Girls To Grow - Page 2 of 183 - Nurturing moms in their walk with God

When You Have the Best, Why Would You Want Anything Else?

October 4, 2018 by Tracey 4 Comments

Chocolate – do you like milk or dark?

I listen to a podcast where the host often asks her guests that question. When I was younger, milk chocolate was my favorite, but I admit to having developed a taste for really good dark chocolate as I’ve gotten older.

Yes, it’s usually the expensive stuff, but now the lower quality chocolate pales in comparison. Plus it only takes a little bit of the costly stuff to satisfy that chocolate craving (theoretically, that is!) I’d rather have a small portion of the best stuff than a whole pile of the other.

I just started Kelly Minter’s Bible study titled No Other Gods: The Unrivaled Pursuit of Christ. Before she dives into the first of the ten commandments, she backs up and looks at the previous verse. I’d never analyzed Exodus 20 this way, and her approach got me thinking.

No other god can compare to the one true God.

The first commandment says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” That statement comes in verse three. Verse one lets us know it’s God who is speaking. So what comes in verse two, right before we get the list of the ten commandments?

“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Before He lays down the law that the Israelites are to follow, issues the commands they are to obey, God reminds them of Who He is and what He’s done.

It hasn’t been long since these people were freed from slavery. They’ve witnessed the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, miracles that could only be attributed to God. He brought them out of Egypt powerfully, and with great purpose and intent. His plan not only got them out of their oppressive situation, but also had the Egyptians lavishing them with parting gifts of silver and gold! [Exodus 12:35-36]

In Exodus 20:2, God lays down His claim for being the only God they are to worship. He declares that He is their God, their deliverer.

We may think that, having witnessed extreme miracles, they would just automatically follow God. We may scoff at how shallow their faith was, since we know from further reading how quickly they turned to a golden calf or a god named Baal as the object of their worship.

Yet let’s look at our own lives. We have God’s Word that we can hold in our hands. His salvation is available to all who will trust Jesus as their Savior. But when a little trouble comes, how quickly we look to our own devices to solve a problem. We don’t actually build an idol, but we so often look to something else to deliver us.

Maybe we think that if we just had this or that we’d be content, happy. We give our devotion, our time, and our emotional energy to our family or our work or our own comfort. These can all be good things. But they’re not the one thing, the person we are to worship.

In my own life, my husband and I are trying to help guide our daughter as she makes decisions about college and career plans for next year. Being the planner that I am, I want to know yesterday how that’s all going to work out. Uncertainty makes me nervous.

But I can’t worship at the altar of control or security. Nor can I make what I want for her my idol. I have to trust God to work in her life, and bring both she and us to a place of peace about her future plans.

And what a neat thing it will be for her to experience God leading her! I want her to be able to look back, like the Israelites could, and say, “Look what God did for me! Look how He brought me to the place where I need to be.”

So why would we want any other god but the one true God? He commands us to have no other god before Him, and He has that right because of all He has done and continues to do for us.

When you realize that you have the best – the only all-powerful One who can save and deliver – you can confidently worship Him, and set all others aside.

Saturday Salutes ~ Friendship Seasons and the Books I Read in September

September 29, 2018 by Tracey 5 Comments

My decorating-challenged self found this cute pumpkin for our front porch in the At Home store.

Kristen shares Five Truths to Ease the Changing Season of Friendships.

Tracy lists Six Mistakes to Avoid When You Start Organizing.

Alisa Childers wrote a thought-provoking review in Girl, Wash Your Face? What Rachel Hollis Gets Right and Wrong.

I really like shrimp and grits, so I tried Rachael Ray’s Creamed Corn with Sausage and Shrimp for supper on Thursday night. Y’all. It was SO good!!

I read two non-fiction and two fiction books this month.

The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch was a great book dealing with setting boundaries around technology in our homes. He shared many practical tips that have worked for his family. I think this book is helpful for all families, and especially those who are just introducing technology to their children. Having a strategy beforehand is key to not allowing devices to take over your family.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is a book I’ve read several times before. It’s a wonderful re-read when I feel I’ve lost the sense of gratefulness that I want to characterize my life.

