr.  Two huge black dogs stood watching my back, and I hadn't even noticed them until they were right behind me (when I say I was lost in my own world, I mean it).  I realized, as I chose to continue on rather than turn and face the two black, barking four-legged animals, that when I turned, they seemed frozen, as if someone told them to stop.  I am led to believe, that even out running, with two dogs barking at me, I have angels watching over me.  Dogs are my favorite animals, and I am rarely frightened by them.  But early in the morning, when it is still dark, there is a moment I'm left to wonder whether the canines are friendly or not.  By the sound of their bark, I am going with not, but who would know?

I trotted on and had to laugh at the fact that I was so lost in my own thoughts and music that I had not even heard the barking until I was past the dogs.  Evidence of protection number 1.  No need to panic, freeze, or make the Kujos feel threatened because I had not even noticed them.  When I turned, it was as if someone had commanded them to be still.  Evidence of protection number 2 for the morning.  And I don't take it for granted that I can run safely outside without fearing something may happen.  Sure, it could, but it hasn't.  Evidence of protection number 3.  Then there's the new gas station that is on my route when I do long runs.  For those of you who have done any kind of endurance training, you will agree that this is evidence of protection number 4. 

Sometimes, in noticing God in the small things in life, I am more likely to stand in awe of everything He does, has done, and will do.  Even in something like making barking dogs go silent and still. 

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 8

Day 8: Tricia Goyer (12/20)

Title: Gift List

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Gift List
by Tricia Goyer

I've been thinking lately how hard it must be for Oprah to Christmas shop. I mean if you were on her "gift list" wouldn't you expect something really, really good? The woman gives away cars and trips to Australia on her television show for goodness sake! It seems by the end of Christmas Day her friends and family would look at the pile of presents and think, "Is that it?" I mean if you knew there was billions of dollars she could spend on you, would you ever feel satisfied?

Sometimes I think we approach God the same way. We look around at our home, our family, our job, our free time and we still aren't satisfied. We wish our body looked better, our clothes were more in style, our husband was more considerate and our kids were more ... well, like the perfect little people we picture in our mind. Our careers don't excel as quickly as we think they should and people don't give us the attention we feel we deserve. We're tired and anxious and the to-do list seems to be tacked to our hearts for all the pain it causes.

Often, we look around and don't speak the words out loud, but think them just the same. "Is that it?" I mean, You're the God of the universe and You have all things in Your hands and under Your control. Couldn't you provide a little more money to help those bills disappear or make me a bit more content with the man I've chosen to spend my life with? And I thought Oprah had it tough.

Is there ever a time when God doesn't hear the murmurs? Again, not with our mouths but in our heart.

