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Not long ago, I attended a pastor’s wives retreat.  After the Friday evening session, we had the option to join a couple of craft tables.  At one of them, they were making jewelry. I made a B-line for that table and in no time at all had constructed a really cute pair of earrings.  It was then that the idea came to me that this could be what we do at our next LifeHouse ladies’ event – making jewelry.

Well, Friday night, LifeHouse had our event and it was a blast.  I think everyone enjoyed making their own treasures to take home.  We spent time getting to know each other better and working together on our own creations.

At the close, I wanted the ladies to take home more than a pair of earrings.  I wanted these little treasures to be an object lesson of sorts for all of us so that when we wore them we would remember what God spoke to our hearts Friday night. But what would God have me say?   I prayed as we planned in the weeks prior and God clearly led me to a devotion during my quiet time that fit perfectly with our evening together.  It was so good, I wanted to share it here.  It comes from the devotional, INDEED.

  “The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:45-46

When the Gospel comes into a person’s life, it is everything.  It is not a philosophy to add to the mix or an access to God that will help us accomplish our goals.  It is a radical rearrangement of ALL of life.

We have examples of this in the twelve disciples.  They left careers and families in order to follow Jesus and the promise of His Kingdom.  We also have a clear example in Paul.  “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish (garbage), that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, now having righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to know Christ.”  Philippians 3:7-10

Is Jesus EVERYTHING to you?  Or one loyalty among several?  If someone asked you how much you would give up in order to know Him, is there anything you would hold back?  Do you believe only when it doesn’t cost too much?  It’s easy to know the right answer to these questions; a wholehearted abandonment to Christ is more difficult and more profound.  What treasure would you give everything to obtain?  What is the pearl of your life?

I was convicted with how easy it is to allow Christ to simply be a “loyalty among several.”  I want Him to be my EVERYTHING!

So today, as you pursue your treasure, let it be Christ, for out of Him flows all life and joy in abundance.

MY CUP OF TEA

Okay, this is one of my favorite products for summer!

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

I am not a big fan of tanning OR self-tanners. It seems no matter what, self-tanners have a lingering smell when I use them.  That’s why I love this waterproof leg spray.  It comes in several shades and there is also a shimmer spray.  I use it when I have a special occasion or want to wear a dress and feel like my legs look to banged up or pale.  I love this product.  I know you will too.  Just comment on today’s blog and be entered to win a bottle for yourself.

And the winner is…chosen by random drawing…Dawn Smith.  Congratulations Dawn.  E-mail me at tammy@luminosityonline.com with your contact information and I’ll get your “Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs” right out to you.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21

I recently enjoyed an exciting super hero movie with my husband.  And he always laughs at me at me because there’s something about super heroes that gets me feeling like a kid again.  If I wasn’t being a mom, a pastor’s wife and photographer, I would SO be a Super Hero!

There’s one thing that always seems to be the case in Super Hero movies. You know the drill…

They are usually faced with a decision that means life or death (in most cases – for all mankind). And they’re up against insurmountable odds with only moments to spare before the world goes up in flames.

It’s at about this time that you’ll see me sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my ears, hoping they do the right thing and do it quick!  

What makes any Super Hero movie great to me is the fact that they could choose the easy way out and save themselves, but they always make the right choice putting themselves at risk, to save the day…and the world.

In real life, we don’t get to wear those cool costumes or wield fancy gadgets…(although I would LOVE to).  But there ARE real-life super heroes.  They are those who put the needs of others around them before themselves…my mom for one.

What makes her super to me is not the fact that she once saved the world from certain destruction, but that she made the right choices, day in and day out, while my little eyes looked on.  Through watching her I learned…

Right choices are often hard choices.
Right choices often involve sacrifice.
Right choices are a soothing balm for the heart even when the pay-off isn’t instant.

Easy choices are usually lazy choices.
Easy choices are usually made out of selfish motives.
Easy choices carry consequences that sometimes take a life-time to shake off…if ever.

In our hearts we all know the difference between the two.

Maybe my choices won’t save the world but they are shaping the future of my children as they watch me live from day to day.

Being a mom with Mother’s Day fast approaching, I ask myself…
Do I react to life in a response that’s easy?  Or right?
Lazy or Noble?
Selfish or Sacrificial?

Do I teach my children, by the choices I make, that God is real and that He’s what matters most?

Does my life tell my kids that I believe in truth and want to live by it?

Do my kids see through my life that it’s important to respect others and serve them?

Do they see that promises that are made are meant to be kept?

Do my kids see, through my choices, that hard work and honesty are valuable habits to form?

Or have I made the easy choices?

The world’s not necessarily at stake, but I’m shaping little minds and lives.

Yes, my mom is a real-life super hero.  So today I honor her.  And I’m reminded that, although I may never don a cape, I have important choices to make.  I pray I am, in no way, overcome with evil but (with Christ’s power and wisdom) I overcome evil with good.

My Cup of Tea

Not too long ago, I found a cereal that I really love!  It’s Multi-Grain Peanut Butter Cheerios!  This cereal is delicious.  I’m giving a box to this weeks blog drawing winner!

And this week’s blog winner is…Robin Ashby, chosen by random generator.  Congratulations Robin!!!