The first fiction book I read was A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow. I’ve enjoyed some of his other books, but this one was seemed a little slow. He didn’t develop the legal side of the story as much, which is what I typically like about his books

The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron is about a young woman who was an apprentice of Harry Houdini. This was not my favorite book by this author (that honor goes to The Lost Castle), but it was still an enjoyable read. I’ve now read all of her books, and am awaiting the release of Castle on the Rise (second in the Lost Castle series) in February.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

7 Tips for Making Each Day Your Masterpiece

September 26, 2018 by Tracey 3 Comments

A common conversation I find myself having with family and friends is about how quickly time is passing.

With the threat of Hurricane Florence recently, my husband and daughters were off of work and school for almost a week. Looking back at that week when it was over, my husband and I talked about what we did (and didn’t do!) with that unexpected “free” time. He shared with me this quote from legendary basketball coach John Wooden.

“Make each day your masterpiece.”

I’ve been thinking about that ever since. It’s so easy to just let a day go by without being intentional about how you spend it. We can purposely fill our hours with what’s important to us, or we can just let the day drift by with no purpose.

Obviously there are certain tasks that must be done. But even in those daily must-do’s, we can choose to focus on making the hours meaningful.

Here are seven ways we can work to create a masterpiece each day.

1. Remember that a masterpiece is made up of many small strokes. Here and there we have days with big, bold wins. You get a promotion at work, receive a random, heartfelt note of love and appreciation from your teenager, or finally meet a longstanding personal goal.

But most days are full of lots of little strokes. Things like rocking a baby to sleep, slipping a love note into your husband’s pocket, or lighting a candle while you clean up the kitchen after supper. Maybe you listened to a play-by-play account of your son’s school day, played Candy Land for half an hour, or wrote out a Bible verse to post on the refrigerator door.

None of these tasks seems like a big deal. But put them all together, and those little moments become the building blocks of a life well-lived.

2. Do your best at every task you undertake. Whether it’s making the bed, packing lunches, or washing the car, do the best you can at every thing you try. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men…”

I’m not a five-star chef nor the most efficient housekeeper, but I can get a healthy meal on the table and run that vacuum cleaner with the best of ’em!

3. Realize that God’s given you the skill to produce something beautiful. He gave you a spouse to encourage and made you the parent of your children. You are His creation and lovely in His sight. Yes, you will sin and fail, but He will forgive and restore.

You were created for a purpose. As long as you’re here on the earth, there is something meaningful God wants you to do.

4. Be kind. A masterpiece can be marred by ugly strokes. One day last week, I got angry when another car cut me off in traffic. I was frustrated and blew my horn – then hoped no one I knew was around because I was so embarrassed! I’m not saying there’s never a time to blow your horn, but I just let my frustration get the best of me.

We teach our children Ephesians 4: 28, and it sounds so simple. “And be ye kind one to another…” But I definitely need the Holy Spirit’s help to live that out every day.

5. Take time for God. It sounds so basic, but isn’t getting to know God better about the most important thing we can do today? Carve some time out of your day to find a truth about God to meditate on.

I’ve started using a daily audio Bible app on my phone so that I can hear the Bible read out loud. Since I’m already in the habit of listening to podcasts, this fits right in to my day. It’s just another way to take in God’s Word.

6. Use your time wisely. I don’t think this means every moment has to be full of stuff to do. It can be extremely life-giving to sit on the porch and watch the sunset. But surfing the Internet mindlessly or sitting in front of a television for hours can leave you feeling empty, knowing that you wasted time.

Just be intentional with the time you’ve been given. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.“

7. Focus on right now. You can’t change the past. You can’t foretell the future. Set goals and make plans, but do what you need to do today to grow in your walk with God and show love to others.

God gives us a blank canvas each morning. Let’s fill it today with beautiful brush strokes, for His honor and glory.

Saturday Salutes ~ Kind People, Fall Decor, and the Best Candle

September 15, 2018 by Tracey 4 Comments

Happy Saturday!! Thanks so much to all of you who’ve prayed for us this week as we waited to see what Hurricane Florence would do in our area.

I took this video yesterday morning. I made sure to fit in a walk outside before the rain came. Cabin fever is a real thing, lol!