I've been guilty of this--of not being satisfied with the gifts I've been given. Yes, there will always be more to want, but today--at this moment--I'm satisfied. And I look to Him with a grateful heart and whisper, "Thank you, it is enough. More than enough."

 ~~~

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. For more information, please visit www.triciagoyer.com

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 7

Day 7: Stacie Ruth Stoelting (12/19)

Title: Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again
by Stacie Ruth Stoelting

Feel sad this Christmas? Hey, I know the feeling. In fact, many programs have interviewed me to share about it! Last year, I tried particularly hard to share stories and tips on how to cope with grief during the holidays: I wrote a feature for CBN.com, Coping with Grief at Christmas, visited and counseled grieving people, etc.

Then irony hit: Near Christmas, two people I loved died within two days (December 15-16, 2009).

Are you or a loved one hurting during the holidays? I relate. But let me encourage you: Jesus remains faithful! As real as my pain, He met my needs and comforted me with peace unexplainable. I’m serious. He’s real.

Before I continue with tips, let me share this: If you feel suicidal, contact an emergency counseling service like the New Life Call Center at 1-800-NEW-LIFE(639-5433).

10 Tips for Hurting Hearts to Hope and Cope at Christmastime

1.    Realize and internalize it: God still loves you and wants to hear from you. He wants you to know that there is a Way out of your pit of despair. The Way is Jesus.

2.    Sometimes, our suffering causes us to forget His. Understand He understands you. He suffered more than any of us when we bore the weight of every sin and pain on the cross! In fact, Is. 53:3 describes Jesus: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Think of it: He took your punishment and pain on the cross. He was your capital punishment Substitute! And your Deliverer -your Rescuer- wants to hear from you. His heart hurts with yours. Will you pour your heart out to Him now? He’ll pour His love in where the fear previously resided. Let Jesus inside. Do you know Jesus on a personal, one-to-One basis?  Visit here to learn why Jesus was born to die and how to be born again. (Hey, Jesus said it: "You must be born again.")

3.    Rather than mere gifts, make a Christmas prayer list of other hurting people. Then pray for them and request prayer for yourself, too. Contact your church. Tap into ministries (including CBN.com) that offer extra prayer support. And feel free to join my prayer e-group at www.PrayingPals.org or on Facebook by clicking here.

4.    End the Christmas comparison game. Don't compare your Christmas to your neighbor's. Don't compare your Christmas to past celebrations.

5.    Center on the Savior! This year, trade a superficial Christmas for a real one. Deepen your appreciation for the true Christmas: the arrival of Jesus Christ to banish the effects of sin and death!

6.    Whatever your loss or pain, open up and let God be your Gain. Maybe your pain comes from another cause: a divorce, a devastating diagnosis, a job loss...the list extends. God offers to be your Counselor, your Father, your Healer, your Provider. Let Him answer your heart’s cry.

7.    Love on people. Even if you don’t “feel” like it, prayerfully do something for someone else who is hurting.

8.    Remember: Feelings change. God doesn't. Loved ones' deaths never kill His love for you. God's immeasurable, unconditional love still flows to you! When you know Jesus, you know eternal love and security. Nothing separates you from His love! “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV).

9.    Realize the reality of the sudden reunion. Holidays exacerbate the feeling of long separation from our loved ones in Heaven. Does it feel like it will take forever for you to see your loved one in Heaven? Be encouraged: Jesus IS coming again and it will be a time you don't expect! So the fact that you feel like it won't happen soon is a good thing!  Once reunited, it will feel like no time transpired. All sadness will be entirely removed!

10.    When Jesus comes back to earth, it will be a celebration greater than any previous Christmas you've ever experienced!

For believers, losses hurt but never win. We will celebrate Jesus together -and it will be glorious "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4, NIV). In that Day, all believers will be able to jubilantly say, “Merry Christmas to all and to all the true Light!”

Additional Help: Ready for some practical tips for coping with grief at Christmastime? Here’s one: Rearrange furniture to reduce absence reminders. To read this tip and others found in another of my CBN.com’s articles: “Coping with Grief at Christmas", visit www.CBN.com.

Going thru a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.PrayingPals.org.

 ~~~

About Stacie: Stacie Ruth knows pain, but she also knows Jesus! After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life blossomed with true joy and purpose. Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people...like herself.  Discover why she's written a book at age 15, sung/spoken for the 43rd President, been pictured in major media (i.e. The New York Times, USA Today), and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. To watch video clips, worship Jesus with music from her album, or get in touch with her ministry for women, visit www.brightlightministries.com.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

A Social Network Christmas

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 6

Day 6: Rebecca Ondov (12/18)

Title: Wrapped in His Love

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Wrapped in His Love
by Rebecca Ondov

The temperature is below zero and dropping quickly—probably to -15 or lower. Old Man Winter gusted in a couple days ago, leaving cold temperatures and a foot of snow behind. Moments ago I bundled up in my long johns and Carhartts to go out and feed. Of course I had a warm horse blanket draped over my arm. When it’s below zero I wrap Czar in two horse blankets.

Czar nickered as soon as he saw me coming. When I buckled up the blankets, it was as if I was wrapping him in my love. He buried his head in my chest. I snuggled him and stroked his long red winter hair. I pulled a couple icicles out of his black mane as my mind drifted through memories.  I’d bought Czar when he was a month old; it was love at first sight.  After he was weaned from his mother, I brought him home.

Czar leaned into me, almost as if he was hugging me. I patted his neck, “That was thirty years ago, Czar. Can you believe it?”  Czar had been my main saddle horse when I worked in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana. I’d ridden him over 20,000 miles. Together we’d faced grizzly bears, mudslides, forest fires, and even fallen off a cliff. He’d saved my life more than once. With my finger, I traced a couple gray hairs that dotted his forehead. “You’ve earned your blankets, buddy.”