I’m actually posting this on Friday afternoon, in case we lose electricity later. So far it’s just a breezy, overcast day, but we expect to get lots of rain beginning this evening. We’ve got all the necessities in place, and hopefully the storm will pass without any real damage in our area. Trust that all of you have remained safe this week!

And now for some helpful posts, plus a new product that’s making our home smell so good!

Rebecca shares The Do’s and Don’ts of Helping Someone Who’s (Scary) Sick.

Becky points out The One Thing That Sets Kind People Apart.

Shaunti tells us Why Your Man Checks Out and Shuts Down.

Joy has 12 Creative and Cozy Dollar Store Fall Decor Ideas.

Fall weather hasn’t arrived here yet, but I’m craving all the fall-inspired food. Think I’ll try these Pumpkin Pie Crescents soon!

I’d gotten to the point where I rarely burned candles in our home. But while browsing a Bath and Body Works store in Water Tower Place during our summer trip to Chicago, I discovered this In-Tents Coffee scented candle. Didn’t want to put that heavy candle into my suitcase for the flight back, so I bought one after we got home. It’s amazing!! While I don’t drink coffee, I’ve always liked how it smells. This candle doesn’t have a sweet, overpowering scent; it just smells like freshly-brewed coffee. Getting ready to order myself another one!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

When You’re in the Pit, Look Forward to Your New Song

September 12, 2018 by Tracey 8 Comments

There are certain ways you can tell you’re getting old. From knees that audibly creak when I first walk across the floor in the morning to a new wrinkle I spotted on my face last month, there’s no denying it.

While trying to find some music on Alexa recently, I realized that the songs from my past tend to date me as well. I used to think of “oldies” as the tunes my parents listened to when they were teenagers, back in the 50’s and 60’s. However, considering that I went through my teen years during the 80’s, my music might now be considered “oldies” as well, especially to my own teenage daughters. Somehow that hurts!!

Today I wanted to look at how we can get a new song. Maybe life has drained us of our old song. Trials and difficulties might be keeping our voices silent. But whatever song we’ve had in the past, or how quiet our soul feels today, God can give us a new one.

This passage from Psalm 40 talks about getting that new song

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” ~Psalm 40:1-3

1. It starts with waiting.

There it is, y’all. It seems inescapable, that patiently waiting part that’s so hard to do in our flesh. We want right-now solutions and instant relief. But David says he waited patiently. He didn’t get annoyed with delays or anxious about the problems in front of him. He was calm, and didn’t complain. Ouch! I’ll confess that my waiting doesn’t always look like that.

2. We call out to the Lord.

In our waiting, we cry out to God. Yes, He already knows our situation. But when we come to the place where we recognize that we need His deliverance, we can look up to Him and seek His help.

3. The pit is horrible.

Your pit may be different than mine. The pit could be divorce, sickness, a lost friendship, a rebellious child, thwarted dreams, financial troubles, job failure, a terminal diagnosis, or a death in the family. It can be a dirty, muddy, sticky place in life that we desperately need to be rescued from.

4. God delivers us.

In this life and for eternity, only God can save us. Not only does He bring us up out of the pit, but He also puts us on a firm foundation. He sets us on a path back to safety.

5. He puts the new song in our mouth.

As he lifts us out of the pit to a place of safety, God gives us a new song to sing. No matter what our old song was, we now have a new one. God has once again been faithful. And this leads right into the next one.

6. The new song is all about praising Him.

The pit was hard and dark and deep, but God rescued us. No matter what we just came through, He is worthy of our praise.

7. Our new song is a testimony to others.

God brought us up. We waited, we called, He delivered. We can use our pit experience to teach others about trusting Him. As we’re willing, God can use what we went through to glorify Himself.

Whether you’re in the waiting, in the pit, or up on top of the rock, know that God gives the new song. And remember, this new song…it’s a song that we wouldn’t have gotten without the waiting and the pit. It’s even sweeter because we remember what we came through to get the song. The learning to wait, to trust, and to obey makes the new song a sweet melody that glorifies God and testifies to others.

Saturday Salutes ~ What Matters as a Mom, No Date Nights, and Fall Decorating

September 8, 2018 by Tracey 4 Comments

Elizabeth says Now I Can See What Really Mattered as a Mom.

Debra explains that You and Your Spouse DO NOT Need a Weekly Date Night Out.

Lots of good parenting help in a recent podcast from Focus on the Family. Guest Cynthia Tobias talks about Surviving the Strong-Willed Child Part 1 and Part 2.

I enjoy following Sarah from Little Vintage Nest on Instagram. This week she did a quick trip to Michael’s and shared five really easy ideas for fall decorating. And trust me, if I say they’re easy, they’re easy!!

Stacy’s Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles sounds like the perfect dish to serve whenever we finally get some fall weather here!

Shared this on Instagram this week.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

When an Introvert Went to a Wedding Reception Alone

September 6, 2018 by Tracey 8 Comments

Have you ever taken a personality test?

I hear a lot about them these days. Frequently, on podcasts I listen to, the host or guests will proudly proclaim that they’re an Enneagram 7 or an ENFP. And I’m certainly a fan of learning not only what personality type you are, but also the personality styles of those around you.

Better understanding our children’s personalities has guided my husband and I as we instruct and discipline them. We know that one daughter responds best to clear, direct communication. She doesn’t care about a gentle approach, nor does she have time for long-winded explanations.

While I’ve taken a personality test before, I didn’t need one to tell me that I’m an introvert. I enjoy being around people, but I recharge by having alone time. And when it comes to entering new social situations, I have to force myself out of my comfort zone.

Now, if you’re an extrovert, you may not relate to anything in this post, but perhaps it will give you insight into how the rest of us feel!

If we’re going to a social event, most of us realize that it will be more enjoyable if someone we know is going to be there. There’ll be someone to talk to, and we won’t awkwardly stand around looking lonely. And that’s all fine and good.

But sometimes good things happen when I’m a little uncomfortable.

Several months ago, I attended a wedding with my daughters. There was a fairly large crowd, and we knew some of the guests. When it came time for the sit-down dinner reception, my girls split off with friends, and I was on my own.

By the time I got my food from the buffet line, many of the tables were full. In the large room, I didn’t want to wander around looking for someone I knew in hopes that there was an empty seat at their table.

I spotted a table with a few empty chairs, and just sat down by myself. On impulse, I introduced myself to the lady on my left. She was a friend of the groom, was from out-of-state, and we ended up having the most interesting conversation!

This woman was an elementary school teacher (which I used to be). She also happened to be from the area where I attended college. We talked and talked about all kinds of things, and didn’t leave the table until it was time to say farewell to the newly married couple!

That whole experience was a blessing! It reminded me that I need to be more intentional about stepping out of my comfort zone. (By the way, this post is not at all intended to brag on myself! Most of the time I get so self-focused that I forget about trying to bless anyone else.)

Sometimes, if I know I’m going into a situation like that, I try to remember to pray and ask God to lead me to just the right person He would have me interact with. It might seem like a small request. However, I believe that God will put me in the path of someone I can fellowship with. Even when people I know are around, it can be a blessing to reach out and make a new friend.

So the next time we introverts head into a new social situation, let’s ask God to lead us in where to sit or who to talk to. This incident made me want to be more mindful of noticing someone who doesn’t seem to have anyone to talk to. Rather than focusing on my own pleasure, I can see if there’s a person nearby who could use some conversation.

You never know when you might make a new friend ~ and get a blessing for yourself in the process.

Saturday Salutes ~ Tween Girl Books and Grateful Children

September 1, 2018 by Tracey 3 Comments

Throwback to our summer trip to Chicago!

Kimberly tells us How to Build a Life Worth Remembering.

Loved this article by Jennifer Earl sharing the Alabama School’s Hilarious “Opt-Out” Fundraising Letter.

Jennifer lists 20 Exciting Books for You and Your Tween Girl.

Deanna shares Easy Ways to Raise Grateful Children.

Axis released three videos on Reclaiming the Smartphone: 4 Important Conversations. I thought this second video in the series was very helpful if you’re considering at what age to allow your child to have a smartphone.

This Santa Fe Chicken Pizza Pie was a delicious supper one night!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Finding Contentment in Our Own Lawn

August 28, 2018 by Tracey 5 Comments

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” It reminds us that while someone else’s situation may look better than ours, that’s not necessarily the case.