The icy breeze nipped at my cheeks and I thought how much his blankets resemble God’s love for us. God was there when we were born—and He loved us at first sight. He’s faithfully been with us through every step of our lives—through every joy and sorrow. He’s cried with us and laughed with us. He cheered when we’ve overcome. Most of all, when I’ve gone through tough times, it’s been God’s love which wrapped itself around me like a shield and pulled me through.

I glanced around me. The snowflakes glistened in the sun. His love surrounded me: the wind whispering in the pines, the chickadee that serenaded me this morning, the gurgling creek that flowed through the pasture. And His greatest love is manifested in the prize of His creation –you and me, the ones created in His image.

This Christmas season, I’m praying that you feel the God of the universe—the one who hung the stars in place—wrapping His loving arms around you and holding you tight (two horse blankets worth). And I pray that all of us experience the love He’s given us in Jesus.

 ~~~

About Rebecca: Rebecca Ondov is the author of Horse Tales from Heaven: Reflections along the Trail with God and Horse Tales from Heaven: Gift Edition. She was a contributing author in several books including Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace. She lives in Western Montana with her family, horses, mules, barn cat, and golden retriever. By day she works for Fox Lumber, brokering lumber throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. By night she forges ahead with her mission, writing stories which equip Christians to lead extraordinary lives. Join her on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn by going to her Website: www.RebeccaOndov.com 

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

Sweet Fellowship

Last night, we had the honor of hosting our small group for an adult only evening.  To say it was a great evening would be understating how I feel about the night.  It was so fun, so wonderful, and so refreshing.  It was rather comical at first because all of us, being parents, took a while to adjust to not having to tend to a child throughout our meal or our time together.  Ok fine, it took five minutes or so, not long at all really, but there was a moment of awkwardness. 

For dinner, I made a BBQ brisket, corn on the cob, ranch potatoes and asparagus, and corn bread muffins.  It all came out so well, except for the muffins.  Silly things chose to stick to the pan, and were therefore cornbread muffin tops.  That's the part everyone likes most anyway, right?  For dessert I served up pecan caramel pie and lemon cheesecake.  Mmmmm, so yummy. 

We ate, we laughed, we talked, we laughed even more, and were able to sit and relax and enjoy.  With our newly reorganized living room, we sat comfortably together as stories were shared.  It was such a great evening!  Cozy house, great food, good conversation, many laughs, and some of the most wonderful human beings God has created.  What a way to walk into Christmas week.  I feel like God gave me an early Christmas gift last night as I looked around the room at each person He has brought into our lives at this moment, at this place, at this time. 

What have you done?

Here I sit, in the quiet of the morning thinking that next week we will be celebrating Christmas.  Really?  It is time for Christmas already?  Didn't we just start the new year?  How time has flown, all too quickly in my mind.  A new city, a new state for that matter, a new house, new church, new people, new clients, and the list goes on.  And it has, by many counts, been a good year.  But I am left asking myself one question, "what have you done?"

Where have you served?  What have you done that does not benefit you?  What have you done to further God's kingdom?  What have you done to put your faith into action?  What, my friend, have you done?

The more the question resonates in my mind, the more I dislike it.  There is a sour taste building in my mouth that I do not care for.  What have I done?  The minimum.  I am not out in the community serving, let's be honest, I am not even serving at our church.  What have I done?  So very little, too little in fact.  I do not care for this truth, I detest it really.  Yes, this has been a year of adjustment and trying to settle in a new place and a new routine.  In light of that fact, I believe it was my excuse to not stretch myself, to get out and participate. 

I want my little girl to have a heart for others, to see a place to serve and then jump right in.  I want her to be compassionate and desire to put others before herself.  I pray her life is one of service rather than of being served.  This is more likely to happen if the two people who have been entrusted with her care are out, and doing the same.  It is easier to imitate a behavior than simply follow a direction given.  I want her to be able to tell others her parents went through life with servant's hearts.  I want to leave a better legacy than I am currently leaving. 

May God forgive the selfishness of my own heart, and continue to stir in me the desire to serve Him and his people well.  And may I walk through the doors of opportunity rather than finding my way around them.