Looking across the fence at someone else’s yard, we see only the positives. Their grass is healthy, lush, and green. We glance down at our yard, and notice the brown patches and weeds. In our own yard, we see only the negatives.

We see the mom with her well-behaved children, especially the teenage daughter who seems to adore her. (Okay, that’s what I notice these days, ha!) Her house is decorated, inside and out, in a Pinterest-perfect way. And not only does she homeschool her children, she also manages a non-profit, brings homemade desserts to every church potluck, has weekly date nights with her husband, and runs five miles a day!

Then we look at ourselves, breaking up fights between our children as we throw peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches into a plastic grocery bag for our kids’ school lunches. Dirty dishes are piled high in the sink as we herd everyone to the car. The laundry basket is overflowing, we’re driving to school in our pajamas, and the only exercise planned for today is scrubbing the shower.

We may think that other mother has it all together, but I can pretty much guarantee that’s not the case. Her life, from the outside, may look perfect, but she’s likely struggling, in some way, as we are.

I like how Emily P. Freeman takes the truth of this saying to another level. In her book, A Million Little Ways, she says “There are no greener grasses, only different lawns.”

I’ve previously written about comparison, and the dangers that come with it. Yet it’s good to be reminded that each of us is planted in a different place.

God has put each one of us in the exact situation with the specific set of circumstances He wants us to have. Do our foolish choices sometimes impact that? Yes. But God is bigger than our mistakes, and He can grow us exactly where we are.

When we’re tempted to think that someone else has an easier life, a more loving husband, or better-behaved children, chase those thoughts away. Don’t let comparison make you feel that others are so much better off than you are.

The opposite can be true as well. For example, we may look at a parent who has a disabled child and think, “How hard their life must be.” Yet God can give them the grace, peace, and joy they need to flourish in that relationship. They may experience far more blessings than we could even guess.

None of us can see from our current vantage point what God is doing in the lives of others. Just like He has a plan for us, He has a plan for them, too.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” ~Philippians 2:13

Instead of wanting someone else’s lawn, let’s accept ours. Let’s thank God for what we have, then set about to accomplish His purpose right we are.

Be content. Get so busy cultivating your own grass that you don’t have time to focus on how your neighbor’s grass is growing.

With God’s help, do the best you can in every area of your life. Then trust God to make your “lawn” all that He would have it to be, for His honor and glory.

Saturday Salutes ~ and the Books I Read in August

August 25, 2018 by Tracey 5 Comments

Walking in downtown Brevard, NC, last weekend and came across this old telephone booth.

Brie asks Is Satan Stealing Our Families?

Dr. Meg Meeker shares Five Signs You Might Be Overparenting.

Susan says Couples Who Out Love Have Marriages that Outlast.

Ann gives advice in When You’re Struggling with Midlife and Another Year Older – Remember This.

Homeschooler or not, there are some great ideas in Brooke’s list of 18 Homeschool Electives and Extracurricular Activities.

Here’s my end of summer reading (still a little heavy on the fiction side!)

The only non-fiction book I finished was Free of Me: Why Life is Better When It’s Not About You by Sharon Hodde Miller. I really enjoyed the middle part of the book where she talks about “Seven Mirrors” that reflect areas of our life we tend to make about ourselves. For example, there are chapters on “When You Make Your Appearance about You,” “When You Make Your Friendships about You,” and “When You Make Your Church about You.” The final part of the book shares four ways we can get free of focusing on ourselves. I wish this part of the book had been a bit longer, so that the ways we can make those changes could have been more fully developed.

As for fiction, I read two books by Jaime Jo Wright, The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond and The House on Foster Hill. Honestly, the first one was a little weird, and not necessarily something I’d normally read. However, it was obviously entertaining enough to get me to read her other book!

A Sparrow in Terezin is another great book by Kristy Cambron. It’s a sequel to The Butterfly and the Violin that I read last month. I followed that up with her book The Ringmaster’s Wife. I’ve really enjoyed all of Kristy’s books! I have one left to read, and it’s on my list for September.

Should be a quiet Saturday at home here…not a usual occurrence lately, so I’m looking forward to it. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!